How to find and hire the best managers for your restaurant

Running a successful restaurant is not an easy task. You need to have a great menu, a cozy atmosphere, a friendly staff, and a loyal customer base. But above all, you need to have a competent and reliable manager who can oversee the daily operations of your business and ensure its growth and profitability.

A manager is the person who is responsible for hiring, training, and supervising the staff, managing the inventory and the budget, dealing with suppliers and customers, and enforcing the quality and safety standards. Manager can make or break your restaurant, so you need to be very careful and selective when looking for one.

But how can you find and hire the best managers for your restaurant? What are the skills and qualities that you should look for? How can you attract and retain them? In this article, we will answer these questions and give you some tips and advice on how to find and hire the best managers for your restaurant.

Define your expectations and requirements

The first step in finding and hiring the best managers for your restaurant is to define your expectations and requirements. You need to have a clear idea of what you want from your manager and what you can offer them in return. You need to consider the following aspects:

• Size and type of your restaurant. Different types of restaurants may require different levels of management. For example, a fast-food chain may need a more structured and standardized approach, while a fine-dining establishment may need a more flexible and creative one.
• Role and responsibilities of your manager. You need to specify the tasks and duties that your manager will have to perform and the goals and objectives that they will have to achieve. You also need to define the level of authority and autonomy that your manager will have and the reporting and communication channels that they will have to use.
• Skills and qualifications of your manager. You need to determine the minimum and preferred qualifications that your manager should have, such as education, experience, certifications, and licenses. You also need to identify the skills and competencies that your manager should have, such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and customer service.
• Compensation and benefits of your manager. You need to decide how much you are willing and able to pay your manager and what kind of benefits and incentives you can offer them, such as bonuses, commissions, health insurance, retirement plan, and paid vacation. You also need to consider the market rate and the competition for managers in your area and industry.

Once you have defined your expectations and requirements, you need to write a detailed and attractive job description that summarizes them and highlights the advantages of working for your restaurant. You need to use clear and concise language and avoid vague and unrealistic terms. You also need to include a call to action that invites the candidates to apply for the position and provides them with the necessary information and instructions.

Search for and screen the candidates

The next step in finding and hiring the best managers for your restaurant is to search for and screen the candidates. You need to use various sources and methods to reach out to potential candidates and attract their interest. You also need to use effective tools and techniques to evaluate their suitability and potential. You need to consider the following aspects:

1. Sources and channels of recruitment. You need to use a combination of internal and external sources and channels to find and recruit the candidates. Internal sources include your current employees, customers, and suppliers, who can refer or recommend candidates from their network. External sources include offline and online platforms, such as job boards, social media, newspapers, magazines, recruitment agency websites and trade associations, where you can post your job ad or search for resumes.
2. Screening and selection process. You need to use a structured and consistent process to screen and select the candidates. You need to review their resumes and cover letters, check their references and background, and conduct interviews and tests. You need to use objective and relevant criteria and indicators to assess their skills and qualifications, such as their education, experience, achievements, and personality. You also need to use multiple and diverse methods and formats to evaluate their performance and potential, such as phone, video, or in-person interviews, situational or behavioral questions, role-playing or simulation exercises, and personality or aptitude tests.
3. Feedback and communication system. You need to use a timely and respectful system to provide feedback and communicate with the candidates. You need to acknowledge their application, inform them of the status and outcome of the process, and thank them for their interest and participation. You also need to answer their questions and concerns, provide them with constructive and honest feedback, and invite them to ask for clarification or feedback.

Once you have searched for and screened the candidates, you need to compare and contrast them and select the best ones for the final stage of the hiring process.

Make an offer and close the deal

The final step in finding and hiring the best managers for your restaurant is to make an offer and close the deal. You need to use a persuasive and professional approach to convince the candidates to accept your offer and join your team. You also need to use a clear and formal procedure to finalize the agreement and complete the paperwork. You need to consider the following aspects:

• Negotiation and presentation of the offer. You need to negotiate and present the offer in a way that meets the expectations and needs of both parties. You need to highlight the benefits and opportunities of working for your restaurant, such as the salary, the bonuses, the perks, the culture, and the growth potential. You also need to address the concerns and objections of the candidates, such as the workload, the schedule, the challenges, and the risks. You need to use a positive and confident tone and avoid pressuring or manipulating the candidates.
• Acceptance and confirmation of the offer. You need to obtain the acceptance and confirmation of the offer in a way that ensures the commitment and satisfaction of both parties. You need to ask the candidates to sign a written contract that specifies the terms and conditions of the employment, such as the start date, the probation period, the responsibilities, the expectations, and the policies. You also need to provide the candidates with the necessary information and documents, such as the employee handbook, the tax forms, the insurance forms, and the training materials.

Once you have made an offer and closed the deal, you need to welcome and onboard the new managers and integrate them into your team.

Conclusion

Finding and hiring the best managers for your restaurant is a crucial and challenging task that requires careful planning and execution. You need to define your expectations and requirements, search for and screen the candidates, and make an offer and close the deal. By following these steps and tips, you can find and hire the best managers for your restaurant and ensure its success and profitability.

However, if you don’t have time to recruit staff on your own or you doubt your skills in this area, you can always contact specialized agencies (for example, TheRestaurantZone.com) that deal specifically with recruiting staff for the restaurant business.