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What does an assistant shift supervisor do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read
What does an assistant shift supervisor do

An assistant shift supervisor helps shift supervisors maintain smooth operations and provide optimal services to clients. Their tasks often include handling calls and correspondence, preparing documentation and presentations, conducting reviews and assessments, coordinating with different teams, managing staff, and overseeing schedules. There are also times when they participate in setting goals, establishing timelines and guidelines, liaising with external business partners, and addressing issues and concerns. Moreover, in the absence of the shift supervisor, an assistant shift supervisor may assume their duties to maintain the smooth workflow of the establishment.

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Assistant shift supervisor responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real assistant shift supervisor resumes:

  • Manage store upkeep, handle customer support, train new employees, and frequently complete nightly payroll.
  • Carry out administrative functions including tracking ordering and managing inventory, and support the manager in monitoring store security and cleanliness.
  • Perform access control and monitor CCTV cameras at the lobby command center.
  • Patrol designate areas, enforce state and local laws, issue violations; direct investigations as necessary.
  • Prepare and submit reports for direct patrol activities.
  • Assist with payroll administration, department correspondence and other management activities as directed.
  • Assist management in maintaining or improving cleanliness quality through inspections, training and employee accountability, including employee counseling or disciplining.
  • Demonstrate competency in communication, group leadership and crisis management skills.
  • Provide leadership and development for associates by communicating career opportunities, and providing regular performance feedback
  • Complete all require training ServSafe certification.

Assistant shift supervisor skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Assistant Shift Supervisors are proficient in Customer Service, Safety Procedures, and Food Safety. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Detail oriented, and Physical stamina.

We break down the percentage of Assistant Shift Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 16%

    Received Certificate of Appreciation for demonstrating exemplary customer service and taking on additional duties as relief dispatcher and ensuring safe environment.

  • Safety Procedures, 12%

    Ensured safety procedures on food handling, lifting, and cleaning were properly followed to law and company standards.

  • Food Safety, 9%

    Oversee employees work in front and back house to ensure compliance with company policies, regulations, and Food Safety Guidelines.

  • CPR, 9%

    Maintain yearly proficiency and qualification on sidearm, shotgun and CPR.

  • Direct Supervision, 7%

    Assist in the direct supervision of the administrative and operational security activities in a correctional facility.

  • Legal Rights, 6%

    Provide for the protection of each inmate and the preservation of each inmate's legal rights.

"customer service," "safety procedures," and "food safety" are among the most common skills that assistant shift supervisors use at work. You can find even more assistant shift supervisor responsibilities below, including:

Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for an assistant shift supervisor to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "food service managers must give clear orders to staff and be able to convey information effectively to employees and customers." Additionally, an assistant shift supervisor resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "review and ensure completion of shift paperwork, incident reports and communications. "

Physical stamina. assistant shift supervisors are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to assistant shift supervisor responsibilities, because "managers often work long shifts and sometimes spend entire evenings actively helping to serve customers." An assistant shift supervisor resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "performed physical inventory counts by hand counting, ordered products and completed delivery verification. "

Business skills. assistant shift supervisor responsibilities often require "business skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "food service managers must understand all aspects of the restaurant business, including how to budget for supplies, comply with regulations, and manage workers." This resume example shows what assistant shift supervisors do with business skills on a typical day: "resolve customer complaints quickly and effectively ensuring their future business. "

Customer-service skills. Another crucial skill for an assistant shift supervisor to carry out their responsibilities is "customer-service skills." A big part of what assistant shift supervisors relies on this skill, since "food service managers must be courteous and attentive when dealing with patrons." How this skill relates to assistant shift supervisor duties can be seen in an example from an assistant shift supervisor resume snippet: "maintained cleanliness and well organized inventory to ensure a positive shopping experience for cvs' customers. "

Leadership skills. Lastly, "leadership skills" is an important element of what an assistant shift supervisor does. Assistant shift supervisor responsibilities require this skill because "managers must establish good relationships with staff to maintain a productive work environment." This resume example highlights how assistant shift supervisor duties rely on this skill: "graduated from from cca university for front line leadership training. "

All assistant shift supervisor skills

The three companies that hire the most assistant shift supervisors are:

Compare different assistant shift supervisors

Assistant shift supervisor vs. Store assistant

As the name entails, a store assistant helps the store supervisor or manager. You will typically perform various tasks that include processing inventory and replenishing items when they get low, assisting stock clerks in receiving and processing shipments, and performing tasks related to store opening and closing. Additionally, you are expected to provide customer service, including handling customer complaints and facilitating transactions utilizing point of sale software. A store assistant also checks for any product breakage or damage.

If we compare the average assistant shift supervisor annual salary with that of a store assistant, we find that store assistants typically earn a $8,761 lower salary than assistant shift supervisors make annually.Even though assistant shift supervisors and store assistants are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require customer service, payroll, and computer system in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, assistant shift supervisor responsibilities require skills like "safety procedures," "criminal justice," "food safety," and "cpr." Meanwhile a typical store assistant has skills in areas such as "retail sales," "gas pumps," "pet," and "food handling." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.

Store assistants tend to make the most money working in the retail industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,808. In contrast, assistant shift supervisors make the biggest average salary, $44,547, in the government industry.The education levels that store assistants earn slightly differ from assistant shift supervisors. In particular, store assistants are 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an assistant shift supervisor. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant shift supervisor vs. Lead assistant

A lead assistant is responsible for monitoring the operations of a specific business department, under the supervision of a team lead. Lead assistants provide support on training new staff, implementing strategic policies, identifying business opportunities, and developing services that would bring more revenues and profitability for the organization. They also respond to customers' inquiries, handling complaints, and ensuring immediate resolution for all concerns to maintain customers' satisfaction and a good reputation for the business. A lead assistant must have excellent communication and leadership skills to manage the team's needs, meeting operational goals timely and efficiently.

On average, lead assistants earn a $9,146 lower salary than assistant shift supervisors a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Assistant shift supervisors and lead assistants both require similar skills like "customer service," "safety procedures," and "cpr" to carry out their responsibilities.

Each career also uses different skills, according to real assistant shift supervisor resumes. While assistant shift supervisor responsibilities can utilize skills like "criminal justice," "food safety," "direct supervision," and "legal rights," lead assistants use skills like "excellent interpersonal," "tip," "pet," and "employee engagement."

Lead assistants earn similar levels of education than assistant shift supervisors in general. They're 1.9% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant shift supervisor vs. Senior assistant manager

A senior assistant manager's role is to perform managerial support tasks, helping to keep business operations run smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities typically include managing the workforce, overseeing budgets and project timelines, and monitoring the progress of operations, reporting to the managers regularly. They may also perform clerical tasks such as preparing and processing documents, maintaining records, and handling calls and correspondence. Furthermore, as a senior assistant manager, it is essential to lead and serve as a role model for other assistant managers while implementing the company's policies and regulations.

On average scale, senior assistant managers bring in lower salaries than assistant shift supervisors. In fact, they earn a $2,950 lower salary per year.By looking over several assistant shift supervisors and senior assistant managers resumes, we found that both roles require similar skills in their day-to-day duties, such as "customer service," "payroll," and "product quality." But beyond that, the careers look very different.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, an assistant shift supervisor is likely to be skilled in "safety procedures," "criminal justice," "food safety," and "cpr," while a typical senior assistant manager is skilled in "cleanliness," "customer relations," "punctuality," and "financial reports."

Senior assistant managers typically earn similar educational levels compared to assistant shift supervisors. Specifically, they're 2.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Assistant shift supervisor vs. 1st assistant manager

The 1st assistant manager assists the head manager in handling a large operation or project. Companies hire 1st assistant managers to handle large scope projects and to administer and manage hundreds of employees. The 1st assistant manager's task is to help the head manager handle employees, ensure instructions are followed, and meet deadlines. 1st assistant managers must be responsible, especially in administrative roles such as generating reports, managing employee problems and requests, and escalating issues to the head or store manager whenever needed.

1st assistant managers tend to earn a lower pay than assistant shift supervisors by an average of $12,113 per year.While their salaries may vary, assistant shift supervisors and 1st assistant managers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "customer service," "food safety," and "payroll. "

Even though a few skill sets overlap between assistant shift supervisors and 1st assistant managers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an assistant shift supervisor might have more use for skills like "safety procedures," "criminal justice," "cpr," and "direct supervision." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of 1st assistant managers require skills like "cleanliness," "guest service," "good communication," and "exceptional guest. "

In general, 1st assistant managers hold similar degree levels compared to assistant shift supervisors. 1st assistant managers are 1.4% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.1% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.