How to List Bartender Skills on a Resume: Best Skills and Examples

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Why employers want to see bartender skills on your resume

When you’re applying for a bartender position, there is a particular set of skills employers will want to see on your resume. These skills will not only showcase your ability to mix drinks and fulfill orders, but they must also show off your ability to interact with patrons to ensure a high degree of customer satisfaction. Additionally, an employer is going to want to know whether you already have the necessary skills or if you’ll need further training. This article explains how to list bartender skills on a resume and gives you a list of the best bartending skills to include on your resume. 

How to list bartender skills on a resume

Your resume needs to stand out from the competition if you want the best chance of landing the job. To do this, your skills need to be listed in an effective manner that appropriately shows off your bartending abilities. 

Here are several steps for effectively listing your bartender skills on a resume:

1. First, make sure to highlight your mixology skills

The primary focal point of a bartender position is the ability to make drinks. To help your resume stand out, include all of your relevant mixology skills. You may even want to include a select few specialty drinks you’re proficient with, especially if making them is particularly difficult. Mentioning the title of the drink will suffice, however, as it’s generally safe to assume your employer is already familiar with the details.

2. Then, include skills describing your personality and service skills

This is the portion of your skills list in which you show off your customer service skills. Serving patrons their drinks is just the beginning of your responsibilities. It’s your duty to ensure customers are satisfied with their experience as well. Additionally, you’ll need to include relevant skills that highlight your ability to communicate with patrons, whether it’s explaining menu options to a customer or remembering the unique service they regularly request. General friendliness is a must as well, so don’t forget to also list your skills as a polite conversationalist and listener.

3. Finally, mention inventory management and organization skills

Bartenders are also responsible for the general upkeep of the bar, so you’ll have to list skills relevant to organization and multitasking as well. That means being able to take stock and keep track of inventory in addition to organizing products in an efficient and aesthetically appealing manner. General cleaning and maintenance are always essential to include as well.

Best bartender skills to add to a resume

These bartender skills are the most important ones to add to your resume:

Mixology consistency

Not only should you be able to make drinks, but you should be able to make them well consistently. Your skills need to surpass just being able to make a cocktail. You have to be able to make the same incredible cocktail dozens of times each night. Not only does this increase customer satisfaction, but it shows your commitment to the employer’s bottom line.

Free pouring

Free pouring is an essential skill for efficiently running a bar. For quick and quality service, the ability to free pour drinks is essential, especially if you’re applying to work at a busy bar. With this skill, you don’t have to measure drinks before they’re served. Instead, you develop a count system that allows you to measure on the fly. Keep in mind that this is a difficult skill to master. If you falter on your free pour, you could be giving away drinks or shortchanging paying customers.

Friendliness

The friendly bartender is an important part of everyone’s favorite bar or pub. As a bartender, you have to be able to play that role, whether it’s by listening to customers’ problems or simply effectively serving them the drinks they want. You should make people feel welcome and understand exactly what kind of service they want.

Adaptability

In any position where you’re dealing with people, you’ll have to offer a variety of different services. Your service should vary based on the kind of patron you’re dealing with to account for different needs. People sometimes come to a bar looking for someone to talk to, and being conversational will make their experience better. If a party of businessmen sits down, however, it’s typically best to serve them quickly and efficiently with the minimum amount of conversation. 

Cleanliness

The cleanliness skill simply highlights your ability to keep the bar in top shape in terms of sanitation and aesthetics. Not only should the bar be pristine enough to impress customers, but keeping the area clean and remaining in compliance with health code regulations is essential for any bar’s success.

Related: Emotional Intelligence: Definition and Examples

How to improve bartender skills

If your bartender skills are falling short of general expectations, here’s how you can improve:

1. First, learn how to make as many drinks as possible

The more you know, the more likely it is you’ll be able to fulfill any customer’s order.

2. Then, practice your free pour

Free pouring is a tough skill to master, and even when you think you have it down, practice some more. 

3. Next, start implementing garnishes in your drinks

While they’re unnecessary for taste, they can do quite a bit when it comes to aesthetics and impressing customers.

4. Then, experiment with different mixes

The best way to understand why certain cocktails are good and why some aren’t is to understand how ingredients go together.

5. Finally, improve your memory

Memory training can take many forms, but working on your memorization skills is essential for virtually any service job.