What is a lead bartender and how to become one

Key steps to become a lead bartender

1. Explore lead bartender education requirements

   Most common lead bartender degrees

   Bachelor's

   52.6 %

   Associate

   22.6 %

   High School Diploma

   16.2 %

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2. Start to develop specific lead bartender skills

   Skills	Percentages
   Wine	26.94%
   Bartending	9.96%
   Cleanliness	7.34%
   POS	4.57%
   Non-Alcoholic Beverages	4.52%

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3. Complete relevant lead bartender training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead bartenders learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a lead bartender based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead bartender resumes.

4. Gain additional lead bartender certifications

   Lead bartender certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific lead bartender certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

   The most common certifications for lead bartenders include Hospitality Skill Certification for Bartender and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

   More About Certifications

5. Research lead bartender duties and responsibilities

   • Operate POS system, handle cash orders, take phone calls, and are entrusted to manage to-go orders.
   • Manage bartending staff including coordinating work and scheduling.
   • Manage and organize deliveries of excessive wine orders and liquor inventory.
   • Conduct end of day procedures including counting petty cash, preparing and making bank deposits, and POS accounting.

6. Get lead bartender experience

   Generally, it takes 1-2 years to become a lead bartender. The most common roles before becoming a lead bartender include bartender, bartender server team lead and server.

7. Prepare your lead bartender resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead bartender resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a lead bartender resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose From 10+ Customizable Lead Bartender Resume templates

   Build a professional Lead Bartender resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Lead Bartender resume.
   

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8. Apply for lead bartender jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a lead bartender job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams