Restaurant Management

Become A Restaurant Manager

If you would love to work in a stimulating, fast-paced environment while being surrounded by delicious food and drink, then a job in restaurant management might be just the ticket for you. Restaurant managers are multi-tasking whizzes who are able to balance the business, culinary and service components of a restaurant all at once. These quick-footed professionals thrive on organization, problem solving and motivating employees to do their very best.

Restaurant Manager in a Nutshell

A restaurant manager is the linchpin of the entire establishment, keeping the restaurant's wheel of work and communication spinning smoothly. Restaurant managers ensure that the business is well organized, the staff on task, the owners informed and the customers happy. In order to balance these tasks, they must draw on a diverse range of skills. Responsibilities can include:

• Hiring and training new staff
• Keeping track of finances
• Maintaining smooth operations
• Managing bills
• Mediating conflict
• Ordering supplies
• Planning menus
• Scheduling staff
• Stepping in if workers are absent or sick
• Taking care of payroll
• Talking to customers

Education Requirements for Restaurant Managers

Training in restaurant management can help you land a higher-level position right off the bat. There are 2-year and 4-year college degree programs in restaurant management and hospitality services, and some universities also offer graduate degrees in this field. Aspiring restaurant managers may want to consider one of the following, which will give you more leverage when negotiating salary or job location, and provide you with the know-how necessary to excel in this field.

• Diploma or Certificate in Hospitality & Restaurant Business Management
• Associate of Applied Science Degree in Culinary Arts
• Associate of Applied Science Degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management
• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Hospitality Management

Both associate's and bachelor's degree programs in restaurant management help you build up the diverse skills you need, with classes in nutrition, sanitation, food planning and preparation, accounting, business law, management and computer science. Many culinary schools also offer degrees in hospitality and restaurant management; these programs provide you with similar management skills but with a stronger emphasis on food preparation and menu creation.

It's important to note that working experience and hands-on knowledge are highly valued in the restaurant industry, and it is not uncommon for a restaurant manager to have worked up the ladder from server, or even busboy, to a higher position. However, people with a restaurant management degree will have a keen competitive edge in the job market, and many degree programs include training or internships to provide necessary on-the-job experience.

Day in the Life of a Restaurant Manager

Because of the level of responsibility and varied demands of the job, restaurant managers are often the first to arrive on the job and the last to leave, making sure the restaurant's business hours run smoothly and the behind-the-scenes work gets done. Long workdays and unpredictable hours are not uncommon, depending on the operation of the restaurant or food service facility. In larger restaurants, management is usually run as a team, consisting of a general manager, one or more assistant managers and an executive chef. Smaller restaurants and dining facilities usually have just one manager overseeing and coordinating the whole production, from kitchen to tables to office.

The job of restaurant manager calls for someone who can stay calm in a hectic environment, concentrate on many simultaneous activities, and efficiently deal with problems as they arise. The work is often exciting but potentially stressful, especially when dealing with angry customers or uncooperative workers. Restaurant managers need stamina, strong leadership skills, and excellent communication abilities.

Job Growth for Restaurant Managers

Employment prospects continue to look good for restaurant managers. According to the US Department of Labor, employment in restaurant management should grow about as fast as average for all occupations through 2014, and many new positions are expected as more restaurants open and current managers retire or change occupations. Ample restaurant management jobs are available throughout the country, especially in larger cities and tourist spots. Applicants with restaurant management degrees and some hands-on experience should have the best employment opportunities of all.

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