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What is a first assistant manager and how to become one
Wherever there is a group of people working together, they usually need a manager to make sure that work is done efficiently. Managers aren't just the scary people that yell at workers if they clock in late; they're responsible for important tasks like scheduling employees and responding to customer complaints. The first assistant manager is often the first person that employees report to.
The day-to-day tasks of a first assistant manager involve many responsibilities. They could spend part of their day managing the schedule and payroll for a workplace. First assistant managers also help hire and train new employees, supervise a team of workers, and step in if there is an especially thorny customer service issue.
Most first assistant managers work in retail stores and hospitality, although they can also work in a variety of other businesses. For many first assistant managers, this is their first management role after experience as a sales associate, and some go on to become general managers or store managers.
What general advice would you give to a first assistant manager?
Steve Wages Ph.D.
Director, Cloverdale Center for Youth and Family, Faulkner University
You should be confident in your training while also being realistic and transparent about your limitations. There is still a lot that you do not know and much you will learn with experience. Until then, be willing to say "I don't know" when faced with problems you have not addressed before. Then commit to learning more about the issue through personal study and/or consulting with a more experienced colleague or mentor. In some cases, you may need to invite a more experienced counselor to meet with a client or where appropriate refer them to someone else.
You need to equip yourself to address structural changes to the delivery of pastoral care and counseling as a consequence of the pandemic. You will need to adapt to providing pastoral counseling virtually perhaps via Zoom sessions. Give thought as to how the virtual context impacts the counseling process and the spiritual resources you employ. For example, if you are comfortable praying with a client in your office, will you be equally inclined to pray with them online or over a phone. In light of the pandemic, Dr. Chuck Lawless noted, "Good pastoral care has required being more proactive than reactive." Ordinarily, pastoral counselors are reactive in that they respond to needs when they hear about them or when they are
Avg. Salary $55,948
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%
Asian 6.56%
Black or African American 9.96%
Hispanic or Latino 15.48%
Unknown 4.75%
White 62.58%
Genderfemale 61.42%
male 38.58%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is fair
6.4 - fair
First assistant manager career paths
Key steps to become a first assistant manager
Explore first assistant manager education requirements
Start to develop specific first assistant manager skills
Skills Percentages Visual Presentation 22.76% Customer Service 17.23% Basic Math 12.01% Customer Obsession 11.62% POS 8.14% Complete relevant first assistant manager training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New first assistant managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a first assistant manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real first assistant manager resumes.Gain additional first assistant manager certifications
More About CertificationsFirst assistant manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific first assistant manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for first assistant managers include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.
Research first assistant manager duties and responsibilities
- Execute and monitor strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
- Work closely with upper management in meeting sales goals, safety issues, inventory, cleanliness and presentation of the department.
- Maintain an extremely high standard of restaurant cleanliness.
- Conduct geotechnical and geological investigations and mineral resource evaluations for commercial, industrial and governmental clients using the above-mentioned drilling techniques.
Apply for first assistant manager jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a first assistant manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first first assistant manager job
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Average first assistant manager salary
The average first assistant manager salary in the United States is $55,948 per year or $27 per hour. First assistant manager salaries range between $33,000 and $92,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do first assistant managers rate their job?
First assistant manager reviews
I have leadership skills I always hire employees who like to work in a team I like to see sales increase and love to see the best customer service is given
In reality, i do not complain as its who i am
Ability to resolve issues, timely delivery on goals and mantainance of inter personal relationship and organizing.
Insurbordination, failure to deliver on tasks and targets.
Educating employees and getting everyone on the same mindset about what it takes for a company to succeed.
I don't like it when moral is low and nothing seems to perk employees up to become more productive at work.
Updated January 8, 2025
