How To Become A General Service Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a general service manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Eric Olsen

The general service manager spends a lot of time thinking about logistics -- The logistics of payroll, the logistics of maintaining computer systems, and sometimes the logistics of local health laws. That's a lot of logistics.

It's a good thing that the general service manager takes care of logistics so other people in the office can focus on their jobs. That's the whole point of the role, after all, to make sure the office functions smoothly and to prevent disruptions to workflow before they occur. The general service manager can also take on other tasks to help improve the work environment, like collaborating on business proposals and coordinating new hires.

One needs certain qualifications to take on a job with this responsibility. Most general service managers have at least a bachelor's degree, although it is possible to find a job without a diploma. They also have years of experience in supervision and administration.

What general advice would you give to a general service manager?

Eric Olsen

Professor, Industrial Technology and Packaging, Orfalea College of Business

Times of change are also times of great opportunities. We are going to need new technical solutions to address problems we are just learning about. You have to lean into the issues. Don't be a technologist - be a problem solver. That is why we also emphasize soft skills like lean six sigma, teamwork, and change management.

ScoreGeneral Service ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.7

Avg. Salary $85,187

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

9.6

Growth rate 6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%

Asian 6.30%

Black or African American 6.11%

Hispanic or Latino 14.94%

Unknown 4.33%

White 67.86%

Gender

female 21.67%

male 78.33%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress level

9.6

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.6

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a general service manager

Explore general service manager education requirements

Most common general service manager degrees

Bachelor's

57.8 %

Associate

16.8 %

Master's

12.9 %

Start to develop specific general service manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Service	19.82%
Customer Satisfaction	7.46%
Business Plan	5.67%
Employee Development	4.83%
Oversight	4.79%

Complete relevant general service manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New general service 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 general service manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real general service manager resumes.

Gain additional general service manager certifications

General service 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 general service manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for general service managers include Associate Service Executive (ASE) and Certified Dietary Manager (CDM).

More About Certifications

Research general service manager duties and responsibilities

Lead team through ISO certification which increase quality and processes.
Lead RFP process for CRM software to include extensive evaluation and contract negotiation.
Stabilize logistics organization, recruit and train 2 key positions, achieve zero staff turnover for two years.
Coordinate and participate with the installation teams to help troubleshoot problems and resolve customer concerns while managing service and commissioning engineers.

Prepare your general service manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your general service manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a general service manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable general service manager resume templates

Build a professional general service manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your general service manager resume.

Apply for general service manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a general service 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 do general service managers rate their job?

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General service manager reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2022

Cons

I don’t like escalations from the customers

A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2022

Pros

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

A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2020