Bartender CV Example & Writing Guide

If you’re a professional bartender with creative flair and unparalleled customer skills, now’s the time to let that shine through in your CV. In this guide, we’ll help you create an engaging bartender CV that both impresses employers and increases your chances of landing your next job role. 

At cvapp.ie, we're committed to helping our community of job seekers create polished and professional CVs. With an extensive library of CV examples, invaluable career guidance, and expert tips, securing an exceptional bartender job has never been easier. 

How to write a bartender CV

Bartenders skillfully mix drinks while providing excellent customer service in various settings. They guarantee a well-stocked bar, monitor alcohol consumption, maintain cleanliness, handle orders, manage transactions, and showcase creativity in crafting beverages. They are knowledgeable about a variety of drinks and are adept at customer engagement, and if you’re a bartender looking to spruce up your CV, you’ve come to the right place! 

Your CV should contain the following sections:

• Header
• Summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• Employment history
• Skills
• Education

Choosing the right CV format for a bartender CV

Typically, we recommend reverse chronological order because it makes life easy for recruiters who want to know what you have done lately. If your work history does not follow a straight path, you may consider a hybrid style in which you focus more on your skills and attributes than your experience. 

Include your contact information

As a bartender, it is important to include the following contact details in your CV:

• Full name: Include your first and last name
• Email Address: Include a professional email address that you check regularly. Avoid using unprofessional or personal email addresses
• Phone Number: Provide a current and reachable phone number
• Location: Mention the city or area where you are currently located
• Relevant websites: If you have a professional presence on platforms like LinkedIn or a personal website showcasing your bartending skills, include the relevant URLs or links.

How to write an effective bartender summary

Personality plays a big role in bartending. Some patrons like to get to know their bartenders. They want to be where everybody knows their name! In this section, you have a chance to illustrate your personality and style behind the bar. 

Replace a CV objective with a CV summary (also known as a CV profile or professional profile) because it offers a better opportunity to show off who you are. Your cover letter is another place to show off who you are, but try not to repeat information. You want to say as much as you can in the little space you have.

In three to five sentences, you should describe your biggest professional successes as a bartender. Maybe you developed a drink that became a big favourite or increased the number of regulars who came into the bar. 

Use strong descriptive words to explain how you encourage repeat business or stay calm and personable as you handle a three-deep bar on a Saturday night. Bartenders must have excellent interpersonal skills, so draw recruiters in with your upbeat personality. 

If you are searching for another hospitality-related job, you may benefit from checking out our other hospitality and catering CV examples on the cvapp.ie website. In the meantime, you can review our other CV examples from the hospitality industry, such as our cook CV example or waiter CV example, or you can check out our bartender CV sample content below!

Highlighting your work experience

The employment history of your bartender CV is the place to make the most of your years of experience. Any hospitality or food service job you have worked is a CV builder and should take up the most space in your work experience section. 

Give the most space to any bartending experience you have. These jobs attest to your ability to please customers, work with point-of-sales or POS systems, and many other skills so include them here.

Consider all the skills you use on the job when you write bullet points for each position you have held and make sure you include action verbs where appropriate. A great bartender CV highlights a candidate’s ability to provide top-notch customer service and drink service. 

An ideal candidate is experienced in food and beverage environments and has a focus on customer satisfaction. Use details and data when appropriate to illustrate what you achieved at previous jobs. Simply listing your responsibilities in your job descriptions is not enough. 

Check out our customisable employment history below: 

The best skills to include on a bartender CV

In the skills section of your bartender CV, it’s important to highlight your strongest abilities to set yourself apart from other candidates. 

A good bartender relies on exceptional interpersonal skills, including effective communication and active listening while showcasing their mixology expertise. Take the time to analyse the bartender job description for the specific position you are seeking and align your skills accordingly. 

Keep in mind that each job may require different skills, so personalise your CV accordingly, adapting and swapping out skills as needed. It's also beneficial to maintain a comprehensive list of all the skills in your repertoire, highlighting those essential for succeeding as a bartender.

Detail your education & relevant certifications

The education section of your bartender CV is a must; however, bartending requires a specialised set of skills that you can learn on the job. 

Some choose to attend bartending school and others may have hospitality-related degrees, but a Leaving Certificate is the minimum required education. Even if your degree is not related to the hospitality field, list it here. Earning a degree shows you have follow-through and perseverance.

If you have just completed bartending school and do not have any professional experience in the field, consider moving this section up since it highlights your major qualification for a bartender job. If you are a career-changer, consider using a functional CV that will highlight your education and related experience from a different field.

Selecting the right CV layout for a bartender CV

Bartending is people-oriented and creative and you want your bartender CV design to reflect your skills and strengths. Use our field-tested Creative CV templates to get you started. For more upscale or formal bars, restaurants, and hotels, be sure to check out our Professional category. You can choose to customise each template, but remember these helpful tips:

• Your first goal is to keep it easy to read: so no funny fonts!
• Ensure your CV layout is tidy and clean, hiring managers want to find your information quickly
• Alter your line lengths to leave ample white space
• Use colour sparingly
• Where possible, have a friend or colleague proofread your CV before sending

At cvapp.ie, we know achieving your dream job role can be challenging. With an impressive online CV builder, quality career advice and expert-approved guides, we’re here to help you kickstart your bartender career. A job-winning bartender CV is just a few clicks away!