How to Write a Bartender Resume
To create a bartender resume that impresses employers, you’ll need to show you can prepare drink orders for customers quickly and professionally. In this guide, we’ll show you how to write a winning bartender resume tailored to the industry’s unique demands. By studying resume examples, you can learn expert strategies and create the best bartender resume possible.
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your qualifications
In two to three sentences, your resume profile should capture what you’ve accomplished and what you offer. Your goal with this section is to entice hiring managers to keep reading your resume, so brevity, impact, and customization are key.
First, tailor your profile to the position by carefully pulling and incorporating keywords from the job post text. By customizing your profile this way, you can show your relevant strengths and overall attentiveness to the employer’s needs. Next, focus on your ability to create memorable experiences through exquisite cocktails and personalized service. Also consider noting your years of experience in mixology, customer service, or team collaboration.
Senior-Level Profile Example:
Bartender with 15+ years of experience and thorough knowledge of beer, wine, and spirits. Skilled at mixing unique cocktails for customers in a fast-paced environment. Collaborated on seasonal drink menus with beverage director at the DoubleTree Hotel. New hire trainer and ABC-Certified trainer for responsible alcohol service.
Entry-Level Profile Example:
Bartender, server, and bar back with nearly three years’ experience at popular local restaurants. Confidently suggest food and drinks to guests, drawing on strong knowledge of food and wine pairings. Trained in both front- and back-of-house operations.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
A results-focused experience section is key to your resume, as it lets you show the impact you’ve had on employers. For each past bartending job, describe how you helped improve the drink menu, train new hires, adapt to industry changes, or accommodate high customer volume. Also try to quantify your achievements. For instance, you could highlight the number of customers you served or events you helped organize. This strategy adds value to your resume and shows you can handle work settings similar to the ones you’re now after.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example:
Lead Bartender, DoubleTree Hotel, Dallas, TX | June 2016 to Present
- Work high-volume shifts in both the cocktail lounge and fine-dining restaurant
- Reconcile receipts at the end of the night using Micros POS system
- Conduct monthly inventory of all bar stock with the bar manager
- Train new hires to mix drinks properly, serve drinks responsibly, and ensure customers are satisfied
- Collaborated on seasonal drink menus and invented several lucrative cocktail recipes
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example:
Bartender / Server, Addison’s American Grill, Columbia, MO | September 2022 to Present
- Recognized for maintaining excellent customer service on busy nights and with large parties
- Used suggestive selling methods to increase cover average and improve the guest experience
- Won “Employee of the Month” 3 times based on strong teamwork and high guest satisfaction scores
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Show your dedication to the craft by including any relevant education, coursework, and certifications you’ve completed. Degrees in hospitality or related subjects can convey your professionalism and foundational knowledge of customer service, mixology techniques, and beverage management. Additionally, certifications like Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS) or ServSafe Alcohol can boost your credibility and assure employers you understand responsible alcohol service. Below are templates and examples to help you format this information on your resume.
Certifications
Template: [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
- Certified Bartender, Logan’s Professional Bartending School, 2023
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[SCHOOL NAME], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Business Degree — Hotel & Restaurant Management
OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY, Portland, OR | 2016
4. List relevant key skills and proficiencies
Relevant professional skills are essential to your bartender resume. These skills give insight on your ability to excel in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment. You’ll want this section to cover not just your mixology skills, but also important soft skills like customer service or conflict resolution. Here’s a list of skills to consider for your resume:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Cash Handling | Conflict Resolution |
| Customer Service & Satisfaction | Drink Order Preparation |
| Efficiency Improvement | Food & Beverage Service |
| Food & Wine Pairing | Food Safety & Sanitation |
| Inventory Monitoring | Menu Memorization |
| Mixology | Payment Processing |
| Personnel Training | Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems |
| Process Improvement | Task Prioritization |
| Team Collaboration | Time Management |
| Work Area Maintenance | Workplace Safety & Security |
How to Pick the Best Bartender Resume Template
For bartenders, the best resume template is clear and straightforward, with well-organized sections and headings. Opt for a design with plenty of room to list your skills, experience, and certifications. Choose a template that lets you show your creativity through color accents while maintaining a professional appearance.
Bartender Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
John Smith
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Columbia, MO 39769 | LinkedIn
Profile
Bartender, server, and bar back with nearly three years’ experience at popular local restaurants. Confidently suggest food and drinks to guests, drawing on strong knowledge of food and wine pairings. Trained in both front- and back-of-house operations.
Key Skills
- Customer Service & Satisfaction
- Drink Order Preparation
- Efficiency Improvement
- Mixology
- Payment Processing
- Process Improvement
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Time Management
- Work Area Maintenance
- Workplace Safety & Security
Professional Experience
Bartender / Server, Addison’s American Grill, Columbia, MO | September 2022 to Present
- Recognized for maintaining excellent customer service on busy nights and with large parties
- Used suggestive selling methods to increase cover average and improve the guest experience
- Won “Employee of the Month” 3 times based on strong teamwork and high guest satisfaction scores
Bar Back, Outback Steakhouse, Columbia, MO | July 2020 to September 2022
- Ensured the bar was well-stocked with ice, glasses, and alcohol during busy shifts
- Helped change kegs and clear the lines when needed
- Assisted bartenders with overall efficiency and customer service
Education
Hotel & Restaurant Management Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO | Expected 2023
- Intern at Bleu Catering Company to increase knowledge of catered events
- Core course topics include accounting for restaurants, sales strategies, and kitchen operations
Technical Skills
Squirrel and Micros POS systems
John McPhearson
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Portland, OR 39576 | LinkedIn
Profile
Bartender with 7+ years of experience in high-volume nightclubs and bars. Expert mixologist with hundreds of drink recipes memorized. Enthusiastic about creating and preparing distinctive, popular drink recipes. Firm grasp of Oregon alcohol sales laws. Bilingual: Fluent in English and Spanish.
Recognition
Runner-up, Portland’s Master Mixologist Competition | 2019
Key Skills
- Cash Handling
- Customer Service & Satisfaction
- Drink Order Preparation
- Efficiency Improvement
- Mixology
- Payment Processing
- Process Improvement
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Time Management
- Work Area Maintenance
- Workplace Safety & Security
Professional Experience
Bartender, Risky Jay’s Nightclub, Portland, OR | June 2016 to Present
- Lead bartender on weekend nights, ensuring team members correctly prepare drinks and process payments
- Create custom cocktails and shots for patrons
- Help inventory and order supplies and stock
- Work with security to identify over-intoxicated patrons
Bartender / Bar Back, Guys & Dolls, Portland, OR | September 2012 to May 2016
- Trained new hires to properly make drinks and keep bar area clean and orderly
- Showed high efficiency serving multiple customers at a time
- Offered helpful drink recommendations to guests
- Consistently top-ranked for sales during last year of tenure
Education
Business Degree — Hotel & Restaurant Management, Oregon State University, Portland, OR | 2016
Language
Fluency in Spanish
Jenny Thomas
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | Plano, TX 75097 | LinkedIn
Profile
Bartender with 15+ years of experience and thorough knowledge of beer, wine, and spirits. Skilled at mixing unique cocktails for customers in a fast-paced environment. Collaborated on seasonal drink menus with beverage director at the DoubleTree Hotel. New hire trainer and ABC-Certified trainer for responsible alcohol service.
Key Skills
- Cash Handling
- Customer Service & Satisfaction
- Drink Order Preparation
- Food & Wine Pairing
- Efficiency Improvement
- Menu Memorization
- Mixology
- Payment Processing
- Process Improvement
- Task Prioritization
- Team Collaboration
- Texas Dram Shop Laws
- Time Management
- Work Area Maintenance
- Workplace Safety & Security
Professional Experience
Lead Bartender, DoubleTree Hotel, Dallas, TX | June 2016 to Present
- Work high-volume shifts in both the cocktail lounge and fine-dining restaurant
- Reconcile receipts at the end of the night using Micros POS system
- Conduct monthly inventory of all bar stock with the bar manager
- Train new hires to mix drinks properly, serve drinks responsibly, and ensure customers are satisfied
- Collaborated on seasonal drink menus and invented several lucrative cocktail recipes
Lead Bartender, Della’s Disco, Dallas, TX | January 2009 to March 2016
- Supervised a 5-person bartending team on busy nights
- Courteously served beer, wine, and cocktails to customers
- Monitored patrons for signs of over-intoxication and worked with security staff to prevent violent or untoward behavior
- Inventoried beverage stock weekly
Bartender / Cocktail Server, Applebee’s Restaurant, Austin, TX | September 2004 to December 2008
- Worked solo shifts on slower nights, serving bar guests and making service bar drinks for servers
- Cleaned and restocked bar area each night
- Trained new bartenders and cocktail waiters
- Performed wait staff duties by taking food and drink orders for bar patrons
- Taught Texas ABC Responsible Alcohol Service classes for district restaurants
Education
Associate Degree — Hospitality Management, Collin County Community College, Austin, TX
Certifications
Certified Bartender, Logan’s Professional Bartending School, Austin, TX
Texas ABC certified for responsible alcohol service
Frequently Asked Questions: Bartender Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for Bartender resumes?+
As you write your past duties and achievements on your resume, you may find it hard to avoid sounding repetitive. To help you over this obstacle, we created this list of common action verbs for bartenders:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adapt | Assist |
| Check | Clean |
| Collaborate | Collect |
| Coordinate | Create |
| Customize | Deliver |
| Engage | Enhance |
| Ensure | Fill |
| Greet | Improve |
| Inform | Introduce |
| Measure | Memorize |
| Mix | Monitor |
| Offer | Order |
| Pour | Prepare |
| Prioritize | Process |
| Promote | Recommend |
| Refill | Resolve |
| Return | Serve |
| Suggest | Take |
| Upsell | |
How do you align your bartender resume with a job posting?+
Bartending is expected to see much faster than average growth between 2021 and 2031, with a projected 18% increase (or 90,000+ new jobs) during that time.
You can get more bartender job interviews by tailoring your resume for each application. Start by looking at the job post and noting words or phrases that are repeated, emphasized, or otherwise seem important. Compare these phrases against the language you’re using in your resume, particularly the Profile and Key Skills sections. Then look for ways to align your resume language with the job post, while not copying text or misstating your background.
For example, if the bar manager wants someone collaborative, you may want to call out that aspect of your experience in your Profile. Or say the facility has many non-English speaking customers — in that case, you may want to highlight your foreign language skills both in your Profile and as a separate section farther down the document. With adjustments like these, you can make your resume that much more relevant to each job opportunity.
What is the best Bartender resume format? +
For bartenders, a combination resume format is often the best choice. This format allows you to show your relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments in a concise and organized manner. To follow the combination format, start your resume with a profile summary highlighting your mixology and customer service skills. Below the summary, write a chronological experience section detailing your key work duties and accomplishments.
If you have plenty of relevant experience and a consistent work history, the traditional chronological format may also be suitable. You should generally avoid the functional format because it de-emphasizes your work history, which is a crucial aspect for employers in the service industry.
Expert Advice: Include a cover letter with your resume
A well-crafted cover letter will boost your chances of an interview. The secret to a good cover letter is tailoring it to the establishment you’re applying to. Read our comprehensive bartender cover letter guide to create your own. For more examples, check out our food service and server cover letter guides.
