Bartender Resume Skills: How to Create a Great Resume

Are you currently applying for or considering a new bartending job? Bartending positions can be suitable for those enrolled in school or looking for a side gig, but it can also be profitable and rewarding as a full-time career.

Bartenders possess a wide range of skills, from making delicious cocktails to handling payments. Consider the various skills bartenders develop through training and hands-on experience when creating your resume. In this post, we'll teach you which bartending skills are essential to include in your resume, with examples. 

Bartender Resume Skills 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, bartender employment is expected to increase 18% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Bartender jobs may have a faster growth rate compared to the national average. However, competition is still strong for bartending positions in famous nightclubs and upscale restaurants, where bartenders tend to earn higher tips. Your chances of getting hired for these lucrative roles are increased by attending bartending training and having hands-on experience in the industry.

Stand out from the competition by crafting a strong resume that highlights your skill set.

What skills do you need to be a bartender? 

When working as a bartender, you display a variety of skills. You work in fast-paced settings that require agility and stamina in response to changing circumstances. However, there are many more skills a bartending job requires. 

We've listed the important bartender skills to showcase on your resume below. 

1. Strong Memory

A strong memory is the one quality that any experienced bartender resume should display. By memorizing drink orders, cocktail ingredients, or the names of popular craft beers, they improve their short-term memory. When bartenders recognize regulars, greet them by name, and offer the correct drink, their long-term memory is improved. 

Moreover, remembering significant details about regular customers helps build a strong relationship with them.  

2. Communication

Throughout their shift, bartenders speak and interact with different personalities. Because of their effective communication skills, bartenders may adjust their tone or manner depending on the customer.

Bartenders work as a team with wait staff and chefs, communicating with them and occasionally multitasking to keep the bar or restaurant running smoothly.

Communication skills also include listening to customers' problems or following up. 

3. Mixology 

Bartenders are distinguished by their familiarity with popular beverages or unique mixes. They frequently develop original recipes and stay up to date on seasonal trends.

Free pouring, the process of adding alcohol in exact proportions, helps bartenders improve their hand skills and efficiency.

4. Teamwork

Bartenders collaborate with the management team, waiters, chefs, and other bartenders. They appreciate the teamwork dynamic of serving customers and contribute to order fulfillment or staff assistance when needed. Bartenders keep an eye out for any changing conditions and offer support when necessary. 

5. Flexibility

A bartender's schedule may change between alternate hours, nights, or weekends. Their schedule is not always stable, and shifts can vary from week to week. 

Bartenders may need to fill in for absent wait staff to fulfill food orders or complete payment transactions. They may also deal with customers who modify their drink or food orders, or who are prepared to close their tabs. 

Bartenders need to be flexible and step in if the situation were to arise. 

6. Organization

Bartenders require organizational skills to stay up to date with seasonal product demands and make sure ingredients for trending drinks or popular craft beer are always available. 

Remembering a customer's cocktail order and executing it correctly also requires organizational skills. Managing payments, teamwork, and tracking daily demand also require organizational skills to keep the entire process flowing. 

7. Friendliness

Bartenders create a warm, welcoming environment for customers to feel comfortable. When a bartender is dealing with a stressful situation, it can be difficult to remain friendly.

At the bar, bartenders can accommodate all customer needs on a busy day and adapt to engage in conversation on a slow day. They deal with a wide variety of personalities, backgrounds, and traditions, and a friendly attitude towards customers helps build trust.

8. Cash Management

Bartenders manage financial transactions as part of their job duties and properly and efficiently process different types of payment transactions. Whether it's handling large orders for an event or closing out tabs, bartenders require accurate record-keeping skills.

9. Efficiency

Bartenders: 

• Pour drinks 
• Monitor demand
• Restock
• Wait tables 
• Take orders 
• Deliver orders 
• Perform payment transactions 

The wide range of professional responsibilities requires understanding how to manage them efficiently to finish tasks quickly without compromising customer service. 

10. Composure

Bartenders develop the ability to maintain their composure under pressure. As they become skilled at recognizing stressful situations and responding appropriately, assisting coworkers, or managing a crisis, bartenders gain composure. Bartenders who regularly take breaks and take care of their well-being are better at maintaining composure under pressure.

Build a Killer Bartender Resume 

• Add bartending skills and action words. There's a higher chance that your resume makes it to the hiring manager if you include lots of key skills and action words. 
• Highlight your bartending knowledge. Listing your bartending knowledge and skills allows managers to determine your level of expertise and your ability to adapt. 
• Match your resume to the job description. Hiring managers frequently include a job description with a list of tasks in the bartending job post. You can stand out from other candidates by mentioning skills and experience you have that match those listed. 
• Include a unique description. Use specific examples of your work history. Avoid generic descriptions and clarify or give detailed examples.

Bartender Resume Examples

Now that it's clear you'd make the perfect bartender with your teamwork, friendliness, and organization skills, let your dream company know by crafting a killer bartender resume. 

Learn how to put bartending on a professional resume by following some examples.

Below, you will find impressive examples to follow to help you land your dream bartending job.