The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Restaurant Manager

What is a Restaurant Manager?

If you’re a foodie but cooking isn’t your best talent, you love to deliver excellent customer service and have outstanding leadership skills, then you could have a bright future as a restaurant manager.

• Job Description

  Working as a restaurant manager involves taking responsibility for the overall business performance. This is quite the responsibility! You will have to be analytical, be able to meet targets, you’ll need to be business minded and have knowledge in the food and beverage industry. You will oversee all aspects of the restaurant including the kitchen and front of house.

• Hours of Work

  As a restaurant manager, you’ll have to be prepared to work until the job is done – usually more than 40 hours per week. You’ll be working late evenings, weekends and public holidays. If you are doing what you love, you won’t mind putting in the extra hours!

• Main Responsibilities

  So, what will your main responsibilities be as a Restaurant Manager?
  
  Duties typically include:

  • Hiring, managing and disciplining staff
  • Planning rotas
  • Arranging cover when staff are sick or absent
  • Overseeing stock levels
  • Managing budgets
  • Writing and coordinating menus
  • Dealing with customer complaints
  • Analysing sales performance
  • Setting targets
  • Organising promotional offers

Key Restaurant Manager qualifications

Do you have the qualifications to get the job?

A degree isn’t essential for this job role as you can work your way up, however having a foundation or bachelor’s degree will only enhance your CV and chances of bagging yourself a job. You could look at completing a degree in business management, hospitality management, catering or similar. If university isn’t for you, there are some other qualifications you can look into:

• Diploma in restaurant management
• City and Guilds diploma in Hospitality Management
• CMI Management and Leadership

How to become a Restaurant Manager?

Now that you know what a Restaurant Manager does, how do you become one?

If you are unsure of which career path to take, you could begin in a kitchen or front of house role before working your way up to supervisor, assistant manager and then to a restaurant manager. This way, you will learn everything that you need to know along the way. You will have truly earned your job title by working hard and remaining loyal to the company.

Another way you could get into this job role if you are a recent graduate is through a graduate scheme. Companies often train budding managers up within one to three years, depending on the program.

How to develop your Restaurant Manager career?

Once you’ve gained experience as a restaurant manager and you are ready to take your career to the next stage, you could look for positions in a larger or more upmarket restaurant, where you will be given more responsibility.

If you are up for even more of a challenge, you could aim to be promoted to area manager. An area manager is in charge of multiple restaurants within an allocated region.

Career Opportunities

• You can find some of the best Restaurant Manager roles with brands such as Hotel Du Vin, Malmaison, Handmade Burger Co and many more.

Other Definitive Guides by Leisurejobs

The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Hospitality Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Catering Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Bar Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Hotel Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Store Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Supervisor
The Definitive Guide: How To Become An Assistant Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A General Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become An Area Manager
The Definitive Guide: How To Become A Sommelier