Top 12 Restaurant General Manager Skills to Put on Your Resume

In a competitive hospitality landscape, a well-crafted resume is crucial for aspiring Restaurant General Managers seeking to stand out. Highlighting a unique blend of managerial skills on your resume can significantly enhance your chances of catching the eye of potential employers, demonstrating your capability to lead with efficiency and innovation.

Restaurant General Manager Skills

1. Leadership
2. P&L Management
3. Inventory Control
4. Customer Service
5. Staff Training
6. POS Systems
7. Scheduling Software
8. Conflict Resolution
9. Marketing Strategies
10. Health & Safety
11. Menu Development
12. OpenTable

1. Leadership

Leadership, in the context of a Restaurant General Manager, involves guiding and inspiring a team to achieve the restaurant's goals through effective communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and team motivation, ensuring high-quality customer service and operational efficiency.

Why It's Important

Leadership is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager as it ensures effective team coordination, high-quality customer service, and operational efficiency, ultimately leading to customer satisfaction and business success.

How to Improve Leadership Skills

Improving leadership skills, particularly for a Restaurant General Manager, involves a combination of self-awareness, communication, and strategic thinking. Here's a concise guide:

1. Develop Emotional Intelligence: Understand and manage your emotions, along with recognizing and influencing the emotions of others. Harvard Business Review offers insights into why emotional intelligence is crucial for leaders.

2. Enhance Communication Skills: Clear, concise, and effective communication is key. This includes listening actively. MindTools provides techniques to improve communication skills.

3. Foster Team Engagement: Motivate and inspire your team by setting clear goals, providing feedback, and recognizing achievements. Gallup highlights the importance of engaged employees in achieving business outcomes.

4. Adaptability: Be open to change and ready to adapt to new situations. This Forbes article discusses ways to adapt to change effectively.

5. Decision Making: Make informed decisions quickly and confidently. Inc. offers tips on improving decision-making skills.

6. Continuous Learning: Stay updated with industry trends and leadership best practices. Platforms like Coursera and LinkedIn Learning offer courses on leadership and management.

By focusing on these areas, a Restaurant General Manager can significantly improve their leadership skills, leading to a more successful and harmonious workplace.

How to Display Leadership Skills on Your Resume

2. P&L Management

P&L Management, in the context of a Restaurant General Manager, involves overseeing and optimizing the Profit and Loss statement by managing revenues and expenses to ensure the restaurant operates profitably.

Why It's Important

P&L Management is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager because it directly measures the financial performance, identifying profit drivers and areas of cost inefficiency. This enables informed decision-making to optimize operations, control expenses, and maximize profitability, ensuring the restaurant's financial health and sustainability.

How to Improve P&L Management Skills

Improving Profit and Loss (P&L) Management for a Restaurant General Manager involves a few key strategies. Focus on:

1. Revenue Enhancement: Increase sales through marketing, promoting high-margin items, and enhancing customer experience. Consider strategies like local SEO and social media marketing.

2. Cost Control: Monitor and reduce costs without compromising quality. Implement inventory management techniques and negotiate with suppliers for better prices. Tools like Toast POS can streamline this process.

3. Labor Efficiency: Optimize staff scheduling based on forecasted demand using scheduling software like 7shifts. Train staff to be multi-functional to reduce idle time.

4. Waste Reduction: Implement measures to reduce food waste through better inventory tracking and menu management. LeanPath offers solutions tailored for food waste reduction.

5. Regular Financial Review: Conduct weekly P&L reviews to identify trends, rectify issues quickly, and make informed decisions. Tools like QuickBooks can help manage your finances more efficiently.

Adopting these strategies will require a mix of technology, training, and strategic planning but will significantly improve your restaurant's P&L management.

How to Display P&L Management Skills on Your Resume

3. Inventory Control

Inventory control in the context of a restaurant general manager involves managing the stock of food, beverages, and supplies to ensure there is enough to meet customer demand without overstocking or wastage, aiming to optimize costs and maintain quality.

Why It's Important

Inventory control is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager because it ensures the right balance of stock to meet customer demand without overstocking, minimizes waste and spoilage, controls food costs, and maximizes profitability.

How to Improve Inventory Control Skills

Improving inventory control in a restaurant setting involves several key strategies aimed at minimizing waste, optimizing stock levels, and ensuring the availability of ingredients. Here are concise steps a Restaurant General Manager can undertake:

1. Implement an Inventory Management System: Use software to track stock levels, sales patterns, and order history. Square offers a comprehensive system that integrates with POS.

2. Conduct Regular Audits: Perform weekly or bi-weekly physical inventory checks to ensure accuracy against what's recorded in your system. Toast provides tools to streamline this process.

3. Train Your Staff: Ensure all team members understand the importance of inventory control and are trained on best practices. Typsy offers online courses focused on restaurant management skills.

4. Establish Par Levels: Determine the minimum amount of each item that must be on hand at all times and adjust based on demand. This Shopify guide explains par levels in detail.

5. Monitor Waste: Keep track of what's being thrown away to identify patterns and adjust orders accordingly. LeanPath specializes in food waste prevention solutions.

6. Negotiate with Suppliers: Build relationships with suppliers for better prices and terms, ensuring you're not overstocking to meet minimum order quantities. Foodservice.com is a community where you can connect and share insights with other professionals.

7. Utilize Forecasting Tools: Forecast demand based on historical sales data, seasonality, and upcoming events. Upserve provides detailed analytics and forecasting for restaurants.

8. Implement FIFO (First In, First Out): Ensure older stock is used before newer stock to prevent spoilage. This WebstaurantStore article explains the FIFO method in detail.

By applying these strategies, a Restaurant General Manager can significantly improve inventory control, leading to reduced costs, increased efficiency, and ultimately, higher profitability.

How to Display Inventory Control Skills on Your Resume

4. Customer Service

Customer service in the context of a Restaurant General Manager involves ensuring guest satisfaction through high-quality interactions, efficiently resolving complaints, and creating a welcoming atmosphere, thereby enhancing the overall dining experience.

Why It's Important

Customer service is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager because it directly influences customer satisfaction, retention, and word-of-mouth referrals, which are essential for the restaurant's reputation and profitability.

How to Improve Customer Service Skills

Improving customer service, especially in a restaurant setting, involves a multifaceted approach focusing on staff training, customer feedback, and creating a welcoming environment. Here are concise strategies for a Restaurant General Manager:

1. Staff Training: Invest in regular customer service training for your staff, emphasizing empathy, patience, and communication skills. Role-playing scenarios can be particularly effective.

2. Feedback System: Implement a feedback system that allows customers to easily share their dining experiences. Use this feedback to make immediate improvements.

3. Personalized Experience: Encourage staff to personalize guest experiences, remembering regular customers' names and preferences. Personalization can significantly enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.

4. Efficient Complaint Resolution: Develop a clear, efficient process for addressing and resolving complaints. Quick and empathetic responses to issues can turn a negative experience into a positive one.

5. Clean and Welcoming Environment: Ensure your restaurant is always clean, well-maintained, and inviting. First impressions are crucial, as detailed in insights on creating a welcoming atmosphere.

By focusing on these areas, a Restaurant General Manager can significantly improve customer service, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

How to Display Customer Service Skills on Your Resume

5. Staff Training

Staff training, in the context of a Restaurant General Manager, involves instructing and preparing employees on the skills, procedures, and standards required to perform their duties effectively within the restaurant. This includes food preparation, customer service, safety protocols, and teamwork.

Why It's Important

Staff training is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager as it ensures employees have the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality service, maintain operational efficiency, and enhance customer satisfaction, ultimately driving business success and reputation.

How to Improve Staff Training Skills

To improve staff training as a Restaurant General Manager, focus on the following concise strategies:

1. Customize Training: Tailor training programs to meet the unique needs of your staff, considering different learning styles and roles within the restaurant. Source: Restaurant.org

2. Leverage Technology: Utilize online training platforms and apps for interactive and engaging learning experiences. Typsy offers industry-specific courses beneficial for restaurant staff.

3. Implement Mentorship Programs: Pair new employees with experienced staff for hands-on learning and support. Harvard Business Review outlines the effectiveness of mentorship in employee development.

4. Focus on Soft Skills: Train staff not only on operational tasks but also on communication, teamwork, and customer service skills. Toast provides insights on essential restaurant staff training topics.

5. Continuous Learning: Encourage ongoing learning and professional development through workshops, seminars, and certifications relevant to the hospitality industry. National Restaurant Association offers various educational events and resources.

6. Feedback and Evaluation: Regularly assess training effectiveness and gather feedback from staff to continuously improve the training program. Qualtrics offers guidance on collecting and implementing training feedback.

By focusing on these areas, you can create a comprehensive and effective training program that not only equips your staff with the necessary skills but also motivates and engages them, leading to improved performance and customer satisfaction in your restaurant.

How to Display Staff Training Skills on Your Resume

6. POS Systems

A POS (Point of Sale) system is a digital platform that manages sales transactions, tracks inventory, processes orders, and provides analytical insights, serving as the central hub for operational and financial activities in a restaurant.

Why It's Important

POS systems streamline operations by integrating order processing, inventory management, sales tracking, and customer data management, enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and service speed, vital for a restaurant's profitability and customer satisfaction.

How to Improve POS Systems Skills

Improving POS (Point of Sale) systems in a restaurant setting involves enhancing efficiency, reliability, user-friendliness, and integrating advanced features. Here’s how a Restaurant General Manager can achieve this:

1. Upgrade Hardware: Invest in modern, high-speed POS terminals and reliable peripherals (printers, cash drawers) to speed up transactions and improve customer experience. Square offers a range of sleek, efficient hardware options suitable for restaurants.

2. Implement Cloud-Based Solutions: Use cloud-based POS systems for real-time data access, better security, and easier software updates. Toast is a popular option that provides comprehensive, cloud-based POS solutions tailored for restaurants.

3. Enhance Payment Processing: Support multiple payment methods (credit/debit cards, mobile payments, contactless) to cater to all customers. Stripe is a versatile payment platform that integrates well with various POS systems.

4. Streamline Online Ordering: Integrate online ordering directly into your POS to manage in-house and online orders efficiently. TouchBistro offers robust POS integration with online ordering capabilities.

5. Use Data Analytics: Utilize POS systems with built-in analytics to track sales, customer preferences, and inventory, enabling better decision-making. Lightspeed has advanced analytics features for detailed insights.

6. Train Staff: Regularly train staff on POS features and updates to reduce errors and improve service speed. Tailor training to your system's specifics, ensuring all employees are confident in using the POS features.

7. Implement Tableside Ordering: Equip staff with handheld devices for tableside ordering and payments to increase table turnover rates. Revel Systems provides an efficient tableside service solution within their POS system.

By focusing on these key areas, a Restaurant General Manager can significantly improve their POS system's efficiency and functionality, enhancing both the customer experience and the restaurant's operational efficiency.

How to Display POS Systems Skills on Your Resume

7. Scheduling Software

Scheduling software for a Restaurant General Manager is a digital tool designed to optimize the creation and management of employee work schedules, ensuring efficient staff allocation, compliance with labor laws, and improved communication within the team.

Why It's Important

Scheduling software is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager because it streamlines staff allocation, ensuring efficient coverage during peak hours, reduces scheduling conflicts, and saves time, allowing the manager to focus on customer service and operational efficiency.

How to Improve Scheduling Software Skills

Improving scheduling software for a Restaurant General Manager involves focusing on customization, automation, integration, and user-friendly features. Here's a concise guide:

1. Customization: Ensure the software allows for roles, shifts, and preferences customization to match the unique needs of your restaurant. Tailoring aspects like split shifts or seasonal variations can significantly enhance usability.

2. Automation: Implement features that automate the scheduling process, such as shift assignments based on employee availability, preferences, and skill sets. This reduces the time managers spend on creating schedules manually.

3. Integration: Choose software that integrates seamlessly with other systems used by the restaurant, such as payroll, point of sale (POS), and HR systems. This integration ensures a smoother flow of information and reduces errors.

4. User-Friendly Interface: Opt for software with a clear, intuitive interface. Both managers and employees should find it easy to use, ensuring schedules are communicated effectively.

5. Mobile Accessibility: Ensure the software has a mobile app or mobile-friendly design for easy access by managers and employees alike, facilitating real-time updates and notifications.

6. Feedback and Support: Select software that offers robust customer support and the ability to incorporate feedback. This ensures any issues can be promptly addressed, and the software can evolve based on user needs.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your restaurant's scheduling software, resulting in a more satisfied workforce and smoother operations.

How to Display Scheduling Software Skills on Your Resume

8. Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution for a Restaurant General Manager involves the process of identifying, addressing, and resolving disputes or disagreements among staff, customers, or suppliers quickly and effectively to maintain a positive and productive dining establishment environment.

Why It's Important

Conflict resolution is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager as it ensures a harmonious work environment, enhances team collaboration, and improves customer satisfaction, directly impacting the restaurant's success and reputation.

How to Improve Conflict Resolution Skills

Improving conflict resolution, especially for a Restaurant General Manager, involves a blend of communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills. Here are concise steps to enhance your approach:

1. Active Listening: Ensure you fully understand all perspectives by listening without interruption. MindTools offers insights on honing this skill.

2. Empathy: Show genuine concern for the feelings and situations of others involved. The Greater Good Science Center provides resources on developing empathy.

3. Clear Communication: Express your thoughts and solutions clearly and respectfully. HelpGuide outlines techniques for effective communication.

4. Problem-Solving: Work collaboratively to find a win-win solution. The MindTools problem-solving section can guide you.

5. Mediation Skills: Sometimes, a neutral third party can help resolve conflicts more effectively. Mediate.com offers detailed strategies on mediation.

6. Follow-Up: Ensure the resolution is working for all parties by checking in after the conflict has been addressed.

By integrating these strategies, a Restaurant General Manager can foster a more harmonious work environment, leading to improved team performance and customer satisfaction.

How to Display Conflict Resolution Skills on Your Resume

9. Marketing Strategies

Marketing strategies for a restaurant general manager involve planning and executing actions to promote the restaurant, attract and retain customers, and increase sales. This includes identifying the target market, creating a unique selling proposition, leveraging online and offline advertising, engaging with customers through social media, managing online reviews, offering promotions or special events, and ensuring exceptional dining experiences to encourage word-of-mouth referrals.

Why It's Important

Marketing strategies are crucial for a Restaurant General Manager as they help attract and retain customers, differentiate the restaurant from competitors, and increase revenue by promoting the unique dining experience, menu offerings, and special events effectively.

How to Improve Marketing Strategies Skills

Improving marketing strategies for a restaurant involves focusing on customer engagement, leveraging digital platforms, and creating unique dining experiences. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Enhance Online Presence: Strengthen your restaurant's online presence by optimizing your website and actively engaging on social media platforms. Google My Business is crucial for local SEO and attracting nearby customers.

2. Leverage Social Media: Use platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your dishes, share customer reviews, and promote special events. Visual content is key in the food industry.

3. Implement Email Marketing: Collect emails through your website or in-person to send out newsletters, promotions, and updates. Tools like Mailchimp can help manage campaigns.

4. Encourage Online Reviews: Positive reviews on platforms like Yelp and TripAdvisor can significantly influence potential customers. Encourage satisfied customers to leave feedback.

5. Offer Promotions and Loyalty Programs: Use promotions to attract new customers and loyalty programs to retain them. Platforms like Square offer integrated solutions.

6. Host Events: Organizing events can attract new customers and provide content for online marketing. Consider theme nights, live music, or culinary classes.

7. Collaborate with Food Bloggers and Influencers: Partnering with local influencers for reviews or sponsored content can increase visibility. Ensure the partnership aligns with your brand.

8. Utilize Online Advertising: Paid advertising on Google AdWords or social media can target potential customers in your area. Tailor your ads to highlight what sets your restaurant apart.

9. Monitor and Adapt: Use analytics tools to track the success of your marketing strategies and adapt based on what works best. Tools like Google Analytics can provide valuable insights.

10. Focus on Customer Experience: Ultimately, the best marketing is a great dining experience. Encourage staff to provide exceptional service, and always seek feedback to improve.

Implementing a combination of these strategies can enhance your restaurant's marketing efforts, attract more customers, and ultimately boost sales.

How to Display Marketing Strategies Skills on Your Resume

10. Health & Safety

Health and Safety in the context of a Restaurant General Manager involves ensuring the restaurant environment is safe for employees and customers, and adhering to legal and company standards related to food preparation, hygiene, and workplace safety. This includes managing risks, training staff on safety practices, and responding effectively to emergencies.

Why It's Important

Health & Safety is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager because it ensures the well-being of both employees and customers, minimizes the risk of accidents and foodborne illnesses, and safeguards the restaurant's reputation and legal compliance.

How to Improve Health & Safety Skills

Improving health and safety in a restaurant involves a multi-faceted approach focusing on staff training, facility maintenance, and adherence to local health codes. Here's a concise guide for a Restaurant General Manager:

1. Staff Training: Ensure all staff, including kitchen and front-of-house, undergo regular health and safety training. Training should cover food handling, personal hygiene, first aid, and emergency procedures.

2. Facility Maintenance: Regularly inspect and maintain the restaurant's infrastructure, including kitchen equipment, to prevent accidents. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides guidelines on fire safety standards for commercial cooking operations.

3. Health Code Compliance: Stay updated with local health department regulations and ensure your restaurant exceeds these standards. Regular health inspections can identify potential issues before they become health risks.

4. Cleanliness: Implement a strict cleaning schedule for all areas of the restaurant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidelines on cleaning practices to reduce foodborne illness risks.

5. Emergency Preparedness: Develop and regularly update an emergency action plan. Training staff on this plan can minimize risks during unexpected events. Resources from Ready.gov can help in planning.

By focusing on these areas, a Restaurant General Manager can significantly improve health and safety standards, ensuring a safer environment for both staff and customers.

How to Display Health & Safety Skills on Your Resume

11. Menu Development

Menu development is the process of designing and updating a restaurant's menu to align with the establishment's concept, target market, and financial objectives, ensuring a balance of appealing, cost-effective dishes that meet customer expectations and drive profitability.

Why It's Important

Menu development is crucial for a Restaurant General Manager as it directly impacts customer satisfaction, dictates inventory needs, influences pricing strategy, and shapes the restaurant's identity, thereby driving profitability and market competitiveness.

How to Improve Menu Development Skills

Improving menu development involves a strategic approach focusing on market research, customer feedback, and culinary innovation. Here's a concise guide:

1. Understand Your Audience: Conduct market research to understand the preferences and dietary requirements of your target demographic. Tools like Google Trends can help you spot food trends.

2. Analyze Competitors: Study competitors' menus. Identify gaps in the market or areas for improvement. Websites like Yelp offer insights into what customers enjoy or dislike.

3. Leverage Feedback: Regularly collect and analyze customer feedback. Tools like SurveyMonkey can facilitate this process.

4. Innovate and Test: Experiment with new dishes. Consider seasonality and local ingredients for fresh, exciting offerings. Testing small changes can be done through special offers or limited-time menus.

5. Optimize for Profit: Use menu engineering techniques to highlight profitable dishes. Software like MenuPro helps in designing menus that maximize profit.

6. Train Your Staff: Ensure your staff understands the menu inside and out. They should be able to make recommendations and answer questions confidently.

7. Review and Revise: Regularly review your menu's performance. Make adjustments based on sales data, seasonality, and customer feedback.

By following these steps and leveraging the right tools, you can continuously improve your menu, meeting customer expectations and driving profitability.

How to Display Menu Development Skills on Your Resume

12. OpenTable

OpenTable is a real-time online reservation platform that allows customers to make restaurant bookings, while providing restaurant managers tools for reservation management, table management, and guest management to streamline operations and enhance guest experience.

Why It's Important

OpenTable is important for a Restaurant General Manager because it streamlines reservation management, enhances guest experience through easy booking, increases visibility and reach to potential diners, and provides valuable insights into customer preferences and dining trends.

How to Improve OpenTable Skills

To enhance OpenTable as a Restaurant General Manager, focus on optimizing your restaurant’s profile, leveraging guest feedback, and utilizing OpenTable’s marketing tools effectively.

1. Optimize Your Profile: Ensure your restaurant's OpenTable profile is complete and enticing. Include high-quality images, an up-to-date menu, and detailed descriptions. Optimizing Your Restaurant Profile

2. Leverage Guest Feedback: Use OpenTable's guest feedback tools to gather insights and improve your service. Respond professionally to all reviews to show you value customer input. Managing Guest Feedback

3. Utilize Marketing Tools: Take advantage of OpenTable’s marketing programs, like Special Offers and Experiences, to attract new diners and retain existing ones. Marketing Tools Overview

By focusing on these areas, you can enhance your restaurant’s presence on OpenTable, attract more diners, and improve overall guest satisfaction.

How to Display OpenTable Skills on Your Resume