15 Bartender Resume Examples & Guide for 2024

Ever since you were little, you never wanted a desk job. So you set your sights on something more thrilling - bartending!

Yet, regardless how much paperwork you expect to do in the future, you still must be able to whip up a fine resume. If you want to get hired, that is.

So, how do you write a first-class Bartender resume?

Choose an appropriate format for your bartender resume

Your work history and skills will determine which resume format is best for you.

Generally, if you have more than 5 years of practical experience, then you should use the reverse-chronological resume format.

Recruiters love it because this layout focuses on your career progression. And how much you’ve developed and diversified your skill set.

But if you’ve done bartending on the side and want to switch doing it full time, pick the hybrid resume format.

Its flexible layout helps showcase both your relevant experience and transferable skills.

Yet, if you’re just starting out, the functional resume format may be your best option. It lets employers know what you’re good at and you can help their business succeed.

Now, what about what’s on your resume? Let’s get into more detail.

We did a little experiment to verify how different resumes perform against various ATS tools.

It turns out that no matter the resume layout, formatting and styling are significantly more important. More specifically:

• Section Headings: ATS tools rely on the proper naming of resume sections. For instance, if you’re detailing your talents, ensure you’ve tagged the section as “Skills”.
• File Format: Our research indicates that PDFs perform better because they preserve the overall design and layout of your resume.
• Fonts: Using a distinctive font can be one way to show some flair and character on your resume. ATS systems accept most of the popular Google fonts.
• Colors and Design: The hospitality and management field can be diverse and colorful. Try to match the style of your potential employer. If it’s classy, stay classy.
• Length/Columns: Hiring managers prefer to see a concise and impactful resume. Flaunt your communication skills. Try to fit your work history within a single page.

Attach links to your Instagram or Pinterest in the resume header

If you first started dabbling in mixology as a hobby and you’ve recorded your story, share it in the resume header.

Whether it’s a YouTube channel or a TikTok profile, don’t hesitate to link them. The same goes for Instagram and Pinterest. Especially if you have good mood boards to display.

These will prove to recruiters that you’re always willing to learn and take pride in what you do. And they will make your resume more outstanding in the process.

At the same time, don’t forget to mention your:

• Full name
• Current or preferred job title, if you’re switching careers
• Phone number
• Address
• Professional email
• Relevant social media profiles

Once you have everything down, keep in mind to check if all the listed links work. The final result should resemble the one below:

Build a captivating Bartender resume summary

You’ve piqued recruiters’ interest, now you have to hook them in. Mix the best cocktail of experience and skills you can. Serve it in the form of a resume summary.

This is a short freeform paragraph at the top of your resume, where you can draw attention to your top achievements.

To do this, write a summary of no more than 5-6 sentences, where you detail:

• How many years of practical experience you have
• 1-2 major work accomplishments which showcase your abilities
• Technical and social talents that helped you be the bartender you are

Pay attention to how and which skills you list. ATS tools read resumes from top to bottom.

By mentioning relevant hard skills in your resume summary, you have a better chance to be picked first.

Take a look at the following examples. The first one describes the work history and achievements of a beginner bartender.

By contrast, the second one illustrates how to frame your achievements, if you’re not sure how to fit them all within the section.

Demonstrate a compelling Bartender experience section

You’ve already teased recruiters with an overview of your work experience. It’s time to prove you’re worth your salt.

Hiring managers want to see you in action. That’s why the experience section is by far the largest one on your resume.

It doesn’t matter how many entries you include in the experience section. Just remember to format them accordingly and stay relevant to the job ad. To do that, you must cite:

• Your current job title and credentials you’ve gained during your tenure, such as Certified Cicerone.
• Full name of your past employer and a one-sentence description of the company’s main business operations.
• Employment dates or the period you were involved in the particular side gig (for instance, festivals and fairs).
• The location of your former workplace.
• All the milestones you’ve achieved along the way. Keep in mind to include no more than 5 bullet points.

For each of the above-mentioned bullet points describe a different aspect of your work. But don’t just list your duties and responsibilities.

Link them to quantifiable and verifiable outcomes.

How?

Cite data and numbers. Present a challenge you were faced with and then explain how you overcame it.

For instance:

“Reduced supplies costs by 61% by reviewing the bar’s current best selling products and then re-negotiating contracts with vendors.”

Negotiation skills are difficult to measure. Yet, no company will deny that saving money is among its top priorities.

Another way to boast being able to save money is:

“Reduced work-related accidents by 30% after I rearranged the equipment behind the bar and secured a safe way to transport supplies from the storage facilities to the bar.”

The key is to put your skills and achievements in context.

We’ve prepared an excerpt from a real bartender resume to illustrate this better. Check out how Andre Polson has detailed his experience at the Night Owl Club:

Display your education and relevant qualifications

Granted, you can become a bartender even with a highschool diploma. Still, reference your academic background. Especially if you’re switching careers.

If you have a hospitality management or food service degree, that means you have a more in-depth view of the industry. You’re not limited to bartending alone.

In essence, you have the foundation on which to grow further in the industry.

The education section is not hard to fill out. All you need to do is:

• State the name of your degree
• Name the institution, issuing the document
• List the number of years you’ve attended the course
• Mention relevant majors and minors
• Provide your GPA, if you’ve graduated recently

You can use the sample below as a reference:

Highlight your top social and technical bartender skills

The best way to tailor your resume to a specific position is to align it to the job ad. Read the descriptions very carefully.

See if you can match some of the required skills with examples of your own. It’s crucial to display how you employ your talents.

More importantly, your abilities will help you get a callback for a job interview.

How?

ATS tools vet for the hard skills listed in the job ad. Make sure you use the same naming conventions.

Chances are, recruiters have used the same spelling and formatting when fine-tuning the software.

By contrast, soft skills prove that you can fit well with the team, while attending to customers in the meantime.

Remember to create a nice blend between your social and technical talents.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered some of the most in-demand tech skills to get you started:

What about your social abilities?

Everything you do matters. Soft skills are measured by the impact of your efforts. Think about the last time you did something that made a customer’s experience better.

Now take the formula you used for the experience section entries and describe your social skills. Like so:

As you can see, even if you can’t put a number on your achievements, there is still a way to show you are proactive at work.

But before you start writing, take into account what’s listed in the job description.

We asked hiring managers if there are any social skills they are always looking for in a candidate. This is what they shared:

Show a selection of your best bartender certificates

Displaying your certificates helps not only those who are switching careers. But also industry experts who wish to point to their specialized skills.

For instance, imagine you’re a sales agent who dabbles in mixing cocktails in her spare time. You don’t have a hospitality degree, but you can flaunt your mixology certificate.

In contrast, if you do have a restaurant and bar management degree, you can point to your specialized skills by boasting a Master Cicerone certificate.

Whatever the case, don’t forget to include the:

• Name of the issuing organization
• Name of your certificate
• Dates of obtainment or expected course completion

If your certificate has an expiration date, make sure it’s valid before you add it to your resume.

Expand your resume by introducing other relevant sections

There are numerous ways to make your bartender resume stand out. One method is to diversify your layout by attaching extra sections to your resume.

Note that these may differ based on how many positions you’re applying to. Stay relevant to the job ads and curate your resume accordingly.

Having this in mind, some of the most popular sections for bartenders include:

• Licenses and association memberships
• Languages (ASL, Spanish, Italian, etc.)
• Acting and improv clubs
• Hobbies and volunteering gigs

Compliment your bartender resume with a matching cover letter

Finally, if you really want to leave a lasting impression, write a convincing cover letter.

You may think this is going overboard for a bartender role. But we bet it’s something recruiters won’t expect of their candidates, too.

If you’re career hopping, this is the best way to explain your situation and boost your chances.

So, how do you write one?

Usually, cover letters are divided into three main paragraphs:

• The first one begins with a greeting to the hiring manager, responsible for reviewing candidates for the role. Then a brief overview of your top achievements follows.
• Use the second paragraph to elaborate on your talents and how you’ve applied them in real life situations. Always provide results.
• End the letter with a short statement on when and where you can be contacted for further discussions. Don’t forget to thank the recruiter for their time.

Key takeaways

• Consider your experience and choose a suitable resume format
• Link your YouTube or TikTok in the resume header, if you’ve recorded your work
• List your proudest work milestones in the resume summary
• Tie your experience to verifiable and quantifiable results
• Create a balanced mix of your key social and technical talents
• Tailor your resume by adding extra sections that make sense for the job ad
• Pair your bartender resume with compelling cover letter