If you want to get a bartending job, you must write a resume specifically designed to get a bartending job. This is most true if you don’t have any previous bartending experience. If that is the case, your bartending resume needs to present your other job skills with an eye towards translating them into bartending skills. Use the examples below to freshen up your bartending resume and get yourself a new bartending job.
Bartending is a people skills job. You absolutely must be a people person. With the way our economy has moved to a service economy most jobs are now people skills jobs. If you have had a job where you interact with the customers, whether by phone or face-to-face, you can translate this experience into a bartending skill. Often interacting with customers turns into a sales opportunity. Bartenders are often trying to get customers to upgrade their order which leads to higher revenue and tips, this is called upselling and needs to be on every bartender’s resume.
Bartending requires not only that you know how to handle people but also that you can help to resolve their conflicts. Co-workers and yourself will often get into difficult situations with each other and with customers. Knowing how to diffuse these situations is an essential bartending skill. Bar owners often look for bartenders with strong personalities because they need them to able to have a presence behind the bar that will discourage conflicts from even happening. Knowing how to resolve them is a skill all managers look for.
Anticipating customer needs and exceeding customer expectations have become buzzwords in the service industry. They are buzzwords for a reason, they are essential skills in todays service economy. The food and drink service business has become very competitive in the last few years. It is essential that customers leave satisfied and that they tell their friends about the experience. If you can anticipate the customers needs and meet them before they ask you will have exceeded their expectations and generated positive word of mouth for the bar or restaurant.
Inventory management is a big part of being a bartender. If you have done any inventory maintenance in your previous jobs, this skill can always be translated over to bartending. Bartenders are often expected to inventory their bar on a daily basis. Busy bars need to restock their shelves every day and almost every bar has a liquor closet and beer fridge. The bartender is expected to rotate the inventory and maintain it, often even placing the liquor and beer orders.
You need to spend part of your resume developing trust. Bartenders handle lots of cash and owners and managers need to be able to trust their bartenders. Bartenders are also usually given more responsibility than the rest of staff in regards to getting keys, closing the bar, etc. Highlight your money management skills, not to show that you know how to count, but to show that other managers and owners have been able to trust you.
Bar owners and managers are looking for the above skills when they are hiring bartenders. Sometimes they do not want to hire an experienced bartender because they come with lots of bad attitudes and habits. Showing that you understand what it takes to be a bartender and that you have the above skill set will go a long to getting you your first bartending job.