Mixing up a strong bartender cover letter is not much different from shaking your favorite cocktail. You need to know what the ingredients are and the order in which you need to use them, and then you add a little bit of extra to make it stand out.
The same goes for a cover letter. Putting your skills and experience on a piece of paper might seem daunting, but the process is quite simple once you get the hang of it.
In this article, we’ll show you how to apply for a bar job by giving you the recipe for crafting a delicious bartender cover letter that no hiring manager will be able to resist. Let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
Your bartender cover letter should follow the business letter format when it comes to section arrangement and layout.
Your cover letter should be packed with valuable information but be brief—between 250 and 400 words.
The first paragraph needs to capture the reader’s attention with your biggest strengths and most substantial accomplishments.
All your abilities and qualifications should be relevant to the specific role that you’re applying for.
The final paragraph of your cover letter should include a call to action to increase your chances of being invited for an interview.
What Format Should I Use for a Bartender Cover Letter?
The go-to format for a cover letter is the formal business letter format. It is the established way of writing letters in the professional landscape, which is why hiring managers expect this composition.
There are two aspects to keep in mind when formatting your bartender cover letter, and they are:
Content arrangement
Cover letter layout
When it comes to arranging content, you should organize the sections of your letter in the following way:
Cover Letter Format
Contact information goes in the header
A greeting addresses the reader
The body of the letter should consist of three distinct parts, which are:
An elevator pitch-style introductory paragraph
The middle portion, which includes your most prominent skills, qualifications, and experiences
A closing paragraph with a thank-you note and a brief call to action
A polite closing with a sign-off
But like with cocktails, the visual appeal of your bartender cover letter is just as important as its composition.
Here’s how to achieve a stunning cover letter layout:
Cover Letter Layout
Your cover letter should be one page long.
The writing should be between 250 and 400 words.
You need a suitable font for your cover letter, such as Arial, Times New Roman, or Helvetica.
Set the font size to 10–12 pt.
Adjust margins to be at least 1 inch on all sides.
Use 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing and have an additional line of space between paragraphs.
Set the text alignment to left or justified.
Bartender Cover Letter Outline
Now that you know the basic structure of a cover letter, let’s learn how to write it by looking at every section individually. To help with that, we’ve prepared a succinct visual guide that will help you follow along:
#1. Heading
The heading of a cover letter has the functional purpose of displaying contact information and the date of writing.
You should start with your details and include the following:
Header Mandatory Details
Name
Job title
Physical address
Phone number
Email address
Header Optional Details
LinkedIn or other relevant social media profiles, a personal website, a portfolio, etc.
After that, you should date the letter and proceed with the recipient’s contact details:
Let’s see that in an example:
Heading Example
Anthony Pellerin Bartender 4915 Orchard Street Eagan, MN 55121 952-783-8582 anthony.pellerin@example.com linkedin.com/ln/anthonypellerin
Mankato, 11/09/2023
John King Hiring Manager The Old Fashioned Cocktail 3166 Rosewood Court Mankato, MN 56001
#2. Greeting
A cordial greeting is a customary way of opening a business letter—cover letters included. The trick here is to address the recipient by their name.
The benefits of this are twofold as you:
Cover Letter With Greeting Benefits
Show diligence by indicating that you went the extra mile to do research and find out who is going to read your cover letter
Build rapport by personalizing the document and creating a connection with the reader from the get-go
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Greeting Example
Dear Mr. King,
If you can’t find the name of the hiring manager, you should address them by their title. A greeting along the lines of “Dear Hiring Manager” is much better than a generic “To Whom It May Concern.”
#3. Introduction
The introduction is meant to grab the attention of the hiring manager and persuade them to focus on the rest of your cover letter. That’s why you want to give them key information, such as the position that you’re applying for, how much experience you have, and some of your biggest accomplishments.
Start your letter strong, impress the reader immediately, and they’ll pay close attention to the rest of the qualifications highlighted in the document.
Here’s how to do that:
Introduction Example
I am writing to express my interest in the bartender position at The Old Fashioned Cocktail. I have more than 7 years of experience working in upscale bars, and my extensive knowledge of cocktails and exceptional interpersonal skills helped me increase mixed drink sales by up to 45% in 3 different places.
#4. Skills, Qualifications, & Experiences
The middle part of your cover letter is its main section. It should feature those skills, qualifications, and experiences that portray you as the best person for the job that you’re applying for.
No two roles are the same, and each one requires a different set of skills. That’s why you want to carefully read the job ad and research the company to find out precisely what hiring managers are looking for.
Then, focus on those abilities and work experience that’ll demonstrate to your future employer how they can benefit from hiring you. By using numbers and statistics to quantify your accomplishments, you’ll add measurable value and make them pop in the eyes of the reader.
You can see how that works in the following example:
Skills, Qualifications, & Experiences Example
As an expert in mixology, I know more than 170 unique recipes by heart and am able to create both classic and innovative cocktails effortlessly. That, coupled with the ability to memorize orders and customers, helped me attain a 97% customer satisfaction rating by serving repeat patrons based on their preferences.
#5. Reasons for Applying
A reliable way to get ahead of the competition is to emphasize the exact reason why you’re applying to a particular organization or company. This displays drive, motivation, and personal connection, all of which are highly sought-after by hiring managers and employers.
It indicates that you’re already familiar with how the organization works. That shows you’re more likely to fit in with their team and get up to speed with their operations faster and more efficiently than other candidates.
Let’s see that in an example:
Reasons for Applying Example
I am particularly drawn to The Old Fashioned Cocktail due to your emphasis on customer service. The way you cater to every patron and provide background information about every custom drink that you serve resonates with my dedication to taking mixology to a higher level.
#6. Call to Action
A call to action (CTA) is a piece of writing designed to induce a response from the reader. In the context of a cover letter, a CTA is meant to entice hiring managers to call you over for an interview, check out your resume, examine your portfolio, etc.
Here’s an example of a candidate thanking the reader for their time and suggesting further conversation over an interview:
Call To Action Example
Thank you for your time. I would be thrilled to discuss over an interview how my experience and expertise can contribute to your establishment.
#7. Conclusion & Sign Off
Having a conclusion followed by your signature is an established way of ending a cover letter. Much like a greeting, this bit should also be brief and polite.
Here’s an example:
Conclusion & Sign Off
Warm regards, Anthony Pellerin
Here’s a complete example of a bartender cover letter to help you piece things together and visualize everything that you’ve learned so far:
Top 3 Strategies to Follow When Writing a Bartender Cover Letter
Let’s end this comprehensive tutorial on a high note with a couple of expert strategies that’ll help make your bartender cover letter shine:
Tips to Write a Bartender Cover Letter
Emphasize your mixology skills. Bartending is more than serving drinks. However, highlighting that you know how to prepare and mix cocktails, understand customers' needs, and give them memorable experiences is a surefire way to set yourself apart from the competition.
Showcase your license or certification. Mention in your cover letter if you’ve completed a specialized course for bartending and have a license or certification to show for it. This is especially important when writing a bartender cover letter for an entry-level position, as it makes up for a lack of work history.
Make your cover letter complementary to your resume. Hiring managers are likely going to go through both of these documents when evaluating you as a potential candidate. That’s why both your cover letter and bartender resume should feature unique information that depicts you as the best person for the job.
Final Thoughts
Now you know how to write a cover letter for a bartender job. More than that, you know how to make it as unique and tempting as your favorite drink. All it takes is to follow an established structure and infuse it with a bit of personality and charisma while you’re at it.
What’s even better is that the rules stay the same, whether you’re writing a bartender cover letter with no experience or if you have decades under your belt. You start by capturing the reader’s attention, capitalize on that with your strongest skills and experiences, and end the letter with a call to action to secure an interview invite.
Cheers to your success!
