Are you planning to work as a bartender?
You’ve come to the right place! Bartending is a career that’s full of charm, social life, and magical cocktails. It is a fruitful career to pursue even if you don’t have a degree! However, many job seekers cringe at the thought of finding a bartending job, especially when they only have a high school diploma. It all seemed impossible to get started, especially if you don’t have the experience and training.
Some of the questions you may ask:
Where do I start looking for a bartender job?
What are the Job Descriptions for Bartenders?
How do I improve my Bartender Resume so I can get a job?
The good news is, you can find your dream bartending job with skills, knowledge, all the right tools, and mind-setting! Read on for more tips and bartender job descriptions for job seekers, which you can focus on while writing a winning resume for your application.
What Bartending Skills Do You Need to Master?
Bartending can be a tough job. However, it is also one of the more exciting careers in the foodservice industry. Some start as servers and soon manage clubs, hotels, restaurants, casinos, and more!
Typically, the bartending skills that you need are best learned through experience. You may opt to attend a bartending school and get a license. You will learn basic knowledge of alcohol mixology, service etiquette, and laws regarding alcoholic beverages. On the other hand, when you have a license or certification, you have a better edge at getting hired, especially in high-tourism areas.
You can hone your skills as you work and by finding expert bartenders as your mentors. Here are some of the bartending skills that you need to help you succeed.
- Memory – this bartending skill will help you remember important details regarding your job. For instance, short-term memory is for remembering a customer’s orders during your shift. At the same time, long-term memory helps you keep a tab of your regular customers and their favorite drinks. You’ll also remember available beverages and unique recipes for your signature cocktails.
- Communication Skill – it is critical for bartenders to communicate with customers throughout their shift. You have to keep a pleasant tone while speaking clearly and often, loudly so they can hear you over the blaring music. As a good communicator, bartenders should also be attentive and a good listeners. You can chat a bit and remain actively listening even while they multitask – it is what makes them great bartenders.
- Organization Skills – a good bartender can keep close track of customers’ orders, payments, and bar inventory. Many things are going on during a shift; thus, bartenders need to juggle their tasks effectively. A clean and organized bar looks great to a customer and allows bartenders to work efficiently.
- Friendly and Composed – Bartenders need to be professional, kind, and courteous to customers even if they cannot serve them immediately. Great bartenders can read people and size up customers and understand whether the customer wants to converse or simply get a drink. Likewise, bartenders need to remain composed even under pressure.
Bartender Job Description Templates
If you look at job boards, you will find bartender job description templates complete with job briefs, principal duties, responsibilities, and qualifications. Here is a bartender job description sample to help you draft your application and resume accordingly.
Job Brief
We are looking for a dynamic Bartender to provide an excellent drinking experience for our guests. A good bartender will be able to mix up classic and innovative beverages to exceed customer expectations.
Bartender Duties
Typically, the bartender job description sample includes these as expected bartender responsibilities:
- Greet customers, offer them the menu and inform them of the daily specials
- Filling drink orders in a timely manner
- Pour and serve drinks and beverages such as wine and beer
- Preparing and mixing drinks
- Check the ID of customers to ensure that they are of legal drinking age
- Clean bar and work areas
- Collect payments and return change
- Manage bar operation and maintain supplies of liquor and other essentials
- Monitor intoxication level of customers
- Comply with beverage and food regulation
- Stay guest focused and nurture an excellent client experience
Requirements:
A sample bartender job description ad will also include the requirements you need to include for your application. Typically bartending job description includes the following bartender job duties and responsibilities:
- Computer Literacy
- Knowledge of mixing, garnishing, and serving drinks
- Positive attitude and excellent communication skills
- Multitasking skills
- Proven working experience as a bartender
- Relevant training certificate
Bartender applicants must have extensive knowledge of drink recipes and be able to mix them quickly and correctly. They will take orders from customers at the bar or through servers who place drink orders for customers in the dining area. It is usually highlighted in the bartender job description sample.
Some establishments use equipment that automatically measures and pour drinks with a push of a button. However, bartenders must still be familiar with the ingredients of special drink requests to handle various drink orders simultaneously.
Drafting Your Bartender Cover Letter
Applying for your dream bartender job comes with tough competition. What you need is a winning bartender cover letter on top of your resume. With an effective cover letter, you can grab the employer’s attention and land you the job you want!
You can find various sample cover letters for your bartender application, but you must read the bartender job description posting carefully first. Your letter should include relevant details that target the specific job opportunity you are aiming for. Ensure that your letter also articulates why your strengths and skills are an excellent match for the position.
Here are some winning phrases and sentences that you can use to develop a persuasive bartender cover letter:
- Accurately maintain inventory to prevent overstocking and depletion of supplies.
- A professional bartender with the ability to maintain excellent service in a demanding environment.
- Has a proven history of meeting and exceeding customer expectations with prompt and courteous service.
- Has the ability to increase sales with up-selling and suggestive techniques.
- Provides friendly and efficient service to customers and teammates
- Demonstrated ability to connect with customers and increase the number of “regulars.”
- Has a strong history of keeping the bar, storerooms, and service areas organized and neat.
- Monitors and controls customer’s toxicity in a professional and non-confrontational manner.
Tips For Writing a Winning Bartender Resume
A bartender’s resume should be more than just a monotonous bartender job description of your past working experiences. It should include your professional background, high school diploma, and skills. Make sure that your resume has all the right ingredients before sending it out to the bar manager. Here are some essential details that every bartender sample resumes always have –
Emphasis on Alcohol Server Certification
Besides your contact information, alcohol server certification is the most crucial information in a bartender’s resume. In most cases, bartenders do not need a diploma from a bartending school, but they might need to get an Alcohol Server Certification. Depending on your state, these certifications can be mandatory. Other states offer incentives such as reduced administrative penalties for getting certified.
This critical information should be highlighted in your resume introduction. Include a line that says “license certified by the District of Columbia” in your job title. Reading it at the start of your resume saves the employer time and will pique their interest in your application.
Read Bartender Job Description to Fill Up Your Professional Experience
Bartender job description templates from the job ad are valuable references when you need to fill out your professional experience. These job descriptions usually provide the keywords that employers are looking for. Take these keywords and include them in bullet points in your resume.
Include Bartender Job Action Verbs
Make your bartender job description richer with common action verbs like:
- Engage
- Entertain
- Advertise
- Greet
- Upsell
- Monitor
- Memorize
- Prepare
- Mix
Emphasize Your Bartending Skill
Make sure to highlight your skills in your bartender resume. It is among the most vital elements that hiring managers look for to know that you can do the job. A glance at the skills section should prove that you have mastered the necessary skills that a great bartender must-have.
Likewise, bartender soft skills related to your personality, people, and communication skills are extremely important. These should also be emphasized throughout the resume. In some bartender job description sample, you will see that candidates often highlighted their customer service skills because it is essential for the role.
More so, hard skills such as cocktail preparation, technical skills, and a second language are also impressive additions to a bartender’s resume.
Keep in mind that your resume will be your ticket to landing the most lucrative bartending job yet. You’d make the perfect bartender with your extensive drink knowledge, deft hands, and friendly work attitude. Let the manager or owner know about your skills. Here are some tips to help you write the perfect bartender resume.
- Take a look at a sample resume and format your bartender resume before starting writing to ensure that everything is laid out correctly.
- Start with a bartender job description of your previous work experience in detail and customize it to the job ad you are applying for.
- Include your academic history appropriately – go heavy when you have limited bartending experience.
- List down your bartender skills that are appropriate for the club or bar you are applying to
- Include sections to highlight second languages, licenses, or certifications that will give you an edge and score an interview
- Go back to the top and create a powerful bartender resume objective
- Attach your bartender cover letter and send it off.
Conclusion
Are you ready to apply for your dream bartender job? The good news is that bartender employment is expected to grow six percent in the next couple of years, which is faster than the average for other occupations. Thus, more bartenders will be hired to meet the food, drink, and entertainment industry demand. A bartender job description from the job ad will be of great help in crafting your resume and cover letter. Make sure that you have all the correct details before hitting that send button!
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