How to become a Restaurant Manager

How to become a Restaurant Manager Think youve got the business acumen to deal with kitchen nightmares? You should be a Restaurant Manager…As a Restaurant Manager, you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day running of a restaurant. This could range from organising bookings and overseeing staff, through to dealing with customer complaints and making sure the premises is up to code and meets all health and safety requirements.Day-to-day responsibilities may vary depending on the size and style of the restaurant, but typical duties could also include:Hiring and managing staffWriting up shift patternsOverseeing stock levelsManaging budgets and looking after the financial state of the businessAnalysing sales performance, setting targets and organising promotional offersWriting and co-ordinating menusActing as front-of-house staff, and dealing with any customer complaintsIs it right for me?To be successful as a Restaurant Manager, excellent interpersonal and customer service skills are absolute necessities.You may often h ave to deal with difficult customers (and/or staff), and your ability to stay calm under pressure and effectively diffuse the situation will go a long way at gaining the respect of your clientele. An ability to stand the heat in the kitchen may also be preferable, but is not essential for this position.Other key skills include:Superior business acumenConfidenceThe ability to lead by example, and motivate your teamExcellent organisational and delegation skillsA friendly and welcoming approachCareer Progression? Assistant Restaurant ManagerUp to 20,000 Restaurant ManagerUp to 35,000 Area ManagerUp to 45,000What's it really like? I've always been a bit of a foodie, but my cooking leaves a lot to be desired (excellent beans-on-toast aside). After working as a Kitchen Porter and helping out around the kitchen, I quickly realised front-of-house was much more me. I worked my way up from Waitress, through to Supervisor and, eventually, Manager. Although the hours can be long, delivering a n excellent experience and wholesome food keep me coming back for more. Also, it doesn't hurt when it comes to lunch breaks… Get qualifiedA degree is not necessary to become a Restaurant Manager, although it may be preferable for some employers. Excellent management ability and a good level of experience will generally be more important to progress at this position.