Restaurant Manager

It’s inevitable: No matter how great the food and service are, you’ll always get those disgruntled customers who ask, “Can I speak to the Manager? ” And your job, as the Restaurant Manager, is to magically turn each conflict into a calm, happy moment.

Aside from coming out to occasionally turn a frown turn upside down, Restaurant Managers do a lot of work behind the scenes or during non-meal times. You’ll take stock of basic items like napkins, ketchup, and serving spoons, and keep track of the sales made each night. Restaurant Managers also make sure the restaurant is in line with regulations related to safety and alcohol. And, of crowing importance is to take care of marketing needs like placing ads in local papers, maintaining the business’s Facebook page, and promoting special discounts.

But you also need to work with people. In fact, one of the most important aspects of your job is managing the staff. You’ll be the one to hire, promote, and fire staff. You’ll need to train Hosts and Servers on how to be as pleasant, consistent, and helpful as they can be. You’ll get replacements for people who can’t come in for their shifts. Doing all of this may minimize those customer complaints, but there are no guarantees.

Whether at a fast food joint or a five-star destination in Manhattan, the dining experience is about so much more than the taste of the food. As a Restaurant Manager, your hard work is what makes people want to come out to eat instead of sitting in front of their TVs at home.