How to write a killer cover letter as a bartender
Working as a bartender can be an awesome career, with both social and technical aspects to keep you busy all night long. To earn a position as a bartender, you need to write a cover letter that showcases both your social skills and your technical talents within the role.
In this guide, we will teach you 5 essential steps for writing a job-winning cover letter as a bartender. Keep reading to learn all about:
- Crafting a great cover letter header & headline as a bartender
- Personalizing the greeting & content of your bartender cover letter
- Writing an eye-catching introduction on your bartender cover letter
- Describing your top skills & accomplishments as a bartender
- Concluding your bartender cover letter effectively & persuasively
1. Crafting a great cover letter header & headline as a bartender
The first step to take when writing a cover letter as a bartender is to create a beautifully formatted header and headline.
Your cover letter header resides at the top of the document and is the first information an employer will see. As such, your header should include:
- Your name and professional title (in a larger & bolded font)
- Your professional contact information
- The name of the bar or restaurant you are applying to
Here is an example of a well-formatted bartender header
Sam Castle, Bartender
(123) 456-7890 | samcastle@email.com | linkedin.com/in/sam-castle
To: Mellow Mushroom
1234 Street Address
Blowing Rock, NC, 28605
Once your header is squared away, your next step is to write a compelling cover letter headline – a short title statement used to hook an employer’s attention. Strong bartender headlines include:
- A keyword related to the position
- An attention-grabbing number or trigger word
- A powerful adjective or verb
- A promise statement to the employer that indicates the letter is tailored for the job
Here is an example of a great headline from a bartender’s cover letter
In Need of a Talented Bartender? My Top 3 Bartending Skills & How They Can Benefit Your Restaurant
Trigger Word/Number: In Need of, Top 3 Skills
Keyword: Bartender, Bartending
Adjective/Verb: Talented, Benefit
Promise: Your Restaurant
Still looking for a job? These 100+ resources will tell you everything you need to get hired fast.
See more examples like these
2. Personalizing the greeting & content of your bartender cover letter
Any time you apply for a new job as a bartender, it is crucial to research the job beforehand to learn key details about the company and position. Using this research, you can personalize your cover letter to be highly specific and relevant to the job you are applying to, helping to impress employers.
As you research, one detail to keep a special eye out for is who at the company is in charge of hiring and interviewing. Using this information, you can create a personalized greeting that addresses this specific person by name – immediately revealing the level of research you have completed.
Here are 3 examples of personalized cover letter greetings
- Dear Bar Manager Jane Doe,
- Dear Ms. Jane Doe,
- Dear Hiring Manager John Smith,
Find out your resume score!
3. Writing an eye-catching introduction on your bartender cover letter
The first main paragraph of your cover letter is your introduction, where your main goal is to capture the employer’s attention and convince them to continue reading.
To accomplish this, your bartender introduction should include:
- A brief overview of your professional history
- A statement on why you are enthusiastic about applying to this company
- A mutual acquaintance (when possible)
Pro Tip: Mutual acquaintances can make a huge difference on a cover letter, as it provides the employer with a trusted professional reference right away. If you do not have a mutual acquaintance, try building your professional network using online tools like LinkedIn.
Here is an example of an eye-catching bartender introduction
Dear Bar Manager Jane Doe,
I am a certified bartender with more than 4 years of experience working in the fast-paced environment of Broadway in Nashville. In bartending school, I was taught by Mr. Joe King who is now one of your assistant bar managers and drink specialists. Mr. King has expressed great confidence in my bartending abilities and strongly recommended I apply for this position.
4. Describing your top skills & accomplishments as a bartender
Unlike a resume – where you are restricted by tight, highly-organized sections – a cover letter gives you ample opportunity to expand upon your best skills and accomplishments as a bartender.
As you describe these qualifications in the body paragraphs of your cover letter, make sure the information you include is highly relevant, contextual, and quantifiable. You want the employer to get an excellent overview of you as a professional, and these details will help you achieve this.
Here are 6 examples of bartending skills that are excellent to describe in a cover letter
- Knowledge of cocktails and mixology
- Operating keg and draught systems
- Measuring liquor and wine pours
- Payment and cash register management
- Knowledge of health code requirements and standards
- Excellent understanding of bartending terminology
Here is an example of how to describe an accomplishment in a bartender cover letter
As a bartender at [Former Employer], I participated with the other bartenders in developing new monthly drink recipes to feature as a special at the restaurant. My specialty recipes consistently performed the best, bringing in a 15% average increase in drink sales. Additionally, I helped manage the bar inventory, sourcing a new supplier for mix-ins that reduced supply expenses by 15%.
5. Concluding your bartender cover letter effectively & persuasively
The last step to writing your bartending cover letter is to write an effective conclusion that persuades the employer to get in contact with you. This closing statement should include:
- An enthusiastic sentence saying you are looking forward to hearing from them
- An additional sentence stating you will follow up, including how you will contact them or how they can contact you
- A formal sign-off
Here is an example of an excellent closing statement from a bartender’s cover letter
As your newest bartender, I will provide your customers will an exceptional experience and expertly crafted drinks. I am excited to learn more about this opportunity and am available for interviews any weekday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. I plan to follow up with you on the phone next Wednesday regarding my application status if I have not heard back yet.
Many Thanks,
[Applicant Name]
If you have ever wondered how a cover letter differs from a resume, this article will tell you everything about the key differences between the two.
