A restaurant manager is the person disgruntled customers ask for when they have a concern, but their role extends far beyond appeasing people. Restaurant managers lead all staff members daily to create pleasant dining experiences for all their patrons. To lead a restaurant in the Philippines full of diverse professionals, restaurant managers must be well-equipped.
Do you want to work as a restaurant manager? Let’s dive into the responsibilities of a restaurant manager, the skills you’ll need, and the steps on how to be a restaurant manager.
What Does a Restaurant Manager Do?
A restaurant manager is at the epicenter of any successful restaurant. What makes restaurant managers so important in a restaurant?
Restaurant managers are responsible for the following:
- General operations management
- Staff scheduling
- Administration
- Accounting and finance
- Marketing
- Human resources
- Customer services
- Supply chain management and procurement
- Health and safety compliance
A restaurant manager is ever-present in a food establishment. They ensure that all processes are working smoothly, all supplies are available, all teams are adequately staffed, and all guests are happy.
To accomplish these, managers must be familiar with all aspects of the restaurant – from food and beverage preparation to custodial procedures.
With all these responsibilities, restaurant management is one of the most challenging but lucrative careers in Hospitality Management. The average salary ranges from Php 28,000 up to Php 35,000, but could go higher depending on the type of establishment you work at.
What are the Skills Required for Restaurant Managers?
Surely, you’ve seen the regular hustle and bustle in any food establishment – all staff members must move fast and produce consistent products every time. They’re always under a lot of pressure. So, as a manager, you need key skills to support your staff. What are the skills you’ll need to become a successful manager of a restaurant?
- Leadership skills
- Management skills
- Accounting and financial management
- Problem-solving and conflict resolution
- Communication skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Organization and time management skills
Besides these soft skills, a manager also needs a solid grasp of the different aspects of running a restaurant. They should know how to organize staff schedules, manage the supply chain, as well as be knowledgeable of food safety standards, and so on.
Restaurant managers carry a lot of responsibility within their location, so it must be handled by someone skilled and resilient.
How to Become a Restaurant Manager?
Restaurant managers are at the top of the organizational chart for a restaurant location or branch. They may report directly to the owner or, for larger chains, to a regional manager; but within their location, they make the major decisions. Here are the steps to becoming a restaurant manager:
1. Take Up ABM Strand in Senior High
For those who are yet to enter senior high school and have decided to pursue restaurant management, the most practical choice is to choose the Accounting, Business, and Management strand. This strand focuses on building students’ business acumen.
Starting to build your knowledge and skills as early as senior high school can help you get a head start toward becoming a manager of a restaurant.
While the ABM strand is not a requirement, it can help you develop vital skills to help you succeed in any career in the business of food industry.
2. Get a Degree in Hospitality Management
A degree in hospitality management or a related field can give you a big boost toward entering a managerial position. A Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management curriculum helps students acquire the necessary knowledge and skills for running a restaurant. They learn about supply chains, human resources, customer service, and strategic management, so they’ll be well-equipped to take on the responsibilities of a manager.
3. Complete Your Internship at a Restaurant
If you pursue a degree, you will most likely be required to take on an internship as part of the academic requirements. Be strategic with your choice of internship. Take this as an opportunity to grow your competencies, preferably in your target restaurant.
An internship at a restaurant allows you to immerse in the environment you plan to work in. This means that you’ll gain work experience and skills that are directly relevant to your target career. So, not only will you have an impressive addition to your resume, but you’ll also have experience that will make it easier for you to excel as a professional.
4. Work at a Restaurant
Once you graduate, you can start working at a restaurant. Since you don’t have much experience yet, you may only qualify for entry-level positions. This may not be what you envisioned, but you need this experience to work your way up to becoming a manager.
Working in entry-level positions and getting work experience is one of the steps to becoming a restaurant manager since most restaurants require at least one to five years of experience for managerial candidates.
Use this period as a learning opportunity to enrich you as a future manager. If possible, take on different roles throughout the restaurant so you can be familiar with all aspects and processes in the food industry, which will benefit you when you apply and start working as a manager.
5. Enhance Your Skills
Although you have a degree and experience, it wouldn’t hurt to expand on your skills. Return to the skills expected of managers in the food industry and compare your strengths and weaknesses. Look for opportunities to enhance your weaknesses or acquire new skills or knowledge.
Consider taking up additional certifications, especially for more technical aspects like updating your knowledge of food safety processes and standards. Certifications give you formal proof of your competencies. However, taking on leadership roles in your workplace can also help you grow as a professional. It will also show your employer that you have initiative and, thus, a future as a manager.
Overall, the additional skills in your toolbox can give you an edge over other managerial candidates.
6. Apply for a Restaurant Manager Role
When you feel that you’re ready to take on a managerial role, start applying for restaurant manager job openings. If there is an opening within your company, prioritize this. You have a higher chance of getting accepted for the position since you have a record with the company and are already familiar with all processes and the company culture.
Of course, don’t be afraid to apply at other restaurants. Make sure to tailor your resume to showcase your educational background, professional certifications, work experience, accomplishments in your workplace, and the restaurant manager skills needed.
With the right education, skills, and work experience, it should be no problem for you to find employment as a restaurant manager.
Take the Fast Track to Success with OEd
There is no shortcut to success, but you can secure your success in the food industry by following these steps to become a restaurant manager. It all starts with a solid educational foundation, which can provide you with the knowledge, as well as the ideal skills and attitude to help you achieve your goals of managing a restaurant.
Get started with a flexible education where you can gain practical knowledge and skills and still have time to enrich your professional growth.
If you want to learn more about our hospitality management program, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.