How to hire a Restaurant General Manager

How to hire a restaurant general manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step restaurant general 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 restaurant general manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new restaurant general manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a Restaurant General Manager do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your restaurant general manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a restaurant general manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine Employee vs Contractor Status

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

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a restaurant general manager to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a restaurant general manager that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of restaurant general manager salaries for various roles:

   Type Of Restaurant General Manager	Description	Hourly Rate
   Restaurant General Manager	Top executives devise strategies and policies to ensure that an organization meets its goals. They plan, direct, and coordinate operational activities of companies and organizations.	$19-37
   Store Manager	A store manager is responsible for monitoring the daily operations, making sure of its smooth and efficient performance with the best services provided to the customers. Store managers' duty also includes tracking the budget of the store to ensure that all expenses are meeting the sales goals... Show More	$14-35
   Shift Manager	Shift managers are employees assigned to oversee the operations of the business during a specific time or work shift. They manage the employees assigned in a particular shift and ensure that the employees are working on their specific tasks... Show More	$11-20

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Strong Analytical
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Cleanliness
   • Human Resources
   • Restaurant Operations
   • Strong Customer Service
   • Kids
   • Sanitation Standards
   • Customer Complaints
   • Product Quality
   • Guest Service
   • Performance Reviews
   • Exceptional Guest

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Train and manage culinary art student to achieve significant improvements in their productivity.
   • Manage the acquisition and resale of appropriate property investments maximizing ROI for all partner investors.
   • Develop and implement strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
   • Utilize labor effectively to meet budgets while ensuring high-quality of service and cleanliness.
   • Develop and implement strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
   • Oversee catering events and may also offer culinary instruction and/or demonstrate culinary.

   More Restaurant General Manager duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, restaurant general managers' average salary in mississippi is 50% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level restaurant general managers 49% less than senior-level restaurant general managers.
   • Certifications. A restaurant general 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 restaurant general manager's salary.

   Average restaurant general manager salary

   $56,521yearly

   $27.17 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level restaurant general manager salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 15, 2025

   Average restaurant general manager salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	District of Columbia	$80,333	$39
   2	New York	$78,275	$38
   3	Massachusetts	$66,743	$32
   4	Washington	$62,943	$30
   5	California	$62,812	$30
   6	North Carolina	$62,068	$30
   7	Maryland	$61,840	$30
   8	Virginia	$61,536	$30
   9	Colorado	$60,694	$29
   10	Pennsylvania	$57,915	$28
   11	Wisconsin	$57,878	$28
   12	Illinois	$57,764	$28
   13	Michigan	$54,609	$26
   14	Maine	$54,180	$26
   15	Oregon	$53,993	$26
   16	Indiana	$53,982	$26
   17	Ohio	$53,859	$26
   18	Louisiana	$53,500	$26
   19	Minnesota	$53,330	$26
   20	Nevada	$52,370	$25

   Average restaurant general manager salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Tesoro	$95,842	$46.08
   2	Morton's The Steakhouse	$80,313	$38.61
   3	On The Border	$79,058	$38.01	36
   4	Romano's Macaroni Grill	$78,951	$37.96
   5	Club	$74,114	$35.63	2
   6	Firebirds Wood Fired Grill	$69,726	$33.52	4
   7	Sage Hospitality Group	$69,152	$33.25	61
   8	Hersha Hospitality	$69,022	$33.18	79
   9	Highgate Hotels	$68,805	$33.08	56
   10	Radisson Hotels International Inc	$68,074	$32.73
   11	Sage Hospitality	$68,060	$32.72	20
   12	Hyatt Hotels	$67,981	$32.68	109
   13	HEI Hotels & Resorts	$67,851	$32.62	11
   14	Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants	$67,847	$32.62	28
   15	Radisson	$67,512	$32.46	2
   16	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$67,343	$32.38	39
   17	Montage Hotels & Resorts	$67,261	$32.34	23
   18	Skyline Chili	$67,169	$32.29	14
   19	Memphis Country Club	$66,998	$32.21
   20	Which Wich	$66,969	$32.20

4. Writing a Restaurant General Manager Job Description

   A job description for a restaurant general manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a restaurant general manager job description:

   Restaurant General Manager job description example

   · Must be a minimum of 18 years old emancipated minor with documentation.

   · Stand for long periods of time.

   · Work around high temperatures.

   · Work around others in close quarters.

   · Able to lift 50 pounds comfortably.

   · Work with various cleaning products.

   · Perform job at a continuous high pace, under pressure, while maintaining quality and speed standards.

   EXPERIENCE:

   · 3-5 years management experience in a quick service/fast food dining concept.

   · Financial/Analytical aptitude including planning, budgeting, scheduling and P&L management.

   KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITY:

   · Valid driver’s license.

   · Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.

   · Ability to operate and use all equipment necessary to run the restaurant.

   · Ability to effectively make decisions under pressure, while delegating tasks appropriately.

   · Strong conflict resolution skills.

   · High sense of urgency.

   · Self-motivated.

   · Excellent organizational, planning and time management skills.

   WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR?

   · Competitive Salary and aggressive bonus plan

   · Opportunity for advancement

   · Health, Dental, Life, Disability and Vision Insurance

   · 401(k)

   · Team Member discount programs, with financing options

   · Free Meal per Shift and 50% discount for Immediate Family Members

   · Paid Time Off

   · Tuition Reimbursement

   · See a complete list at www.capstonerestaurants.com/careers

   Capstone Restaurant Group – A place where People, Hospitality & Integrity are Valued!!!

   People are what drives our organization; without great people, we will not succeed. We will not get to the top, the Capstone, without our people achieving new heights!

   Hospitality is providing a welcoming feeling to our guests. It’s warm, it’s friendly, it’s a sincere appreciation that the Guest has chosen our restaurant!

   Integrity is critical for all of our Team Members. We must be honest, we must be sincere, we must be consistent and fair. We must operate by doing the right thing!

   We are always searching for talented Team Members, at all levels, that are interested in growing with us and are excited to provide our Guests great hospitality, acting with integrity… every visit, every experience!

   When you join the Capstone Restaurant Group, you will be given the tools to not only succeed on the job, but we will work with you to develop your skills to take advantage of the many promotion opportunities that we offer in all of our markets. We are an equal opportunity employer who takes pride in our diverse workforce. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, where hard work and success is rewarded, and you are passionate about people, hospitality and integrity, we want to talk to you!

   To learn more about Capstone Restaurant Group, go to www.capstonerestaurants.com. To learn more about the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. Franchise, go to www.hardees.com or www.carlsjr.com.

   Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications with the job.

   Capstone Restaurant Group is an equal opportunity employer.

   I understand and acknowledge that Capstone Restaurant Group is an independently owned and operated franchisee of Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC and, if I am hired, Capstone Restaurant Group will be my employer, not Carl’s Jr. Restaurants or Hardee’s Restaurants. Further I understand and acknowledge that Capstone Restaurant Group LLC is not acting as an agent for Carl’s Jr. Restaurants, Hardee’s Restaurants or any of its affiliates.

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right restaurant general manager for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with restaurant general managers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit restaurant general managers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your restaurant general manager job on Zippia to find and recruit restaurant general manager candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting restaurant general managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 restaurant general manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect restaurant general 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new restaurant general manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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