My Bartender Resume

Before I even get started with this post realize this...

90% of your competition - Other aspiring bartenders- are going to be lazy, uniformed, or too dumb to put together a resume. So by doing this I, and you are smarter than the majority. Give yourself a pat on the back and continue reading.

The power of the resume.

The resume has one purpose - TO SET YOU APART FROM OTHER CANDIDATES SO THAT YOU GET THE JOB. During a typical bartending shift I see at least one person stop in and ask for a resume. After which they ask for a phone book and a place to sit, it never fails and its even kinda sad to watch. They're doing the bare minimum to get the job, so they're going to get the minimum chance of getting hired.

THEY'RE WASTING THEIR TIME!

Unless you have a stellar track record as a bartender, great references, and a bit of luck, you're not going to get the job this way. Don't waste your time doing this, unless you like not getting called back and filling out a lot of standard bar applications.

Now that you know you should have a resume to STAND OUT, What should your bartender resume look like?

For starters it should show that you're competent, trustworthy, and aren't afraid of hard work, because bartending isn't the same as sitting behind a desk. You've got to demonstrate that your fun, outgoing, and enjoy conversation with a wide variety of people.

Important Traits that you should cover in your resume
-You're professional and know how to deal with customers.
-You can handle cash and your drawer won't be off every night (Wherever I worked you typically needed be on within 50 cents each night).
-You can hold a conversation with most people and have a pleasant demenour.
-You can utlize computers since most restaurants use touch screen systems.
-You can work long hours and are physically fit enough to walk miles each night behind the bar.

You'll also most likely need some experience
-If you don't have any experience finding a bartending gig is going to be tough. Don't get discouraged though. If you aren't getting calls back try out these other careers that can help you ease into bartending.
-If you don't have direct experience bartending try to accent other jobs that have similar responsibilties such as customer service, retail, hospitality, or sales. Learn about the Many hats a bartender wears

Sample Bartender Resumes
This is the one that I'll be submitting when I move to Honolulu.
Here's another sample resume.

A couple other tricks
-Try using a colored high quality paper to print your resume.
-Use a highlighter on your resume to accent your experience or true strengths.
-Place your picture on the resume, preferably behind a bar with a drink in front of you, such as this one...



Hopefully this bartender resume helps you on your first step to landing that perfect bartending job.

Go back to Finding a bartending job guide