When writing a CV to become a Bartender, there are plenty of opportunities to show an employer why you are suited for this job. It is important to know how to lay out your CV, what sections are necessary, and how your experience will bolster your desirability. We have some CV writing tips, which will help to guide the overall look, but the important part is the content you add to show your personality and strengths.
1. Start with a personal statement which needs to be eye-catching enough that an employer will want to read about your skills, experience, employment history.
2. Follow with your work experience, listing previous roles in reverse chronological order.
3. Include a section for key skills and qualifications relevant to the role.
4. You can also include additional information such as hobbies or references, but they’re not as important.
How to Write a Personal Statement for a Bartender
A personal statement is used to give an employer a quick and concise overview of your skills and experience. When applying for a Bartender job you will want to include relevant skills and any experience you may have that is aligned with this job role. That can include customer service or catering roles.
Bartender Personal Statement Example
“I have recently left a role as a [current/previous profession] to pursue a new career in bartending. However, during my [number of years in past profession] I became proficient in many beneficial skills that I believe will help me in my new role.
During work hours I was often praised for my ability to multitask, and my managers often noticed that I could direct staff to certain items with ease thanks to my memorisation skills. I was also tasked with performing tasks that required good attention to detail, as I am capable of maintaining productivity and prioritising tasks efficiently.
Though it was not necessary for my previous role, my dedication to becoming a Bartender has encouraged me to become a PLH ahead of time, and as such I have acquired this certification.”
Ideal Work Experience for a Bartender CV
Bartending is a profession that is needed in many areas of catering and customer service roles, which makes experience in similar roles desirable for an employer, entry level roles prefer a year of customer-facing experience, whereas senior roles will require previous experience in a Bartending role.
Which Jobs to Include
When providing experience, it is beneficial to include your last 5-6 relevant job positions, or if you have spent a prolonged amount of time in your previous roles, describe your last 10 or so years of experience. Relevant roles will include Barista work, catering roles like Waiter/Waitress or Kitchen Staff, or Shopfloor Assistant roles which are customer facing.
Bar Staff CV Work Experience Example
When discussing your work experience, use bullet points to outline your job title, the company you worked for and the length of time you were employed. Add descriptions of the work you performed and the skills you gained while employed:
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Barista at [insert company name] from [start date] to [end date]
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When working as a Barista I learned to memorise drinks, offer alternatives for those with different dietary needs, serve customers and clean tables where necessary.
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Shopfloor Assistant at [insert company name] from [start date] to [end date]
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During my time as a Shopfloor Assistant, I became adept at handling customer queries and dealing with payment transactions on POS systems.
These roles have taught me how to perform optimally under pressure and how to communicate appropriately with both staff and customers.
Key Skills & Qualifications for a Bartender CV
Becoming a Bartender doesn’t always need prior experience if the job offers full training. However, it is useful to have relevant skills or qualifications when applying.
Important Skills for Bar Staff
Some key skills for bartenders are communication skills to take customer orders and memory skills to mix drinks correctly while remembering the order that the customer has placed. A Bartender will also need an understanding of mixology and ratios for cocktail mixing.
It is important to be able to work well in a team and be able to handle cash transactions when working as bar staff. You can find out more information about Bartender skills in our how to become a Bartender guide.
Qualifications Needed to Be a Bartender
When applying for a job as a Bartender you should know about any qualifications or certifications you will need. Though there are no formal requirements it is useful to have at least GCSEs in Maths and English.
To serve alcohol as a Bartender you will need to be a Personal Licence Holder as a requirement, but it can also be useful to attend Bartending courses or obtain a Level 2 Certificate in Professional Bartending Skills.
Additional Content to Boost Your Bartender CV
To put your personality into your CV, talk about your hobbies and interests and how they have given you a skill set relevant to what the job requires. It is also useful to add some references from previous employment or educational facilities.
Hobbies & Interests
Relevant hobbies and interests will teach things such as patience, memorisation, hand eye coordination, and organisational skills. This can include an interest in mixology, crafting puzzles, art, and many other potential interests.
What you’re trying to do when talking about your interests is link them to the skills you have that will be useful in the role you’re applying for.
References
When talking about achievements or accolades you’ve received in previous roles it is good to include references from people who have seen your skills and praised your work ethic. This could be a manager or line manager that you worked for. All referees will need to give you their permission to be used on your CV, and you will need to confirm their information is accurate before using them as references.
How to Make a Bartender CV Stand Out
The most important thing to do when writing a CV is to start with a strong cover letter. Use this time to show your personality while giving a short overview of your skills, qualifications and experience.
You should show enthusiasm for the role and try to talk about how your past experience has encouraged your career path.
Mistakes to Avoid
When writing a CV, do not include any false information or certification that you don’t have at the time of applying for a job. An employer will be most interested in a CV that is to the point without needless information, this is especially important for a cover letter which should only be around 100-150 words long.
Bar Staff CV Example
When it comes to writing a CV, it can be confusing to know where to start. Our template is customisable for your needs and a good starting point for laying a foundation for your CV. Download our free CV template and use it to create a CV you can be proud to send to employers.
