Bartender CV: Examples and 25+ Writing Tips

You’ve got the flair. You’ve got the attitude. You’ve got the look.

You have it all.

The problem is—

Does your bartender CV have what it takes to land you the job?

Not so sure?

Well, you’ve found the right guide. Now:

Give it a shot.

In this guide: 

• Best bartender CV examples that get jobs.
• How to ace your bartender job description for a CV.
• How to write CVs for bartender positions that get the interview.
• Expert tips and examples to boost your chances of landing bartending jobs.

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Need help with a different kind of CV? Explore our other guides:

• Customer Service CV Examples
• Hospitality CV Examples
• Barista CV Examples
• Retail CV Examples
• CV Examples for Over 200 Jobs

Bartender CV—Example

1. Choose the Best Bartender CV Format

7 seconds.

This is how much time Sheldon Wiley needs to mix two cocktails.

This is also how long a recruiter will be scanning your CV.

So—

Make your bartender CV look at least as good as Rainbow Sangria.

• Pick the reverse-chronological CV format. It puts a spotlight on your bartender experience and key accomplishments.
• Stick with simple and readable CV fonts in the range between 10 and 14pt. Add simple headings, keep clutter under control by using white space.
• Stay under one page unless you have tonnes of experience. Make sure your CV length is within acceptable standards. 
• Top your server bartender CV with an objective,  summary or summary of qualifications. Then add the experience and education sections.
• Your bartender CV skills should go straight to the key skills section.Garnish your bartender CV with a couple of extras, such as membership in professional organisations, interests, and knowledge of foreign languages.

Expert Hint: Export your lead bartender CV to a PDF file. It will be ATS-scannable, and the formatting will stay intact.

2. Start with a Bartender CV Objective or Summary That Goes to the Head

Your bartender CV objective or CV summary must be like a Little Red Corvette.

A powerful shot of the good stuff.

So—

Use this formula to leave the recruiter drunk with happiness.

1. An adjective
2. Job title
3. Years of experience
4. What you can offer and how it will help
5. Your biggest achievement

Bartender CV Summary—Example

Customer-oriented (1) bartender and mixologist (2) with 3+ years of experience,(3) constantly on the lookout for beverage trends. Eager to join The Hyatt to offer exceptional customer experience and create an outstanding seasonally-inspired beverage menu. (4) Devised 30+ original cocktail recipes and boosted sales by 15%. (5)

Experienced bartender looking for new challenges. Would like to join the team to keep developing professionally.

You can see the difference right away, can’t you?

The good example of the bartender CV objective makes you think of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail. And, you can clearly see what the candidate has to offer.

On the other hand, the bad example looks generic and focuses entirely on what the candidate wants.

What If You’ve Got No Bartending Experience?

Here’s the secret:

It doesn’t matter.

Your entry-level CV must own the recruiter from the start as well.

The only difference is you’d be writing a bartender CV objective, not a summary.

So—

How to write an objective for a bartender CV?

Easy like a Sunday morning:

Focus on your skills rather than professional experience. And convince the recruiter you’re best in class.

Here’s what a good bartender CV objective statement looks like:

Entry-Level Bartender CV—Objective

Motivated and personable marketing student with a flair for entertainment and cocktail preparation. Eager to join the XYZ Bar team to delight the customers and turn all of them into patrons. Captivating storyteller with 5+ magnetic cocktail recipes.

A marketing student looking for a part-time job as bartender. Loves exploring new tastes and venues.

Well—

Just look at the two bartender CV objective examples. Each can be summarised in a single word.

The good example: Me!

The bad example: Meh...

Expert Hint: Write your bartender CV objective at the very end. Why? It’s supposed to focus on the highlights from your bartender CV. If you have no CV ready yet, you’ll have a hard time deciding what to put there.

3. Write the Best Bartender CV Skills and Job Description Sections

The only rules that really matter are these:

What a man can do, and what a man can’t do.

End of quote.

In short—

Your bartender CV job description must deliver. Just like Captain Jack Sparrow.

Here’s how to get it right.

1. Go through the job ad.
2. Highlight the bartender CV duties and skills the employer looks for.
3. Describe your bartender experience on the CV using keywords from the ad.

Bartender CV Examples—Bartender Job Description for CV

• Greeted and served customers in a professional and timely manner.
• Prepared alcoholic, non-alcoholic and other beverages for customers and servers in accordance with standard recipes.
• Maintained a clean bar by regular wiping, disposing of debris and bottles, filling ice bins and washing glasses behind the bar as needed.
• Stocked and maintained sufficient levels of beverage products behind bar to assure a smooth service period.
• Recorded currency transactions on a computer, tendered proper change and itemised receipt.

• Customer service
• Beverage preparation
• Responsible for cleaning bar
• Responsible for stocking

Here’s a question:

Would you read 250+ bartender CVs if you knew at least 50% of them look like the bad examples above?

That’s right, you wouldn’t.

This is where the ATS (Applicant Tracking System) comes in. It helps the recruiters screen all the CVs for bartender positions by looking for CV keywords.

What keywords?

Those you can find in the job ad.

And this is exactly why it’s so important to reply to a specific job ad and describe your bartending skills with the phrases you see there.

And yes—

ATSs are mostly used by large companies, such as hotel chains, cruise lines, etc. Your bartender CV is much more likely to be machine-read first if you’re applying to such places.

Which doesn’t mean that when you’re sending your bartender CV to a local place, you don’t have to make an effort. No.

Your bartender CV must impress the hiring manager.

How?

Again, use the phrasing form the job ad.

Plus—

Avoid the “responsible for” formula on your bartender CV. It’s meaningless. Use action words instead. Such verbs as greeted, served, prepared, cleaned, stocked, or maintained communicate much more.

They show what you actually did, not what you were only responsible for.

Put numbers where you can. This way the effects of your work become measurable and the bartender job description on your CV gains more meaning.

Last but not least.

Pick up to three top accomplishments, make sure they’re quantifiable, and put them in a separate key achievements subsection.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.

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Nail it all with a splash of colour, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Use the ResumeLab builder now.

Bartender CV Sample—Key Achievements

And one more thing.

Pick out the right bartender skills for your CV, and make them clearly visible.

Treat the job ad as a treasure trove. All the sought-after skills are spelled out right in there.

The lists below will help you get inspired.

Bartender CV—Skills

• Beverage knowledge
• Cocktail mixing
• Cash handling
• Multi-tasking
• Physical fitness
• Time management
• Storytelling
• Interpersonal skills
• Organisation
• Oral communication
• Collaboration
• Adaptability
• Conflict resolution

Expert Hint: The employers may be looking for particular physical skills, such as the ability to lift up to 30 pounds, or to stand and bend for prolonged periods of time. If this is the case, be more specific in your bartender CV skills section.

4. Turn Boring Education Into a Reason to Hire You

To include education. Or not to include education on a CV.

That is the question.

Include.

But only if you know how to make the education section work for you on your bartender CV.

The most important thing is relevance. If your education is related to the job, it’s a no-brainer.

Bartender CV Examples—Education

2016
European Bartender School, London
Certified Mixologist

Relevant coursework:

• Customer service and bar etiquette
• 150 cocktail recipes (incl. garnish preparation and presentation)
• Liquor regulation and legal implications
• Bartender's duties and responsibilities

If you’re a student looking for a part-time job, do include the education section on your bartender CV. Mention coursework that is relevant to the position.

Entry-Level Bartender CV Example—Education

2017—present
University of London
Psychology

Coursework:

• Communication
• Social psychology

Expert Hint: Unless it’s relevant to the job, the education section isn’t of utmost importance on a bartender CV. Keep this section short and to the point.

5. Garnish Your Bartender CV With These

Make your bartender CV truly special with a unique mixture of flavours.

Your membership in professional associations, interests on a CV,  and knowledge of foreign languages all count.

Associations

• United Kingdom Bartender’s Guild (UKBG)—Member

Interests

• Asian cuisine
• Enology

Languages

• Spanish (Conversational)
• French (Conversational)
• German (Conversational)

Expert Hint: There’s always room for something special. Write a CV cover letter for bartender jobs and up your chances of landing an interview. More than 50% of the recruiters would like to read one.

Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.

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Want to try a different look? There’s 18 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

Key Points

To ace your bartender CV:

• Choose the best bartender CV template. A bartender CV with no experience will look different from an experienced bartender CV.
• Give your bartender CV a stunning look. One page is the preferred length. Use white space to your advantage. Keep it clean and only focus on your relevant experience.
• Target a specific job offer. Your bartender CV job description and skills must target a specific job ad.
• Let your education work for you. On a bartender CV, this section is not super important. But if your education is job-related, do show it.
• Spike it with extras. List your interests, knowledge of foreign languages, and membership in professional associations.

Questions on how to write the best bartender CV? Want to share advice on how to prepare a CV for bartending jobs (lead bartender CV or banquet bartender CV)? We’d love to hear from you. Leave your comment below.

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