Bartender job description template

Bartenders make and serve drinks, look after guests at the bar and help control alcohol costs and liability. At a small restaurant or bar they often work the bar alone, so a good post describes your drink program and volume, and says whether you need someone who can open and close on their own.

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Bartender

Part-time
Your Company is looking for a bartender who makes good drinks and great conversation. You'll mix cocktails, pour beer and wine, take food orders at the bar and keep everything clean, stocked and running smoothly. We want someone who knows the classics, serves responsibly and makes regulars and first-timers feel equally welcome. Bar experience is preferred, and we'll teach you our menu.

What you’ll do

  • Mix cocktails and pour beer and wine accurately using our recipes and pour standards
  • Greet bar guests, recommend drinks and take food orders
  • Check IDs and refuse service to anyone who can't legally drink or is visibly intoxicated
  • Fill server drink tickets quickly and in the order they come in
  • Prep garnishes, juices and syrups, and restock liquor, beer and glassware
  • Open or close the bar, including counting the drawer and recording inventory
  • Clean and sanitize the bar top, wells, mats and coolers as you go

What we’re looking for

  • Bartending experience and solid knowledge of classic cocktails
  • Meets our state's legal requirements to serve alcohol
  • Responsible alcohol service training such as TIPS or ServSafe Alcohol, if required in our state
  • Accurate with cash, cards and running tabs
  • Able to lift cases of beer and liquor up to 50 lbs and work on your feet until close

Nice to have

  • Experience creating seasonal or house cocktails
  • Knowledge of local craft beer, wine or spirits
  • Experience counting bar inventory and placing liquor orders

Schedule

Part-time evening shifts, including weekends and holidays, often running until close. Daytime or happy hour shifts may be available.

What we offer

  • Bar tips plus a tip-out from servers, per our tip policy
  • Free shift meal from our kitchen
  • A say in our cocktail menu
  • Paid responsible alcohol service training

Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.

Screening questions for a bartender

Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.

  • Have you worked as a bartender for a year or more?Yes / No · required
  • Where have you bartended, and what kind of bar program did each place have?Short answer · required
  • How have you handled a guest who'd had too much to drink?Paragraph

Bartender interview questions

  1. Walk me through how you'd make an Old Fashioned and a Margarita.
  2. The bar is three deep and six server tickets are waiting. How do you prioritize?
  3. How do you cut off a guest who's had too much without causing a scene?
  4. What do you do if you think an ID might be fake?
  5. How do you keep pours consistent and track waste?
  6. Tell me about a regular you built a relationship with. What kept them coming back?
  7. What's your process for closing the bar at the end of the night?

Tips for hiring a bartender

  • Have candidates make two or three drinks from your menu during the interview. Watch their speed, cleanliness and how they measure.
  • Verify alcohol service training if your state or liquor liability insurer requires it, and keep a copy of the certificate on file.
  • Call a previous bar manager and ask about cash handling and how they dealt with intoxicated guests, not just their drink skills.
  • Say in the post whether you're a cocktail bar, a beer-and-wine service bar or a busy sports bar. Each one needs a different skill set.