In the competitive hospitality industry, a well-crafted resume is the first step to getting noticed by a hiring manager for a bartending role. This document offers a glimpse into your capabilities and professionalism before you ever step behind the bar. A strong resume validates your expertise and signals to employers that you are a serious candidate ready to contribute.
Essential Resume Contact Information and Summary
The top of your resume must clearly present your contact information: your full name, phone number, a professional email, and your city and state. A professional email address like “firstname.lastname@email.com” is more appropriate than a casual nickname. This section ensures a hiring manager can easily contact you.
Directly following your contact details, a compelling professional summary or objective serves as your elevator pitch. A professional summary is ideal for those with bartending experience, offering a 2-4 sentence overview of your key qualifications and achievements. Conversely, an objective statement is better suited for entry-level candidates or career changers, focusing on your career goals and enthusiasm for the role.
For example, a strong summary is specific and confident: “Personable and efficient bartender with 5+ years of experience in high-volume craft cocktail lounges. Expert in mixology with a deep knowledge of spirits and a passion for creating memorable guest experiences.” This version demonstrates immediate value.
Highlighting Your Work Experience
Structure your work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your most recent position. For each role, use bullet points to detail your responsibilities and achievements. Begin each point with a strong action verb to provide concrete evidence of your abilities.
Use dynamic action verbs like Managed, Crafted, Increased, or Resolved instead of “Responsible for” to make your experience sound more impactful. Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments with numbers. For instance, write “Crafted a seasonal cocktail menu that increased specialty drink sales by 15%,” not just “Made new cocktails.” Other examples include “Managed inventory for over 200 spirits, reducing waste by 10%” or “Trained 5 new barbacks on service standards.”
If your experience isn’t directly in bartending, frame it to highlight relevant skills from roles like server or barback. For a server role, emphasize upselling, customer interaction, and POS system knowledge. A barback position demonstrates experience with inventory, bar prep, and supporting bartenders. Connect your past duties to the demands of a bartending job to show you have the foundational skills to succeed.
Key Bartending Skills to Include
Divide your skills section into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. This separation helps employers quickly identify your technical proficiencies and interpersonal strengths.
Hard Skills
Hard skills are the teachable, technical abilities required for the job. Be specific to give employers a clear understanding of your capabilities.
- Proficiency with Point of Sale (POS) systems (e.g., Toast, Square)
- Extensive cocktail and mixology knowledge
- Wine and beer knowledge
- Inventory management and strategic ordering
- Precise cash handling and payment processing
- Food safety and sanitation procedures
Soft Skills
Soft skills reflect your interpersonal abilities and how you interact with others. These are highly valued in the hospitality industry.
- Customer service and guest relations
- Effective communication
- Upselling techniques
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Speed and efficiency under pressure
- Conflict resolution
Listing Certifications and Education
In the certifications and education section, list relevant certifications before your formal education. For a bartending position, these credentials carry significant weight as they show specialized training in industry standards.
Feature industry-recognized certifications like TIPS (Training for Intervention ProcedureS) or ServSafe Alcohol. Also include any state or local mandatory alcohol server permits you hold. After your certifications, briefly detail your educational background, such as a high school diploma or relevant college coursework.
Final Resume Tips and Best Practices
Keep your resume to a single page, which is standard for hospitality positions. The document should be clean and easy to read. Choose a professional font like Calibri or Arial in a 10 to 12-point size for the body text.
Proofread your resume multiple times to catch any spelling or grammatical errors; having a friend review it can also be helpful. Finally, tailor your resume for each job you apply for. Read the job description and incorporate relevant keywords to show you are a strong fit for that specific role.