Bartender (Sample Job Description)

This Bartender job description template includes key Bartender duties and responsibilities. You can post this template on job boards to attract prospective applicants.

• What is the role of a Bartender?
• Sample Job Description

What is the role of a Bartender?

Bartenders are generally responsible for mixing, garnishing, and serving beverages to clients. They are also referred to as Barkeeps or Mixologists. They typically work at restaurants, bars, and other licensed establishments.

Their responsibilities generally revolve around fixing drink orders directly from customers or waiters, collecting payments, maintaining stock, creating bar menus, preventing customers from excessive drinking, keeping the equipment and the bar area clean, among other duties. Bartenders must be knowledgeable on a wide range of drinks and other beverages.

Education, Training, & Certification

Ideally, a certificate and relevant experience are required to land a job in this occupation.

• Education: A high school diploma or GED certificate is required.
• Certification: Certification is vital in this field to demonstrate the candidate’s knowledge about stocking a bar, types of beverages, recipes, building a customer base, managing unruly customers, and so on.

Bartender - Skills & Competencies

The following skills and competencies are vital to excel as a Bartender:

• Communication skills: Ability to speak coherently and loudly with a positive tone as well as listening and chatting with customers to create a friendly atmosphere are important in this role.
• Good memory: Excellent short-term and long term memory is essential for remembering and keeping track of orders.
• Organization skills: It’s common for the candidates to be serving multiple customers, keeping track of orders, payments, among other tasks. Having strong organizational skills ensures they can juggle these tasks.
• Interpersonal skills: Bartenders need to have excellent social skills from being approachable to being kind, to being able to size customers up and spark conversations, and so on. To do this, they need interpersonal skills.
• Composed: Due to the nature of the job, the ability to manage stress, while serving multiple customers, and maintain excellent people skills under pressure is essential.

Job Outlook

Employment in this field is expected to grow in the next decade but at a slower rate compared to other occupations. However, job prospects are projected to increase due to the need to replace employees who leave the field.

Work Environment

Bartenders work at clubs, restaurants, bars, hotels, among other F&B service establishments. During peak hours, there’s a lot of pressure to serve customers. Working late evenings, weekends, and holidays is common. The role can either be full-time or part-time.

Sample Job Description

Job Brief

We are looking for an enthusiastic and pleasant bartender to offer an excellent experience to our guests. The ideal candidate should be able to create classic and innovative drinks that exceed customers’ expectations. 

The Bartender will be in charge of serving customers at the front of the bar and handling drink orders from the dining room, managing the cash drawer at the bar and stock taking at the end of the shift. 

Duties & Responsibilities

• Make beverages for bar and restaurant patrons.
• Connect with clients, take orders and serve snacks and beverages.
• Evaluate customers’ preferences and make suitable suggestions.
• Plan and present the bar menu as well as prepare ingredients for cocktails.
• Confirm customers’ identification and check it meets the legal drinking age.
• Restock bar inventory and supplies.
• Nurture excellent guest experiences and remain customer-oriented.
• Keep the bar area tidy as per the company’s rules and the requirements of the local health department.
• Establish a suitable work pace that keeps the customers satisfied.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Previous work experience as a Bartender or a similar role.
• In-depth knowledge of mixing, garnishing and serving drinks.
• Basic computer skills.
• Knowledge of a second language is a plus.
• Positive attitude and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to keep the bar organized, stocked and tidy.
• Relevant training certificate.