Career Exploration Project
Introduction
A restaurant manager refers to an individual who ensures that the restaurant operates as expected. This is the career that I would like to major in. A restaurant manager is usually based in a restaurant where they work together with employees including chefs to deliver quality and healthy foods to consumers. A restaurant manager is responsible for making sure that the restaurant is profitable while also maintaining the reputation of the restaurant. The manager should coordinate all the activities of the restaurant irrespective of the size of the restaurant and should maintain high-performance standards for the restaurant. It is the role of the restaurant manager to ensure quality of the services offered including the health and safety of the employees of the organization.
The description of the career of restaurant manager includes ensuring efficient restaurant operation, maintaining customer-service standards while also improving production for a restaurant. The manager plans menu for the restaurant, ensure that the restaurant complies with licensing, hygiene and safety guidelines. The restaurant manager is also responsible for promotions and marketing the business to ensure increased profitability. Restaurant managers are also involved in the hiring process of employees which can be interviewing, hiring and training the recruited employees. Payroll development, food orders, inspections and licensing are the responsibilities of the restaurant manager. Branding and advertising are also some roles of a restaurant manager. Restaurant managers in most countries work for 40hours per week so that they can meet all the expectations of the restaurant. They are based in restaurant, but in most cases, they appear where there is a problem encountered in service delivery or quality of foods.
Typical Career Path
For one to become a restaurant manager, the entry level is high school diploma at a minimum is required. This depends on the position the manager will be allocated to. A two- or four- year degree is also a requirement in some of the management positions in the career. One cannot be a manager without a diploma or a degree in accounting, culinary arts, business administration or hospitality administration. The career does not call for a specific course as long as one has management basics. One also has to be flexible to be a restaurant manager since promotions can be done and one can easily be relocated from one restaurant to another. Bachelor degrees in restaurant and hospitality management are highly preferred as these people have basics on the expectations of a restaurant and are familiar with the activities expected in a restaurant.
Most of these managers advance their education to business administration where they get promoted into positions in regional management in larger chains. Other restaurant managers open their restaurants and form a large corporation. There are increased management courses of catering being offered which develop restaurant managers suitable for the career. The highest level position is opening own restaurant which extends to a corporation.
Trends
Restaurant manager career has been greatly affected by the incoming trends. Technology has made it easier for restaurant managers to promote and market their products which become profitable for the organizations. Improved technology in restaurant enables engaging of customers wherever they are which facilitate meeting their needs. Internet marketing is becoming common which is being used by restaurant managers to advertise their services and products. Instead of the way campaigns were used to market services, internet is being used to update amenities as well as promotions to sites where visitors can view what the restaurant offers. Technology affects the occupation as restaurant managers must learn to use the current technology in speeding up the operation and marketing the services.
New organization structure affects restaurant manager occupation since there are increased responsibilities of the occupation which lead to many restaurant managers in a single restaurant. This has led to division of labor which requires specialization of each manager to the department they are expected to work. Diversified training is also relevant in the occupation as more responsibilities are developing with the career. This affects the budget for training restaurant managers as they must have the proper training suitable for the current management system of restaurant. The overall economy is affecting restaurant management. This is due to changes in cost of ingredients which is not in line with customer expectations, and this leads to increased cost of products and services of the restaurant. Increase in cost leads to reduced demand for products by consumers which affect the management of a restaurant regarding paying of employees. The current trend is that customers are willing to pay more for a meal of high quality than a meal of low quality. This brings the need for a restaurant to pay more for quality products which affect the occupation economic wise.
Salary Information
Restaurant managers have an average salary of $50,000 per year, but it also depends on the position of the restaurant. The more experienced a restaurant manager is, the higher the salary. A restaurant manager can earn up to $76, 940 in a year which is based on experience and education attained. Location, education, experience, and position are the factors that determine the salary a restaurant manager receive per year. The normal range is $41,620 to $61,005 per year.
Skills Used
A restaurant manager requires skills that allow them to relate well with customers. The skills used by restaurant managers include excellent customer service skills, problem-solving skills, communication skills, organizational skills, teamwork skills as they relate to different employees in the restaurant. Restaurant managers also use commercial awareness skills which enhance their relationship with employees in the restaurant. They should also be flexible enough to tackle different departments at a go. This is because they are responsible for all activities in the restaurant. Restaurant manager also requires multitasking skills since restaurant environment is very fast-paced and require solutions in a short span of time. Stress management skills are also employed by restaurant managers as they experience stress in the workplace. All persons within this career should have the ability to employ these skills for success in their work.
Employing Organizations
Restaurant managers have variety of employing organizations as they are required in hotels and fast-food outlets. Many organizations that have hospitality services need a restaurant manager who can control all the activities in the organization. They are also employed in food production organizations to control hygiene of foods before they are sent to restaurants. The restaurant managers who have majored in accounting and other administrative courses can be employed in large firms and companies that deal with different activities other than food management. This is because they have the skills of management where they can act as general managers of the firm. Individuals in this career can employ themselves by starting a restaurant which can be developed to a significant food corporation. This means that this career has wide range of employment organizations which makes it a suitable course for this generation. With the option of self-employment, this becomes an excellent course to pursue. The industries that are mostly involved are hotels, bars, and lodging. Individuals in this career also work in resorts, big international restaurants, and hotel chains.
Becoming Employed
When one needs employment from this career, internships are important as well as volunteering. This is because it is through this that one can get experience that is required during employment. Faculty referrals are also important when one need employment. This is where you can be referred by a person to an organization that requires rained restaurant managers. Connectivity and use of internet can guide where a restaurant manager is needed. Employment in this occupation is easy because many organizations require manager and the skills possessed by a restaurant manager can be employed in any organization. Job search for this career cannot go beyond a year as there are many food outlets and restaurants opening daily. One can also set individual restaurant if the job search prolongs which makes it a good career.
Typical Job Postings/Notices
An example of an ideal job posting for a restaurant manager is as below. “Our busy French Hotel is seeking Restaurant manager who will have the responsibility to manage staff and operations of the hotel. The successful candidate will be expected to come up with restaurants policies and procedures. He should be aggressive enough to achieve the revenue objectives of the hotel. The restaurant manager will be expected to ensure staff is compliant with local, state and federal regulations. The successful candidate will ensure that customer needs are met accordingly and timely and quality services should be the goal of the successful candidate. The candidate should have a minimum of bachelor’s degree in hospitality and management with two or more years of experience. Only successful candidates will be contacted.”
The above advertisement includes the position for the employment as well as the responsibilities the successful candidate will be expected to meet. The experience of the candidates’ matters for the above advertisement and the level of education. This is an indication that different organizations have different job descriptions for a common job position. It all depends on the activities and the size of the firm a d the exposure of the individual to the job title.
Work Conditions
Restaurant manager works in many areas of the restaurant including kitchen, dining room, and front and back of the office among other departments of the restaurant. The restaurant manager is all over the restaurant as they are involved in all activities of the restaurant. They budget all the foods and produce the payroll of the employees which means they interact with all people in the restaurant. Restaurant managers have high-stress level due to the activities they are involved in and long working hours. Dealing with employee’s complaints and all their needs can be stressful which exposed to them which increases their stress level. Restaurant managers work for 40 or more hours in a week depending on the size of the firm and the responsibilities assigned to them. They have increased travel time as they have to cater for all the needs of the restaurant and relate directly with suppliers which means they sometimes travel to supply area.
Education/Training
For one to be a restaurant manager, the field of study that is related to the career include BS in Hospitality Management, BS in Culinary Management, BS in Food and Beverage Management, Applied Science in Restaurant and Catering Management, AS in Culinary Arts, BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management and BS in Hospitality Food and Beverage Management. These are some of the courses that one can pursue to prepare for restaurant management. Certificate in restaurant management is also offered with different titles like food and beverage management, catering among others. They are sometimes required for small hotels and the firms that are not busy. One must be certified to qualify for a post in this career. This is done after one completes any of the above professions which make them suitable for employment.
Affiliations
The most known professional or union organizational memberships that are held by persons in this profession is Association of Administrators in the Hospitality, Hotel, and Restaurant Management Educational Institutions. This is a union that most restaurant managers join when in the United States. Another union is Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP) which covers all restaurant managers in the Philippines. These are the known unions that are held by individuals within the career. There are other upcoming unions, and some are already implemented, but they must be registered for them to be effective. The two organizations are national which means each country has a union to cover all restaurant managers.
Outlook
Restaurant management is a rapidly growing career that has many job opportunities. The career is expected to grow 5 percent higher than other careers which create the need for more job opportunities to cater for the growth. Many more openings are prospected to arise which will create more employment opportunities for restaurant managers. This is an encouragement to those who are studying for the career as they will have reduced job search period. More job openings will create opportunities to restaurant managers since those managers already in work will shift to other jobs which will offer more job opportunities for upcoming restaurant managers. More jobs are also expected in special food services which will be providing foods for schools that require special foods.
Regional influences will lead to increased more job opportunities for restaurant manager. This is because more hotels and restaurants are coming up which require management. New jobs are likely to emerge for the restaurants that will have full-time services which will require full-time management. Changes in restaurant structure will require more management skills that are with upcoming restaurant managers.
Lifestyle Impact
Working in this occupation has great impact on the lifestyle of an individual. This is because this career is demanding and has long working hours which limits the interaction of the individual with the family. The stress involved with being a restaurant manager affects the social life of an individual which makes one change the lifestyle. There are many responsibilities of a restaurant manager which are hard to combine with family roles which can lead to neglecting family. There is minimized time for leisure activities which leads to a changed lifestyle. Most of these managers do not marry as they will have no time for families. Restaurant managers have more vacations where they can be transferred to new places. This requires them to be flexible enough to adapt to new environs.
Conclusion
Being a restaurant manager requires one to be flexible enough to different situations and working hours to avoid stressful situations. One has to be experienced so that good performance can be achieved. Customer relations have to be enhanced where the restaurant manager should shake hands with the customers before the start of services. A smile is important as it welcomes the customers and makes them appreciate the services offered by the restaurant. Healthy competition is vital in a restaurant which assists in capturing value and high profit for the restaurant. My values will be suitable for the career as I have the skills and having a mentor have made me improve my personality to fit customer services. My current skills and experience meet the requirements for this occupation as I have the experience needed from the current employer. I need to work on stress management skills and teamwork skills so that I can be perfect in my career. My personality is fit for the occupation. When looking at the ideal job description and the information compiled about the career, I can fit in the career as I have the potential and experience needed.