If you’re operating a restaurant, you may feel like your duties are never done. However, it is possible to delegate some or most of your tasks to a competent individual. This is where a restaurant manager comes in. They are like mini-you, taking charge and supervising all restaurant operations – even when you are not on-site.
Locating a suitable restaurant manager may require a considerable amount of time. In this article, we’ll talk about:
- Understanding the role of a restaurant manager.
- Exploring how a restaurant manager can contribute to your business.
- Locating the ideal restaurant manager.
- Identifying the essential qualities of a restaurant manager.
- Interview strategies for selecting the best restaurant manager.
Now let’s get to identifying the person who will be your second-in-command!
What Does a Restaurant Manager Do?
As your business expands, it becomes more difficult to oversee each and every part of the company’s operations without having a copy of yourself. The responsibility of a restaurant manager is to guarantee the smooth operation of a food service establishment by organizing and supervising all aspects of the business.
Having a variety of managers that focus on particular aspects of a restaurant’s operation may be advantageous. These areas may include
- General Manager (GM): The GM serves as a go-between for the restaurant and its staff, helping to monitor operations and lead other managers.
- Front-of-House Manager: This person reports to the GM and is responsible for managing front-of-house personnel by providing training, recruiting, and dealing with customer problems.
- Back-of-House Manager: The back-of-house manager is essentially the same role as the front-of-house manager for the kitchen staff. They are also answerable to the GM and are in charge of recruitment, making sure food safety regulations are met, and assisting when the kitchen is busy.
What Support Can Your Manager Provide For You?
Are you aware of the role of a restaurant manager? If so, what are their duties at your establishment?
Having a restaurant manager can be beneficial, as it allows you to take some of the burdens off of your shoulders and dedicate your time to more crucial business decisions or, dare I say it, a day off. The responsibilities of a manager may vary depending on the type of business and can include:
- Putting stock in order.
- Keeping track of the inventory and ordering of food and beverages.
- Sourcing supplies of food and drinks.
- Making sure kitchen and dining areas are clean through supervision of the staff.
- Examining the size and quality of servings.
- Teaching new servers the proper way to conduct themselves when dining.
- Resolving employee and customer complaints.
- Organizing employee scheduling.
The size of your restaurant may determine who is responsible for food preparation, recipe selection, and menu compilation. This is usually the head chef in larger restaurants; however, in smaller ones, the manager may be the same individual. As a result, if this is the case in your restaurant, the manager should be well-versed in food preparation and food service management.
The restaurant manager should be the primary representative of customer service. They create the standard for the rest of the staff and act as the point of contact should a problem require further assistance. The goal is to guarantee exceptional customer service to ensure patrons come back, and you must have confidence in the manager to accomplish this.
Finding staff for managerial roles in restaurants is challenging. In fact, finding and keeping employees in the food service industry has become more difficult due to heightened competition. Nevertheless, the industry still faces a shortage of people to fill key roles. The Restaurants Canada’s Restaurant Outlook Survey reveals that a third of restaurant owners and operators are having difficulty finding people to fill managerial positions.
What is the reason?
For a while now, the restaurant sector has been experiencing a scarcity of personnel. This means that there are more positions than unemployed individuals available. As the industry continues to expand, the disparity between jobs filled and people to do them increases.
Considering the figures and trends, it is important to make sure you bring on the right person in the first instance. With this in mind, let’s have a look at what you should be looking for.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Restaurant Manager
When delegating certain restaurant operations to your manager, it is essential to select someone who is both knowledgeable and has substantial experience in the field.
Managing a restaurant requires more than merely supervising operations and personnel; it necessitates stimulating and elevating the eatery. The most successful managers strive to uphold a favorable reputation and a good financial return. It is essential to possess the ideal fusion of talents and attributes that will have a long-lasting effect on your establishment.
So what skills should one be searching for?
It is essential for all outstanding restaurant managers to have a combination of both hard and soft skills.
Soft Skills:
Possessing magnetic charm and great communication skills
Communication is a two-way process. It is imperative for the restaurant manager to be clear and consistent in their communication with both staff and customers. To be an effective communicator, the manager should be able to actively listen and give helpful criticism. Noting areas where the staff can develop is important, yet acknowledging individual and team accomplishments should also be emphasized.
It is essential to have a problem-solving attitude and create a sense of empowerment among your staff. Establishing expectations that are feasible and attainable is necessary for successful communication. If your business practices transparency, make sure your restaurant manager does, too. They should be available to answer questions, hear comments, and address concerns from employees. This is important, as it makes your staff feel appreciated.
Problem-solving skills
Managers should carefully monitor the operations, instead of reprimanding the staff. In cases when something needs to be done, like refilling an empty glass for a diner, the manager should do it themselves rather than lecturing or punishing employees.
A restaurant manager should possess sharp attention to detail and the ability to react swiftly in order to be successful. They should be someone with a progressive mindset, who looks ahead and anticipates the future.
Forward-thinker
A successful supervisor is one who can anticipate issues before they arise. Within the restaurant industry, unforeseen occurrences are common occurrences, thus necessitating someone who can think of a response before it even takes place.
In situations when patrons are behaving unreasonably, it is up to the manager to offer a way to resolve the issue as well as a method to avoid the problem happening again.
Compassion
Showing kindness and empathy, compassionate people are known for their understanding and thoughtfulness. It is essential for a manager to be able to lend an ear and aid their employees with any difficulties, be it in the workplace or in their personal life, as it could influence their performance. You need someone to intervene in any conflicts in the workplace and assist in finding a solution. The staff should feel confident that they can rely on the manager with their issues and respect their judgment.
When searching for a leader, it’s important to find someone who is firm, but not callous. Being able to show compassion and understanding for the team is essential.
Hard Skills:
Knowledge and expertise in the restaurant industry
Having an understanding of how a restaurant operates is key. It is important to understand the necessary processes and procedures that need to be in place in order to ensure the successful running of a restaurant. For managerial roles, experience is prioritized over having a university or college degree. However, if you are running a specialized restaurant, you may prefer a candidate who has a degree in Hospitality Management or Business Studies.
The food services sector puts a premium on experience, so typically, restaurant managers are expected to have at least three to five years of managerial experience. They must also show they can lead a team. You could inquire about a time they had to inspire a struggling team member, or how they handled a tricky dialogue with a server to get an idea of their leadership skills.
It is a major plus to have a person on board who is well-versed in restaurant operations. Experience is a non-negotiable factor!
Financial Acumen
Your restaurant’s financial performance will be greatly impacted by the manager. From supplies to staffing, the choices they make will directly affect your profits. Although they won’t need to have an accounting background, they should be able to point to decisions they have made that have a beneficial impact on the financials. Making use of a restaurant point of sale and staff management/scheduling software can help your manager make smarter business decisions, so try to find someone with experience in these systems.
When it comes to running a restaurant, having someone who is well-versed in the financial aspects of the industry is essential, even if you have the technology to assist with operations.
Previous Leadership Experiences
It has been said that one should not settle for less when it comes to experience. Having been a manager previously, or having done something that has increased the skills required for management, are both important elements to look for when hiring a manager.
When hiring a new restaurant manager, it’s important to consider which areas of expertise they possess. It’s unlikely that any one hire will have experience in all of these areas, so if you’re looking at an internal candidate, you’ll have to evaluate their background to determine which areas they are knowledgeable in.
A restaurant manager should possess either first-hand knowledge or comparable experiences that grant them the capabilities to manage the following areas:
- Crafting meal selections
- Overseeing inventory and ordering materials
- Recruiting, introducing, and directing employees
- Accommodating customers
- Comprehending and producing personnel or sales reports
Where Do You Get Skilled Managers?
Looking for an experienced manager can be a difficult task. However, there are a few avenues which can be explored to find a person with the right qualifications. Researching in professional networks, such as LinkedIn, is a good place to start. Additionally, using an online job board can be an effective method of finding potential applicants. Networking with other professionals in the same field can also provide leads to potential qualified candidates. Finally, you can use a restaurant recruitment agency to help you with your search.
Let’s have a look at some means of finding a restaurant manager.
Recruit From Your Own Fabulous Staff Team
Investing in your employees by hiring internally conveys to other team members that there is potential for advancement within your business. Consider searching within your staff to find a dependable and promising individual for a managerial role.
When you select an individual from within your organization to advance their role, you can rest assured that they have the necessary qualifications and principles to successfully carry out the duties assigned to them. This is an effective way to cultivate commitment and loyalty among your employees.
Explore the Internet
Thanks to the internet, the task of hiring restaurant managers has become much simpler. The two renowned job search engines, Monster and Indeed, make the process of finding the right candidate swift and effortless. All you need to do is post a detailed job description and you will receive plenty of resumes in your inbox. All you have to do is go through the applications and filter the unsuitable applicants.
If you have a more specific goal in mind, there are websites that specialize in the restaurant industry. Examples include Culinary Agents and Restaurant Careers. However, it is important to note that, in comparison to general job search sites such as Monster or Indeed, some of these more specialized sites require payment for posting job listings.
Inquire Among Your Social Circles
Is it true that your cousin’s neighbor studied hospitality management and has five years of managerial experience? Bingo!
Reach out to your personal connections, family, and associates in your field to inquire if they are aware of someone suitable for the job. You may not end up with a ton of resumes, but you’ll likely find dependable individuals that meet the criteria.
Tips to Select the Ideal Restaurant Manager
The hiring process for restaurant managers might not always be as straightforward as you want it to be. You should take some time to research the options available, and consider their strengths and weaknesses. It is important to know what kind of management style they possess, and if they have any prior experience in the field. Consider the personalities and skills of the people who will be working with you, as well as any potential challenges you may encounter. Ask yourself if the manager has the right skills, perspective and attitude to help you achieve success in your chosen field. Ultimately, the choice of manager should be based on your own goals and needs.
In order to get to know each candidate better, it is important to conduct personal interviews. Compile a list of questions tailored to each person based on the information present in their resumes. Additionally, reach out to past employers or search for reviews about the restaurants they have worked in to determine the quality of service and popularity.
The ideal job applicant should have the majority of the abilities listed above. It is also important to take into account their individual qualities. The individual may have leadership abilities and be great with numbers but could lack the social skills to converse with and greet customers. No one is infallible. On the other hand, they must demonstrate that they can acquire certain proficiencies with time and practice.
Strategies to Carrying Out a Successful Interview
Once you have the people you are considering for the job, it’s time to find out more about them and determine if they are suitable for the managerial position at your restaurant.
Before you get to the interview questions, here are some helpful hints:
- Ensure you have a calm, peaceful atmosphere. There’s no need to make it overly cozy, but make sure it’s quiet and free from disturbances.
- Offer them a beverage like coffee, tea, or something else cold/hot—not alcohol!
- Greet them with a friendly smile and ask them to take a seat. Also, make them feel at ease by inquiring about their journey or if they had a hard time locating your restaurant.
When the interview is going smoothly, express your interest in the candidate and assure them that you will get back to them when you have made a final judgment. Doing so sets up a good, professional relationship and relieves any anxiety the applicant may have.
When it is time to employ a manager, draft a restaurant employee agreement. This is a legal paper that outlines the terms of work given to the new restaurant manager and the particulars of the employee-employer relationship.
It is essential to remember that your restaurant manager is essentially an extension of yourself. This person is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and personnel. They must be able to maintain order without the need for you to be present at all times. The ideal manager should possess the qualities of being resolute (yet not unsympathetic), understanding, aware, and impartial towards all staff.
Weigh all the considerations mentioned above before you begin your search for a restaurant manager. Once you’ve clarified the goals you would like to achieve by hiring such a professional, you can be sure that the right manager will help you achieve success with your business.
This article was published by LevelUp Recruiting LLC.
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