How to hire a first assistant manager

How to hire a first assistant manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step first assistant manager hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a first assistant manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new first assistant manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the first assistant manager you need to hire. Certain first assistant manager roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect first assistant manager also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of first assistant manager salaries for various roles:

   Type of First Assistant Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   First Assistant Manager		$15-44
   Co-Manager	A co-manager's role is to supervise business operations and perform administrative tasks as support to a manager. One of the primary functions of a co-manager is to delegate tasks of team members and arrange schedules... Show more	$16-57
   Floor Manager	A floor manager is responsible for supervising the general operations of a specific department in an organization. Floor manager tasks include assisting customers, ensuring prompt resolution of clients' inquiries, distributing tasks to the staff, and monitoring the employees' performance... Show more	$15-27

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Visual Presentation
   • Customer Service
   • Basic Math
   • Customer Obsession
   • POS
   • Math
   • Sales Floor
   • Payroll
   • Food Safety
   • Inventory Control
   • Loss Prevention
   • Food Cost
   • Bank Deposits
   • Product Quality

   Check all skills

   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.
   • Train and develop current and new associates with visual standards.-Evaluate daily business to identify trends and maximize profitability.-Open and close store.-Cash management

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your first assistant manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A first assistant manager can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, first assistant managers' average salary in georgia is 49% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level first assistant managers 64% less than senior-level first assistant managers.
   • Certifications. A first assistant manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a first assistant manager's salary.

   Average first assistant manager salary

   $55,948yearly

   $26.90 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level first assistant manager salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a first assistant manager job description

   A first assistant manager job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a first assistant manager job description:

   First assistant manager job description example

   Pay rate ranges from $11-14 per hour, based on experience, education and credentials.

   Teacher Responsibilities

   • Implement our award-winning curriculum in a way that meets each child's unique learning style.
   • Welcome our families. Engage them in conversation about their child's education, and the features and benefits of our programs.
   • Have fun in everything you do!

   Job Requirements:

   • High school diploma required.
   • AA in early childhood education or related field preferred.
   • Minimum one year of previous experience working as a teacher at a licensed childcare center preferred.
   • State background checks and health assessments.

   Position Benefits:

   • Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical, dental & vision insurance
   • Paid vacation, holiday and sick leave
   • Monday-Friday schedule, no nights or weekends!
   • Discounted childcare tuition
   • Tuition reimbursement programs
   • Career advancement and growth opportunities
   • And much more

   Employee Feedback:

   • Feel supported & valued
   • Predictable schedule
   • No weekends
   • Coworkers are more like family
   • Amazing career path
   • Make a difference every day

   About The Sunshine House: Bright Futures Start Here! For more than 45 years, The Sunshine House has been helping children build a solid educational and social foundation -- with all the fun of childhood mixed in.

   The Sunshine House is one of the largest early education and childcare companies in the United States, operating more than 100 schools in 8 states, employing 2,000 professional educators and caregivers, and serving more than 12,000 children each day.

   Join our team of amazing people today!

   Our Vision : To partner with families to create a better world.
   Our Mission : To provide high-quality care and education - every child, every family, every day.
   
   

   The Sunshine House provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, family medical history, marital status, military membership or veteran status, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other factor covered by applicable federal, state and local laws. The Sunshine House complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Company has facilities. This Policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find first assistant managers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   To find first assistant manager candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as salesjobs, salesheads, allretailjobs.com, sales trax.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit first assistant managers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new first assistant manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect first assistant manager candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new first assistant manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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