Bar Manager Resume Examples & Writing Tips for 2025

From serving customers and shaking up cocktails to checking the stock—managing a busy bar is far from easy. You have to have oodles of charisma and the hospitality industry know-how to get it right. So, how do you slide all of your competencies into a resume?

Crafting a stellar bar manager resume is a fine balance. It’s all about combining your leadership and people skills with your hands-on experience. It doesn’t end there. To wow the hiring manager, you’re going to need some cold, hard metrics too. If you’re looking for some guidance, you’ve come to the right place.

In the following guide, we’ll teach you how to tailor your resume to the vacancy, showcase your diverse bar management skills, and pique the hiring manager’s interest.

How to use this bar manager resume guide

Ready to get started? We’ve created the following bar manager resume guide to help you along the way. From expert-backed tips to a selection of snazzy resume examples, we’ve got everything you need. So, how can you make sure that you succeed?

Follow the steps below to get the most possible out of this guide:

What to focus on when writing your bar manager resume

The first step in the process is considering what you need to focus on. There are many angles you can take when crafting your application. The aim of the game is to show that you can get results, lead a team toward success, and understand the bartending industry.

Want to give that a whirl? Let’s take a look at the main things you can focus on here:

Detailed sales numbers

Recruiters always care about the bottom line. Don’t merely tell them that you ran a “busy bar”—put your money where your mouth is. How busy was it? What stats did you have?

Including detailed accounts of your sales record, or at least hinting at them, could set you apart from the crowd. Don’t be scared to brag about the results you’ve got before now.

Be specific when talking about your track record. What was your sales record? How many customers did you serve? What was your biggest achievement?

Let’s take a look at an example:

Examples of team leadership

Excellent bar managers need leadership skills. Let the hiring manager know you have what it takes by weaving these throughout the body of your application. Go ahead and share some success stories showcasing how you motivate your team.

Your innovative approach

What makes you different from other bar managers? If you’ve got a creative flair, now’s the time to let people know about it. You might talk about special promotions you ran, how you attracted new business, and the management style you used.

Illustrate the impact of your work. How did your promotions lead to results? Giving this level of detail shows the recruiter that you’re a highly valuable candidate.

Here’s an example:

Straightforward resume structure

Your resume layout needs to be accessible. When the recruiter looks at this document, they have no time to spare. Be sure to use a simple structure that’s easy to read. Wherever possible, use bullet points to deliver a load of information quickly.

How to choose the right resume format

Choosing the right resume format for your bar manager application isn’t hard.

In most cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format. This is the standardized approach in the U.S. and what hiring managers expect to see. To perfect it, start with your most recent experiences at the top of each section and work backward.

The exception for career changers

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. If you’re a manager in another field and you’re switching industries, you should use the functional format. This structure emphasizes your skill-set, rather than your experiences.

When you’re transitioning from one sector to another, always highlight your transferable skills. While you may not have worked in a bar—or even hospitality—chances are, you have overlapping experience. Let the hiring manager know you have what it takes.

What to include in your resume header

Next, let’s talk about your resume header. This section provides your basic information and contact details. Make sure you keep it simple and skimmable.

Here’s what you should include:

• Your name: List your full name—first and last. If you have a nickname that you use at work, you can also mention it here.
• Job title: Next up, you’ll need the job title (i.e. “Bar manager”).
• Contact details: Make it easy for the recruiter to get in touch. Write down your cell number and email address.
• Location: You don’t need to give them your full address. A general location will do.

Remember, there’s no need to have a headshot on your bar manager resume. This can lead to problems, such as age discrimination.

How to write a resume summary

Your resume summary is one of the first things a recruiter will read. It has to catch their eye for all the right reasons. This short statement should capture what makes you unique. Why should the reader care about your application specifically? How do you stand out?

Here are some examples of what to include:

• Your proven track record of bar managing results.
• Any special training or certificates you have.
• Your biggest professional brag to date.

Don’t underestimate the power of action words. Leading with these words is a snappy way to grab the recruiters’ attention (and keep it!).

When in doubt, always refer back to the job posting. Check the core criteria to see what the hiring manager is looking for. You can align your summary with their needs.

The above summary shows tangible metrics like “8+ years” of experience and “increased revenue by 30%.” That’s precisely what hiring managers are looking for. Combine that with active language and action words, and you have a recipe for success.

How to write a quantifiable resume experience section

You’re not looking for just any bar job—you want to run the whole place. To do that, you’ll need a good amount of work experience on your resume. Include any positions that relate to either hospitality or management.

If you’re wondering how far back to go on a resume? The answer is 10-15 years into the past.

Keep things straightforward. Start with the company name, location, your role, and the dates you were employed for each position. Next step is to bulletpoint your achievements below.

Here’s how that should look:

Use everything in your arsenal. If you have awards, specialist training, or any other things worth shouting about, slide them into this section.

Bar manager resume work experience samples

Chances are, there are many approaches you could take. So, which should you choose? To help you out, we’ve got some work experience section examples.

Achievement-focused

It’s not about the roles you’ve held—but what you’ve achieved. When using this approach, include sturdy metrics into the mix. Stats and numbers validate your accomplishments.

Skills-focused

It takes a cocktail of skills to be a pro bar manager. If you’re brimming with talents, let them shine through your work experience. Be specific about your hard and soft skills.

Leadership focused

Good bar managers oversee the venue. Excellent bar managers lead their teams toward success. If you’re the latter, detail that in your work experience section.

Listing your skills on your resume

Knowing what skills to put on a resume is an art. You might have a bunch of seemingly relevant talents—but which are most likely to land you an interview?

To answer that question, return to the original job posting and check the criteria. It’s likely you’ll find a description of core competencies there. See which ones you have and list them.

Use the same wording as the advertisement. That improves your chances of getting past any pesky ATS software and will also help you stand out to the recruiters.

Best hard skills to feature on your bar manager resume

Your hard skills are the main abilities you need as a bar manager. Also known as technical skills, these range from industry knowledge to software proficiency.

When thinking about your resume competencies, ask yourself which you use on a daily basis. Consider any industry-specific tools you use and how proficient you are. As a bonus, give context about how you’ve used each program or tool.

Best soft skills to feature on your bar manager resume

Bartending is a social role. So, you’ll need plenty of soft skills to get it right. These include the ability to work well with people, listening, organization, and communication skills.

Featuring these on your resume shows you’re a well-rounded candidate. You don’t just walk the walk—you talk the talk.

Education on resume

When you’ve completed the other parts, it’s time to pop your education into your resume. This is easier than you might think and you can use our example for inspiration. Adopt the reverse-chronological order when writing this all-important resume section.

Bar managers don’t need to have college degrees but, if you do have one, boast about it here. You should also detail your high school education. Only talk about your GPA if it’s above 3.5—any lower than that can look bad.

Of course, if you happen to have any professional certifications, it’s well worth writing about them in this section. Examples include the TIPS (Training for Intervention Procedures) Certification or the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 2 or 3.

Let’s take a look at a stellar example below:

Extra sections to include in your bar manager resume

Looking for a way to take your bar manager resume to the next level? If you have some extra space, you may want to include additional sections.

Here’s a breakdown:

Language section

Having a second language is a huge bonus, especially if you studied or worked abroad. You can provide a language section listing the languages you speak and proficiency levels.

Hobbies and interests section

How do you spend your spare time? Talking about your many hobbies on your resume may give you a competitive edge. These show that you have a life outside of work.

In each case, illustrate how your interests align with managing a bar. Draw attention to any overlap between your hobbies and your job.

Volunteer work section

Volunteer work isn’t necessary. However, if you have a load of it and it’s relevant, create a section for it. Lay this out as you would a work experience section. Be honest about your biggest achievements and why they matter.

Conclusion

Ready to get started on your resume? Use the advice we’ve shared in this guide and take a look at our examples for inspiration. Get started now by using our resume builder. The drag-and-drop tool makes it easier than ever to effortlessly create a pro-level resume.