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Best Jobs For Former General Managers [2026]

By Chris Kolmar
Jul. 13, 2022
Last Modified and Fact Checked on:

Best Jobs for Former General Managers in 2026

The role of a general manager has evolved significantly in recent years, and many professionals in this position are reassessing their career paths. As industries adapt to new technologies and shifting workplace dynamics, including the rise of hybrid and remote work, the confidence of general managers in their roles has waned.

Despite the steady number of individuals pursuing degrees that prepare them for general management, fewer are applying for these positions, reflecting broader changes in the labor market.

This leads to an important question:

What career paths are former general managers exploring today?

To find out, we analyzed the resumes of former general managers to determine their subsequent job choices. We reviewed thousands of resumes and compiled a list of the top 100 roles they transitioned into.

Some of the results were unexpected and intriguing, prompting us to highlight a selection of these positions.

Top Career Opportunities for Former General Managers

  1. Operations Director Jobs

  2. Director of Sales Jobs

  3. Chief Operating Officer Jobs

  4. Chief Executive Officer Jobs

  5. Business Developer Jobs

  6. President of Operations Jobs

  7. Principal Jobs

  8. Executive Chef Jobs

  9. Managing Director Jobs

  10. Managing Partner Jobs

While the appeal of these roles may vary, they certainly capture attention and reflect the diverse opportunities available to former general managers.

For a complete overview of these positions, see the detailed list below.

Detailed Ranking of the Most Common Jobs for Former General Managers

Rank Job Title %
1 Manager 2.41%
2 Store Manager 2.31%
3 Operations Manager 2.1%
4 Assistant Manager 1.64%
5 Owner 1.21%
6 Vice President 1.17%
7 Sales Manager 1.12%
8 Operations Director 1.07%
9 Project Manager 0.9%
10 Sales Representative 0.85%
11 Consultant 0.85%
12 District Manager 0.81%
13 Owner/operator 0.78%
14 Customer Service Representative 0.74%
15 Assistant General Manager 0.72%
16 Sales Associate 0.71%
17 President 0.69%
18 Office Manager 0.69%
19 Account Executive 0.63%
20 Account Manager 0.54%
21 Director 0.47%
22 Administrative Assistant 0.47%
23 Director of Sales 0.45%
24 Chief Operating Officer 0.44%
25 Service Manager 0.43%
26 Chief Executive Officer 0.43%
27 Business Developer 0.42%
28 President of Operations 0.42%
29 Server 0.42%
30 Supervisor 0.39%
31 Regional Manager 0.38%
32 Sales Consultant 0.37%
33 Assistant Store Manager 0.37%
34 Property Manager 0.36%
35 Area Manager 0.35%
36 Principal 0.35%
37 Owner/manager 0.34%
38 Executive Chef 0.34%
39 Plant Manager 0.34%
40 Business Development Manager 0.33%
41 Program Manager 0.32%
42 Managing Director 0.32%
43 General Sales Manager 0.3%
44 Team Leader 0.29%
45 Restaurant Manager 0.29%
46 Managing Partner 0.29%
47 Executive Director 0.29%
48 Senior Project Manager 0.28%
49 Sales/marketing 0.28%
50 President/owner 0.28%
51 Branch Manager 0.28%
52 Production Manager 0.27%
53 Regional Sales Manager 0.26%
54 Director of Food and Beverage 0.24%
55 Marketing Director 0.24%
56 Internship 0.23%
57 Vice President & General Manager 0.23%
58 Business Manager 0.22%
59 President/Chief Executive Officer 0.22%
60 Chief Finance Officer 0.22%
61 Territory Manager 0.22%
62 Kitchen Manager 0.21%
63 Training Manager 0.21%
64 Bartender 0.21%
65 Department Manager 0.2%
66 District Sales Manager 0.2%
67 Director of Sales and Marketing 0.2%
68 Cashier 0.19%
69 Associate 0.19%
70 Marketing Manager 0.19%
71 Food and Beverage Manager 0.19%
72 Food Service Director 0.18%
73 Business Consultant 0.18%
74 Human Resources Manager 0.18%
75 Senior Manager 0.18%
76 Human Resources Coordinator 0.17%
77 Teacher 0.17%
78 Purchasing Manager 0.17%
79 Driver 0.17%
80 Finance Manager 0.17%
81 Controller 0.17%
82 Customer Service Manager 0.17%
83 Realtor 0.16%
84 Specialist 0.16%
85 Product Manager 0.16%
86 Vice President, Business Development 0.16%
87 Substitute Teacher 0.16%
88 General Manager of Operations 0.16%
89 Facilities Manager 0.15%
90 Bartender Server 0.15%
91 Associate Manager 0.15%
92 Volunteer 0.15%
93 Buyer 0.15%
94 Warehouse Manager 0.15%
95 Partner 0.14%
96 Executive Assistant 0.14%
97 Security Officer 0.14%
98 Management Consultant 0.14%
99 Co-Owner 0.14%
100 Recruiter 0.14%

Most Common Jobs for Former General Managers

  1. Manager

  2. Store Manager

  3. Operations Manager

  4. Assistant Manager

  5. Owner

  6. Vice President

  7. Sales Manager

  8. Operations Director

  9. Project Manager

  10. Sales Representative

These positions are not only viable career options but also leverage valuable skills that former general managers possess, serving as stepping stones to new opportunities.

It’s important to note that these roles align closely with the skills and experiences typically gained by general managers, making them a natural transition.

How We Determined the Best Jobs for Former General Managers

Our analysis utilized resume data from a comprehensive database of over 7 million resumes, focusing on those that listed general manager in their work history. We identified which roles followed their time as general managers, ranking them by frequency.

This methodology allowed us to compile a list of the most frequently transitioned jobs.

To identify the most unique opportunities, we sifted through the ranked list to find roles that:

  • Appeared in fewer than 1% of all new job listings
  • Were not included in the 100 most common jobs in our database

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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