Why Are Good Restaurant Managers So Hard to Find?

Restaurant managers are a crucial part of any establishment. They are responsible for ensuring that the restaurant runs smoothly and that customers have a positive experience. So, it should come as no surprise that good restaurant managers are hard to find. However, there are things you can do to make yourself stand out as an employer and attract the best talent. In this blog post, we will discuss what makes a great restaurant manager and how you can find the right person for your business!

As the saying goes, good help is hard to find. This is especially true in the restaurant industry, where managers are responsible for a wide range of tasks. From managing staff and keeping track of inventory, to dealing with customer complaints and overseeing day-to-day operations, restaurant managers have their hands full!

Despite the challenges, being a restaurant manager can be a very rewarding career. If you have a passion for food and enjoy working with people, it can be a great way to turn your love of cooking into a successful career.

So, what makes a good restaurant manager? Here are some qualities to look for:

  • Organizational skills: A good restaurant manager must be able to keep track of a lot of moving parts. They need to be able to stay calm under pressure and have excellent organizational skills.
  • People skills: As the saying goes, people are not computers – they cannot be programmed. A good manager must be able to motivate and inspire their team. They must also be able to handle customer complaints professionally.
  • Leadership: A good restaurant manager must be a strong leader. They should be able to delegate tasks and make decisions quickly.
  • Passion for food: A good restaurant manager must have a passion for food. They should be knowledgeable about different cuisines and cooking techniques.

Now that you know some of the qualities that the best restaurant managers have you can understand why they are so hard to find. Individuals with all these qualities will be in high demand hence why they are very hard to find and retain. So how can you go about finding this talent? Well, the answer is simple, a restaurant recruiter!

How to Find Good Restaurant Managers

Many business owners question the need to work with a restaurant recruiter because they believe that they can find top talent on their own. Well, the truth is it takes years of building connections and growing a network to be able to find top talent in a reasonable amount of time. Can they fill the position? Sure, but will it be the correct hire or only a temporary fix?

Hiring the wrong candidate can cost you more than just taking your time and spending the extra cash to work with a professional recruiter. It is important to understand that recycling the top leader in your restaurant (the manager) is not only a bad look for regular customers it gives other employees the itch to leave. Once that starts to happen you have a real problem on your hands.

So why is a restaurant recruiter so much better than hiring internally? They have a network of candidates that they have accumulated over the years. They aren’t just recycling the same candidates that apply online over and over. At Hospitality Headhunter we like to say, the best talent in the restaurant and hospitality industry is not necessarily looking for an opportunity. You need them, we go find them.

Witten By Kelly Kuhlmann

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.