DayShift / Job descriptions / Barista

Barista job description: what you'll do and what to write on your resume

Applying for barista at a cafe or coffee shop? Copy the duties below into your resume, then read what the interview asks.

Duties to write on your resume

Start each line with what you did. Keep the ones you've really done.

• Prepared espresso, brewed coffee, tea and cold drinks following store recipes
• Steamed milk and poured latte art to the shop's standard
• Took customer orders at the counter and entered them in the point of sale system
• Handled cash and card payments and gave the right change
• Cleaned and maintained the espresso machine, grinder and blenders every shift
• Restocked beans, milk, syrups, cups and pastries before the morning rush
• Followed food safety and hygiene rules, including handwashing and correct storage
• Opened and closed the shop: set up the bar, counted stock and cleaned up

No cafe job yet? Use the same lines for a school event, a family stall or volunteer work, and say where.

A resume objective you can adapt

Hardworking senior high school graduate looking for a barista job, ready to learn every drink on the menu and work rotating shifts with a friendly team.

Skills employers ask for

• Making drinks the same way every time
• Talking to customers politely, in English and Filipino
• Working fast during rush hours without mixing up orders
• Keeping the bar clean and tidy
• Handling cash and a point of sale system

What the interview asks

1. Why do you want to work as a barista here? Name something real: the shop's drinks, the location, the team or your love of coffee.
2. Can you work early mornings, weekends and holidays? Answer honestly, because the shop plans its schedule around it.
3. What would you do if a customer said their drink was wrong? Say sorry, remake it quickly and tell your shift lead if it keeps happening.
4. How do you stay calm when ten people are waiting? Work one order at a time, keep talking to the customers and ask the team for help.

The questions every interview asks, with sample answers

How to get hired

1. Most posts ask for at least a senior high school diploma and that you're 18 or older.
2. Prepare a resume, a valid ID and your government numbers: SSS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG and TIN.
3. Some shops also ask for an NBI clearance and a medical certificate.
4. Take the TESDA Barista NC II national certificate if you want a stronger application. Many shops still train new hires on the job.
5. Apply in person or online, then expect a short interview and sometimes a trial shift on the bar.

Licence or certificate

• TESDA offers a national certificate for this work: Barista NC II. Source

What the work is like

You're on your feet all shift, and the morning rush is the hardest part. Shifts rotate, so you might open one week and close the next.

Use the barista resume template

Questions

Do I need experience to work as a barista?

No. Many cafes hire beginners and train you on the bar, though a short course helps.

Do I need a certificate to become a barista?

Not always. TESDA offers Barista NC II, which can help your application, but many shops train you themselves.

Is barista work part-time?

Both. Shops hire part-time students and full-time staff.

Similar jobs

• Cashier
• Bartender
• Service crew
• Waiter and food server
• Kitchen crew

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