
How to Make a Resume: Step-by-Step Writing Guide for 2023
How to write a resume that will get you the job you're looking for? This step-by-step guide will show you the best resume examples, and you can write a resume in a few easy steps.
Whether you’re applying to be a barista at the corner Dunkin or a shift supervisor at the independent cafe and bookstore, this guide will help you do a barista resume right.
From brewing delicious pots of coffee to knowing which desserts to pair alongside, you know you’d make a fine barista.
Like a Starbucks cup, this barista job’s got your name on it.
Before you can don that cafe’s apron with pride, you need to tingle their taste buds like an exotic blend with the best barista resume yet.
No problem.
Read on to see a professional barista resume sample you can adjust and make your own. Plus, you’ll learn an easy formula for writing a resume for barista jobs that will land you 10x more cafe interviews than any other resume you’ve written in the past.
Want to save time and have your resume ready in 5 minutes? Try our resume builder. It’s fast and easy to use. Plus, you’ll get ready-made content to add with one click. See 20+ resume templates and create your resume here.
Sample resume made with our builder—See more resume example here.
Before we begin, here are a few other food service-related resume examples:
For more example check:
William B. Kirkland
Barista
920-218-2406
bill.b.kirkland@me.com
linkedin.com/in/billbarrykirkland
Summary
Friendly and fast-working barista with 2+ years of experience working at busy chain cafes in the Sheboygan Falls area. Skilled in customer service, coffee and food pairing, and inventory management. Knowledgeable on 40+ coffee varieties from around the world. Seeking to leverage exceptional service and dedication to great coffee to become the barista shift supervisor at Grand Cafe.
Experience
Barista & Cafe Server
Costa Coffee, Sheboygan Falls, WI
June 2018–October 2019
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
Crew Member
Dunkin Donuts, Sheboygan Falls, WI
May 2017–June 2018
Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Education
Majoring in Culinary Arts
Wisconsin Culinary College, Sheboygan Falls, WI
Anticipated Completion: 2022
Relevant Coursework: Culinary Fundamentals, Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch, Baking and Pastry Skill Development, Food Safety, Hospitality and Customer Service, Beverage Operations Management, Sanitation and Safety, Pastry Techniques and Artistry.
High School Diploma
Sheboygan Falls High School, Sheboygan Falls, WI
Skills
Certificates
Now, here’s our barista resume recipe:
1
A barista resume written without a properly formatted template is like old coffee left in a drip carafe—
Bland and bitter.
To serve up an aromatic and flavorful barista resume, ensure its layout is structured just right before you start writing.
Here’s how to format a barista resume template:
And, here’s a brief outline on what a barista resume should include:
Read more about resume formatting: How to Select the Ideal Resume Format
One trick to writing an irresistible Dunkin or Costa Coffee resume?
Start from the middle.
Save writing the barista resume heading statement for the end. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what key items to include in this topmost section.
2
Employment of food and beverage servers, including baristas, is expected to increase 9 to 11% between 2021 and 2031.
That comes out to over three-quarters of a million (775,300) new hires in the United States alone.
Meaning—
Coffee shop managers have a latte choose from.
You’ve got to get your resume work history section just right to have a shot at your barista job interview.
Here’s how to write a great job experience resume section:
Now—
Here are two barista job description examples for experienced baristas:
Right |
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Barista & Cafe ServerNovember 2017–December 2019 Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
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Wrong |
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BaristaNovember 2017–December 2019 Key Responsibilities
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See the differences?
The first one has plenty of detailed job duties neatly arranged like macarons in a refrigerated display case. Plus, a numbered achievement proves to the cafe manager how talented you are.
What if you don’t have barista experience yet?
No worries.
All you need to do is list your past job responsibilities in a way which is most relevant to this prospective barista job.
Check out these two barista job description resume samples:
Right |
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Food Service Team Member Key Qualifications & Responsibilities
Key Achievements
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Wrong |
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Food Service Team Member Key Responsibilities
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The second one is as bland as robusta.
The first one, however, has just the right ingredients served up just right.
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.
Read more about adding work experience onto a resume: Tips for Creating a Resume’s Work Experience Section
3
Unless you’re applying to become a cafe supervisor or a Costa regional manager, you don’t need a college degree for barista jobs.
However—
You do need to document your education correctly if you want a chance at landing the job.
So, if you have plenty of experience, just give the reader the basics on your education:
Right |
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Bachelor of Arts in Food Service Management Roseville Community College, Roseville, CA Completion: 2016 |
But—
When you have less experience (or none at all) as a barista, give them more relevant details to bolster your case, like this:
Right |
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Majoring in Culinary Arts Texas Culinary Institute, Seguin, TX Estimated Graduation: 2021 Relevant Coursework: Food Service Fundamentals, Introduction to World Cooking Methods, Latin American Cuisine, Coffees and Teas from Around the World, Pastries and Baked Goods, Food Safety, Restaurant Inventory and Recordkeeping.
High School Diploma Seguin High School, Seguin, TX |
When you haven’t finished your college degree yet, add high school below as a second entry, just like in this example.
However, if you have a degree from university, omit your high school diploma from your Costa shift supervisor resume or Dunkin Donuts resume.
If your education area is more impressive than your work experience, swap their places so the restaurant manager gets the yummiest bits first.
Read more about adding high school or college degrees onto a resume: How to Add Your Academic History Onto a Resume
4
When preparing, say, a gingerbread latte, you’ll add a bit of ginger, a pinch of cinnamon, and perhaps a touch of nutmeg (unless you just use a premade syrup). You probably wouldn’t add banana or coconut.
Point is, you’ll add just the right spices.
Well, if you want to bring out the flavor on your barista resume, include just the right skills. You can’t list every skill in your arsenal, just like you don’t add every ingredient in the cabinet into a single beverage.
So—
Here’s how to add the perfect touch of barista skills onto a resume:
Have a look at these common skills for baristas and cafe jobs:
Now—
Have a look at these example barista skills resume sections:
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Right |
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Easy as a Nespresso machine, right?
Whether you’re a coffee-cupping whiz or just starting out, always choose the barista skills which perfectly match the cafe job description.
Read more about adding cafe skills to resumes: List of Top Skills for a Resume
5
You’ve got the base for a good Dunkin or Costa resume so far.
But how can you make it great?
Additional sections.
Extra resume sections help you stand out among all the other resumes for barista jobs.
Here are a few top examples of additional sections to include on a barista resume:
6
Now, it’s time to crown your barista resume with that dollop of whipped cream on top—
The resume heading statement.
The heading statement comes in two flavors: the summary statement and the objective statement.
Are you an experienced coffee craftsperson?
The barista resume summary gives the cafe owner or restaurant manager a quick glimpse into your bean-brewing background. Include a numbered win or two to show them how talented you really are.
Here are two barista resume example summaries:
Right |
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Personable and customer-oriented barista with over 3 years experience making coffee beverages at cafes. Passionate about fair trade coffee and exotic blends. Skilled at latte art, multiple espresso machines, and customer service. Achieved 100% on-time attendance record during entire employment span. |
Wrong |
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I’ve been a barista for several years now, and I’ve learned many aspects of the coffee-making business. I’m seeking a higher-level barista job to make the most of my various cafe skills and customer service talents. |
The wrong example is a watered-down cup o’ joe, while the right one is a bold caffè ristretto.
It’s detailed, tailored to one particular barista job description, and it includes a number for the win.
Now—
What if you’re new to barista jobs?
A career objective is great when crafting a resume with little experience. It shows some passion for the barista job and a statement of your career goals. However, it also includes a quantifiable achievement to help seal the deal.
Here are two barista resume objective examples:
Right |
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Skilled food service team member and bachelor’s degree student of culinary arts at the Texas Culinary Institute. Skilled at providing great customer service, preparing a variety of foods and beverages, and helping guests make pairing decisions. Capable of assisting over 50 guests in a 1-hour period during morning rushes. Seeking to leverage beverage-making abilities to become the next barista at Dunkin Donuts. |
Wrong |
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I don’t have experience as a barista, but I am studying food-related topics at the local university. I’d like to get a job as a barista, cashier, or dishwasher to help me pay my college tuition and car loans. |
As in the barista summary statement, show rather than tell. Personalize your opening statement to one specific job. And, if you have numbers to back up your claims, make sure to include them!
Need help with writing your heading statement? Have a look at this guide: How to Start a Resume
7
Would you serve a cappuccino without frothing the milk first?
Well, a resume without a barista cover letter is the same—
Not ready to hand over.
Cover letters are very important, whether for an entry-level barista resume or a Peet's shift supervisor resume.
Here’s how to write a cover letter for barista jobs:
The cover letter is king. In an industry where hundreds of generic resumes get thrown across the counter every month — the cover letter is what makes you stand out. Something with personality that explains why you'd fit that particular cafe’s ethos and vibe.
Want a few more ideas for how to make a cover letter that’ll earn you that cafe job interview? Check out this guide: 35+ Best Tips for Writing a Cover Letter
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
Let’s summarize how to write a barista resume:
Well, that’s our guide. We’d love to hear from you:
Let’s chat here in the comments, and thanks for reading!
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