To create a bartender resume that impresses employers, display how you can prepare drink orders for customers quickly and professionally and your knowledge of alcoholic beverages. 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.
Bartender Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)
Entry-Level Bartender Resume Example
Why this entry-level bartender resume is strong:
This resume does an excellent job of conveying the candidate’s early career experience within the hospitality industry. The bullet points effectively demonstrate the bartender’s expertise in customer service, providing clear examples of how they positively impacted the guest experience.
Mid-Level Bartender Resume Example
Why this mid-career bartender resume is strong:
This resume example focuses on conveying the applicant’s leadership and team management capabilities. The content effectively captures the candidate’s extensive knowledge of mixology and their ability to train and mentor team members, which is valuable to potential employers within the hospitality space.
Senior-Level Bartender Resume Example
Why this senior-level bartender resume is strong:
This resume example effectively showcases the candidate’s expertise as a lead bartender. The bullet points are concise yet descriptive, emphasizing the applicant’s ability to deliver exceptional service to guests in fast-paced hospitality environments.
Banquet Bartender Resume Example
Why this banquet bartender resume is strong:
This resume effectively captures the candidate’s proven track record of delivering excellent service to guests during large banquets and events. The bullet points are filled with eye-catching numbers that emphasize the applicant’s ability to drive beverage sales and generate repeat business.
Club Bartender Resume Example
Why this club bartender resume is strong:
This club bartender resume highlights the candidate’s ability to generate positive results in high-volume service environments. Showcasing notable increases in liquor sales, bar revenue, and guest satisfaction helps to demonstrate the potential value they can bring to prospective employers.
Bartender Resume Example
Why this bartender resume is strong:
This bartender resume excels in displaying the candidate’s hospitality experience using impactful numbers and metrics. It highlights how their unique cocktails and seasonal drinks helped to boost liquor sales, demonstrating the value they can bring to potential employers.
Bar Manager Resume Example
Why this bar manager resume is strong:
This resume example excels in illustrating the candidate’s unique qualifications and experience as a bar manager. The bullet points are clear and concise, with a strong emphasis on the applicant’s leadership capabilities and hospitality management skills.
Cocktail Server Resume Example
Why this cocktail server resume is strong:
This resume example excels with a clean layout and engaging bullet points that effectively convey the candidate’s most notable achievements within the hospitality industry. The applicant leverages hard numbers and strong monetary figures, such as $120,000 in annual sales, to paint a clearer picture of their accomplishments.
Fine Dining Server Resume Example
Why this fine dining server resume is strong:
This resume demonstrates the candidate’s exceptional background in fine dining using compelling examples from their career. The bullet points are filled with compelling numbers, including strong sales metrics and guest satisfaction scores.
Bartender Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
How to Write a Bartender Resume
1. Write a compelling profile summarizing your bartender 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. This will 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 over 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 the 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 bartender 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, quantify your achievements. For instance, you could emphasize the number of customers you served, the revenue you generated, 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 point-of-sale (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” three times based on strong teamwork and high guest satisfaction scores
3. Include relevant bartender 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.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Business Degree — Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Oregon State University, Portland, OR | 2016
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Certified Bartender, Logan’s Professional Bartending School, 2023
4. List relevant bartender key skills and proficiencies
Relevant professional skills are essential to your bartender resume. These skills give insight into your ability to excel in a fast-paced, customer-centric environment. This section should 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 and satisfaction | Drink order preparation |
| Efficiency improvement | Food and beverage service |
| Food and wine pairing | Food safety and sanitation |
| Inventory monitoring | Menu memorization |
| Mixology | Payment processing |
| Personnel training | POS systems |
| Process improvement | Task prioritization |
| Team collaboration | Time management |
| Work area maintenance | Workplace safety and 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.
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 overcome 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 resume with a job posting?-
Bartending is expected to see fast growth between 2021 and 2031, with an 18% increase (or over 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. You may want to display 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. In general, avoid the functional format because it de-emphasizes your work history, a crucial aspect for employers in the service industry.
What’s the ideal length for a bartender resume?-
A one-page resume is ideal for most bartender positions, especially if you have less than 10 years of experience. For experienced professionals, a two-page resume may be appropriate, but only if it includes valuable, job-relevant content. Focus on showcasing your key achievements, certifications, and skills that align with the job description.
Aim to include work experience from the last 10 to 15 years. Older roles can be summarized or omitted unless they add significant value. Keeping your resume concise and relevant will leave a strong impression on hiring managers.
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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.
