Managers in restaurant jobs have the responsibility of doing a lot of paperwork, including the books. You will be responsible for maintaining all accounts with vendors. This includes all purchases made for the food you will prepare, tables and chairs, and other necessary items required for the functionality of the restaurant to be successful. A restaurant manager will be required to do payroll and keep track of employee time cards. If there is not an automated system this may be a bigger task than normal.
The day-to-day activities for managers of restaurant jobs include many things. Every day is different in a restaurant and the manager must be responsible to ensure everything runs smoothly. Any emergencies will be directed to the manager. All complaints and employee issues will also be directed to the manager.
A manager in most restaurant jobs is responsible for staffing the venue. He or she will be responsible for finding the right staff that is reliable and who will do a good job. If you want a position like this you will also have to train the new staff or appoint a responsible person to train them for you. You will be responsible for supervising employees and ensuring everyone is doing their job as they are supposed to be doing. Promotions will go through you on a bi-annual or yearly basis. You will also be required to fire employees when it is necessary. This means that if an employee is out of line, not showing up to work, or you cannot get them to be a part of the team you will have to let them go. This can be a difficult task for many people. If you think you will have a problem firing employees you might not be fit to be a restaurant manager.
The manager in most restaurant jobs usually works with the cook to determine the menu for the night which will include the specials and anything else on the menu. This requires collaboration with one cook or many cooks. This is not normally the case for a fast food restaurant because the menu never changes unless you are introducing a brand new item on the menu. When brand new items come from the corporate office you are usually trained and versed thoroughly before you have to roll it out. In addition, fast food is easy to prepare and not a tasking effort. The menus with traditional restaurants change frequently if there is a special that changes. If the restaurant is a gourmet restaurant you might need to work closely with the chef with specials that are never on the menu on a regular basis. These meals may be one time offers to the customers to see if they are something you might want to put on the menu. It is a good way to find out if the customers favor the new food or if they do not.
Managers in restaurant jobs are also responsible for all of the advertising efforts of the restaurant. This might include advertisements in the local newspaper, on the radio, or even just putting signs up around the restaurant about certain specials you are offering. Some restaurants have people stand out on the corner of the street and advertise also. The advertising efforts are entirely up to you but should result in an increase in revenues.
Restaurant managers also have to deal with all of the customer interaction. The manager may be the first person to greet the customers as they come in the door. They will have to deal with any complaints from customers regarding food, the way they were treated by their waitress, and more. A manager of a restaurant must be able to gain feedback from the customers to find out which meals are favored and which meals might need to be pulled from the menu. If the cook is not doing a good job they also need to be able to take care of how the food is being prepared. A manager is usually the only person in the restaurant that can comp a meal when the food is bad or if the customers are demanding a free meal.
A manager in any restaurant will need to be well versed in every position throughout the restaurant. The manager should be able to work every position on their own should an employee not be able to show up or if they need to be shown how to do the job. A restaurant manager in a fast food restaurant may make around $600 a week. In an elegant restaurant or a steak chain across the nation can pay up to six figures.
A manager in restaurant jobs is responsible for the entire operation of a restaurant. It is important to be able to know the restaurant business well and the customers who dine there. You will need to be successful with your choice of employees and your choice on the menu.
