
How to Create a Bartender Resume (Skills, Examples)
Here's how to make a barback resume to help you land your next restaurant gig.
Isabel ThottamAuthor


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Get free downloadHow to Create a Bartender Resume (Skills, Examples)
If you want to work in a bar, starting as a barback is a good position to break into the nightlife scene. A barback is similar to the role of a busser in a restaurant – they clean and clear dishware from the bar and assist the bartenders with garnishing, re-stocking inventory, and opening bottles.
To get hired as a barback you need a resume that will stand out. Hiring managers possibly see hundreds of resumes from barback candidates, so presenting one with the right experience or an eye-catching layout can help you get noticed.
When hiring a barback, a bartender will want you to have a particular set of skills, experience, and knowledge. Since your resume is your introduction to a hiring manager, it’s important to present yourself as the best option for their open barback position.
Keep reading to learn how to write a strong resume that will help improve your chances of landing a position as a barback.
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Professional Barback Experience
It’s important that your resume highlights any previous barback or restaurant work experience, and any desire to learn more and gain new experience. A strong barback resume should clearly indicate that you have relevant experience and know what to expect and what is expected of the barback position. Focus on highlighting your past professional experience with bullet points that showcase your knowledge.
When writing bullet points, focus on the most recent one or three positions you have held and write down any major accomplishments in addition to all the tasks you performed. When writing about your professional experience, it’s best to keep your bullet points short to one sentence per line. You should use keywords to best highlight your responsibilities. If you don’t know what keywords to use for a barback position, read over the job description for the position. Include the same words used to describe the job duties on your resume because doing so will make your resume appear stronger.
Include Personal Experience
Hiring managers often view personal information as an extension of your experience, so choose to share personal experience that adds more information to highlight what makes you the best person for this job. Again, you’ll want to use bullet points to list your personal experience and explain their relevance.
For example, if you are applying for a barback position, think about any experience you have that might be relevant, even if it was unpaid work. Did you volunteer at a school event in a customer service capacity? Have you ever worked in a food kitchen or as an usher during an event? Even if it seems small, it could still help punch up your resume if you are lacking in enough professional experience. You can utilize personal experiences that showcase skills or experience to further indicate your qualifications and interest in the job.
Skills
On a resume, it’s always important to include the skill sets a hiring manager wants to see. For the role of a barback, here are some skills they may be looking for:
Fast, diligent worker with a good attitude
Organized and proficient
Customer service oriented
Knowledgeable about beer, wine, and liquor
Team player
For a barback position, consider listing any skills that show your experience working in a restaurant, answering phones, handling cash, using point-of-sale systems, wiping and cleaning tables, stacking dishes, and carrying dishes.
Moreover, bartenders usually have to have a set of specialty skills, so if you learned any specific or useful skills from any previous work experience, it is a good idea to list those on your resume. Some examples might be related to crafting cocktails, measuring liquids, prepping fruits or other garnishes and any other skills you may have that would be considered useful in a bar environment.
Here's an example of a barback resume to help you get started:
AUDREY SMITH
312-332-1267 | audreysmith2@gmail.com
451 Los Feliz Way #302, Los Angeles, CA 90027
SUMMARY: Certified barback with 2+ years of experience working in bars, events, and as a busser.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION
ABC Bartending School – Los Angeles, 2020
MAST License
Food Handler Card
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BARBACK
Parks Restaurant – Los Angeles, CA
January 2022 – Present
Assisted the lead bartender with drink orders, preparing garnishes, and serving customers.
Promptly cleared empty glasses and cleaned, sanitized, and wiped down bar and tables.
Helped other employees when needed, picked up extra shifts, and always on time.
Ensured guests enjoyed their experience by being knowledgeable about wine, beer, and liquor selections as well as recommended drink pairings for guest’s meals when asked.
BUSSER
Lola’s Cafe – Highland Park, CA
September 2020 – December 2021
Provided guests with excellent customer service when delivering and removing drinks.
Assisted servers and bartenders with clearing tables, cleaning tables, and carrying food or drinks to tables.
Completed side work such as re-stocking dishware, organizing inventory, and re-filling customer drinks.
Next Steps
Before you send in your barback resume, ask a friend or colleague to look it over to be sure it captures your work history and to confirm that it looks professional. If you put in the time and effort to create a strong resume, you should be able to improve your chances of getting an interview and landing a barback job.
But if you want to further increase your chances of getting hired as a barback, consider these other options:
Network with bartenders. Networking can always help you get your foot in the door, especially to work in a bar, knowing the right people can help you get a job. If you don’t know anyone who works at a bar, your previous co-workers or friends might. Reach out to everyone you know and ask if they know anyone who could help you get hired as a barback. Chances are, you know someone who can help or can at least introduce you to someone.
Apply in person. Want to make yourself stand out? Simply go to the restaurant where you want to work and ask the bartender about the open position. If you can build a good rapport with the bartender, you can then mention you are interested to apply and ask them for an application, or turn in your resume right then and there. Taking this extra step and showing up in person can help the hiring manager remember you and may help you get the job.
Write a cover letter. But, specifically, write one that is customized to the bar you want to work for. Consider making it more personal or interesting by including your opinion on the bar or any special drinks or menu items they offer. Doing so can increase your chances of landing an interview.
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DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and publication does not constitute an endorsement. Toast does not warrant the accuracy or completeness of any information, text, graphics, links, or other items contained within this content. Toast does not guarantee you will achieve any specific results if you follow any advice herein. It may be advisable for you to consult with a professional such as a lawyer, accountant, or business advisor for advice specific to your situation.
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