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Bartender: CV and cover letter examples

2 fully written cover letters, a ready CV with a placeholder portrait and practical tips – open the example and replace the details with yours.

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Cover letter examples

Each example is written for a different starting point. Borrow the structure, not the sentences – your own examples and numbers are what make a letter work.

1Head bartender moving to a hotel barExperienced

Liam Ahearn
20 Westgate Road
Newcastle NE1 4AF
069 90009 322 · liam.ahearn@example.com

The Riverside Hotel
Kramer
10 Quayside
Newcastle NE1 3DX

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Hotel bartender

Dear Mr Kramer,

on a Friday night three of us make around 400 drinks in our bar. That made me fast. What I miss there is time for guests: explaining a whisky, tuning a drink to someone’s taste, telling the story behind a gin. That is what I value about hotel bars.

I have six years behind the bar, three as head bartender. I have rewritten our menu twice, cost recipes and train new staff. I would happily do a trial shift on one of your busiest evenings.

Yours sincerely,

Liam Ahearn

Enclosures
CV
Reference
Menu sample

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2Waitress moving behind the barEntry level

Isla Simpson
12 Osborne Road
Newcastle NE2 2AE
0221 4710 979 · isla.simpson@example.com

The Copper Room
Lind
40 High Bridge
Newcastle NE1 1EN

DD Month YYYY

Application for the position of Bartender (entry level)

Dear Ms Lind,

three years on the restaurant floor, helping out at the bar every other night, have shown me that I am happier behind it. For the past year I have practised the classics at home and done a weekend bar course.

I know your bar as a guest and like that you work with a few good ingredients. I am quick, tidy and friendly when it gets busy, and I like learning from experienced people.

Yours sincerely,

Isla Simpson

Enclosures
CV
Course certificate

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All people, companies and contact details in the examples are fictional.

CV example

A complete CV for the role – with an illustrated placeholder instead of a photo.

Preview of the CV of Liam Ahearn in the Modern design
Read the CV as text

Liam Ahearn

Head bartender

20 Westgate Road, Newcastle NE1 4AF · 069 90009 322 · liam.ahearn@example.com

Placeholder portrait: replace it with your photo in the editor, or remove it.

Work experience

  • 2023 – present
    Head bartender
    Bar Twenty-Four, Newcastle
    • Team of five
    • New menu, costing
    • Up to 400 drinks on Fridays
  • 2020 – 2023
    Bartender
    Bar Twenty-Four, Newcastle

Education

  • 2016 – 2018
    Hospitality diploma
    Newcastle College, Newcastle

Skills

Classic cocktails, Costing, Speed, Guest advice

Languages

English (Native), Spanish (B1 – intermediate)

Interests

Cooking, cycling

Use this CV template

Good to know

Your application in three steps

  1. Add your own photo – or none

    The example uses an illustrated placeholder. Replace it under “Choose photo” in the editor, or remove it: in the UK, US and many other countries a CV photo is not expected.

  2. Replace the details

    Name, contact, jobs, skills: everything is filled in and can be overwritten field by field.

  3. Save as PDF

    The PDF is created in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, no account needed.

What employers look for

Behind the bar, speed, cleanliness, recipe knowledge and hospitality count. Say where you have worked, how busy it was and which drinks you make with confidence. Expect a trial shift.

  • Bar or counter experience

  • Classic cocktail knowledge

  • Speed and cleanliness on busy nights

  • Responsible service of alcohol

  • Evening and weekend work

Tips for your application

Do

  • Say how busy your bar was.
  • Mention menus you created.
  • Offer a trial shift.

Don’t

  • Only say you “love cocktails”.
  • Tell drinking stories.
  • Be vague about weekends.
Typical interview questions

Prepare a short, honest example from your own work for each one.

  1. Make us a classic of your choice.
  2. How do you handle a drunk guest?
  3. How do you keep the bar clean when it is busy?
  4. How do you cost a drink?

Salary expectations

If the advert asks for your salary expectations, give an annual gross figure or a range you have researched – through pay scales, salary surveys from public sources or people who do the job. If it does not ask, leave pay out of the letter; it will come up in the interview.

Frequently asked questions
Do I need a qualification?

Not usually. Many bartenders come from waiting tables. Courses help, but the trial shift decides.

Should I put a photo on my CV?

It depends on the country. In the UK, Ireland and the US a photo is usually left out to avoid bias, and many employers prefer CVs without one. In Germany and some other countries it is common but optional. If you use one: recent, friendly, plain background, dressed as you would be on a good day at work.

Can I copy the example letters?

Yes, they are free to use. But recruiters read a lot of letters – one with your own examples, numbers and a real reason for choosing this employer will always do better. Use the examples as scaffolding and write the sentences yourself.

Is my data stored anywhere?

No. The CV and the letter are created in your browser. Nothing is stored unless you switch on “Save the draft” in the editor – and then only on your device.

Related jobs

Finish your application

Cover letter and CV as PDF, certificates added, all in one file – small enough for any job portal.