We all know that the restaurant industry is a difficult one to make money in. With so many restaurants opening up every day, it’s not easy to set yourself apart from the competition and secure business. When hiring restaurant managers, it is important to not only note your needs, but also the needs of potential applicants.
Restaurant managers want to work for companies that put their employees first. As Richard Branson, Founder of The Virgin Group says, “Take Care of Your Employees And They’ll Take Care Of Your Business.” Here are six things that most restaurant managers want in their next employer.
Get Rid of Tedious Responsibilities
Your restaurant managers want an owner who will help them get rid of all their tedious responsibilities. This way they can focus more on the financials and less on the other small day-to-day tasks that bog them down. Often allowing the manager to have an assistant manager that they can delegate some of these tasks to is ideal. It also provides redundancy in your employee hierarchy which will prove valuable if someone is sick or on vacation.
The best thing you can do for your restaurant managers is to let them run your business the way they see fit. At the end of the day, their success is your success. If you have confidence in your manager, they will have confidence in you as an employer. It is okay to have sets of standards that you don’t want to budge from, but also be open minded and allow managers to provide you, their opinion. After all, they are in the trenches everyday trying their best to keep your business profitable.
Employers Who Don’t Micromanage
One of the most important things that restaurant managers want is freedom to do their job without micromanaging or imposing too many rules. This allows them to have some flexibility in their work and makes it easier for them to meet the demands of their position. Employers can help create a positive work environment by giving managers the ability to run the restaurant using some of their own philosophies. This will help reduce stress and improve productivity.
Micromanagement is one of the most complained about issues among many industries. It creates a toxic environment, hurts the managers ability to focus on the bigger picture and leads to hire turnover.
Provide Opportunity for Growth
Employers can give restaurant managers an opportunity for growth within the company by providing clear paths for advancement and offering continued training. Managers need to feel like they are valued members of the team and that there is potential for them to move up within the organization. Providing regular feedback and recognition for a job well done is also important in maintaining a positive work environment.
Bonus Tip: Provide ongoing access to continuing education. This will be a huge plus for applicants. Even if they end up moving on you will have left a positive impression on them and such will have great reviews on sites like Glassdoor.
Culture and Values
Manager applicants are looking for a company that shares the same values and goals that they have for themselves. When a manager can find a company that mirrors their personal beliefs, it makes the job search much easier. Managers want to be sure that the company they work for has the same ethical compass as they do and will stand behind them when tough decisions need to be made. Additionally, it is important for managers to know that the company is always trying to improve and grow. Having the same goals allows the manager to feel like they are a part of something larger and that their work is contributing to the success of the organization.
Good Benefits Package
Applicants in every industry are looking for a great benefit package when they are looking for a new job. The restaurant industry is no different. Applicants want to find a company that will take care of them and their family. They want to work somewhere that they know all the tedious issues of life are covered. Things like good insurance, paid time off, continuing education benefits, life insurance and retirement plans can help make you stand out as an employer.
Health insurance is a particularly important benefit for restaurant managers, as they often must work long hours and may not have time to go to the doctor during normal business hours. Having health insurance allows them to get the care they need without worrying about the cost is very important.
Retirement savings plans are also important to restaurant managers. Companies that offer retirement plans for their employees are a notch above others. Paid time off is another important benefit, as it allows them to take a break from work and relax which is very important in the fast-moving restaurant industry.
All these benefits are important to restaurant managers, and they are looking for jobs that offer them the best package possible. By offering a great benefit package, employers can attract the best talent in the industry.
Competitive Salary
The restaurant world is an extremely competitive industry with many challenges. The only way the owner succeeds is by investing in their employees so that they can improve sales and see a return on their investment for maximum success. A company’s competitiveness manifests itself in its salary comparison to other companies, which should be always competitive and fair. Restaurant managers must be able to live a good quality of life and be able to provide for their family.
These managers are vital to the success of a restaurant and often work long hours and feel undervalued when it comes to compensation. They need to be able to attract and retain talented staff, manage food costs, and keep up with trends to make the restaurant successful. The best way to keep managers engaged and actively looking out for your business is to provide a competitive wage and break the stigma restaurant industry stigma of long hours for low pay.
As an employer, learning what restaurant leadership applicants are looking for when searching for a job will help you attract and retain the industries top talent. Things like freedom to the job they are hired for, having a good culture and compensation package will allow your business to thrive. Remember, a revolving wheel of leadership in your restaurant is a bad look. Other employees will take note. If you don’t have these core things addressed, you may find yourself at the bottom of a management applicants list when applying for new jobs.
Kelly Kuhlmann is Founder and Chief Recruiting Partner of Hospitality Headhunter. Kelly has over 30 years in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry at all levels, and has been one of the Largest Restaurant Franchisees in the United States.