What does a shift manager do?
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. They also ensure that the needed manpower is met. Shift managers are also in charge of checking the sales, ensuring that the finances are properly balanced, and maintaining records during the work shift. They also respond to any challenges that may occur during the time period. Shift managers should have good organization skills, decision-making skills, and interpersonal skills.
Shift manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real shift manager resumes:
- Manage night shift ensuring closing procedures, customer service, and employee management are accomplished following company policies
- Manage FOH to insure all guests are happy and well taken care of.
- Provide excellent customer service, operate POS systems, maintain friendly but secure retail environment, track and manage inventory
- Handle all customer relation issues in accordance with company policy and provide exceptional customer service to all CVS customers.
- Receive SERVSAFE certification along with online management courses.
- Execute store operations during schedule shifts, organize shift assignments and maintain consistent attendance and punctuality.
- Attend each code snd perform CPR.
- Handle paperwork, micros, paperwork, and FPA.
- Employ sales techniques and provide culinary education to peers and guests.
- Work serving, bartending, cooking, and QA shifts when necessary.
- Ensure team members are thoroughly update on the various pet supplies and remedies.
- Assist guests with any special requests or specific food allergies during their visits.
- Complete charts such as inventory using math and cognitive skills to provide service to every customer.
- Work as a server, bartending, service curbside take-away, hostess, and train in all these areas.
- Handle all customer relations issues in accordance with company policy and promote a positive shopping experience for all CVS customers.
Shift manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 35% of Shift Managers are proficient in Cleanliness, Inventory Management, and Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Business skills, Leadership skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of Shift Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Cleanliness, 35%
Supervised all operations including timely product preparation, food safety, cleanliness and inventory control.
- Inventory Management, 13%
Performed inventory management and supply ordering coordination
- Management, 10%
Attended and successfully completed Management Certification training provided by McDonald's to attain the title of Certified Manager.
- Leadership, 5%
Solicited information from administrative staff, executive leadership, and other department managers to make informed decisions regarding operational changes.
- Customer Service, 3%
Configured server station charts to assure high degree of cost-efficient customer service; focused on customer problem-identification and resolution
- Help Support, 3%
Take initiative in lowering food cost to help support company sales.
"cleanliness," "inventory management," and "management" are among the most common skills that shift managers use at work. You can find even more shift manager responsibilities below, including:
Business skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a shift manager to have is business skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "food service managers must understand all aspects of the restaurant business, including how to budget for supplies, comply with regulations, and manage workers." Shift managers often use business skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "manage daily store operations, including deposits, scheduling, customer relations, business relations, purchasing, and store pay-outs. "
Leadership skills. Another essential skill to perform shift manager duties is leadership skills. Shift managers responsibilities require that "managers must establish good relationships with staff to maintain a productive work environment." Shift managers also use leadership skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "managed proper store operations by providing conflict solutions, demonstrating leadership, and monitoring employee protocols"
Organizational skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of shift managers is organizational skills. This skill is critical to many everyday shift manager duties, as "managers have many different responsibilities, including scheduling and overseeing staff, budgeting, and maintaining financial records." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintained excellent customer relations, cash management, filing, and organizational skills. "
Problem-solving skills. shift manager responsibilities often require "problem-solving skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "managers need to be able to resolve personnel issues and customer-related problems." This resume example shows what shift managers do with problem-solving skills on a typical day: "participated in all aspects of workforce management including orientation, training, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions. "
Communication skills. A commonly-found skill in shift manager job descriptions, "communication skills" is essential to what shift managers do. Shift manager responsibilities rely on this skill because "food service managers must give clear orders to staff and be able to convey information effectively to employees and customers." You can also see how shift manager duties rely on communication skills in this resume example: "supervised in store operations by ensuring proper communication between the front and back of the facility. "
The three companies that hire the most shift managers are:
- McDonald's12,154 shift managers jobs
- Pizza Hut10,757 shift managers jobs
- Arby's1,836 shift managers jobs
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Compare different shift managers
Shift manager vs. Assistant manager/manager training
An assistant manager/manager of training performs various support tasks to assist with maintaining smooth workflow operations, learning management skills along the way. They participate in setting goals and guidelines, establishing timelines and budgets, liaising with internal and external parties, delegating responsibilities among staff, and monitoring the daily operations, solving issues and concerns should there be any. They also perform clerical tasks such as organizing files, preparing and processing documents, handling calls and correspondence, and running errands as needed.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, shift manager responsibilities require skills like "cleanliness," "management," "help support," and "food handling." Meanwhile a typical assistant manager/manager training has skills in areas such as "store sales," "sales associates," "taking care," and "cash management." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that assistant manager/managers training earn slightly differ from shift managers. In particular, assistant manager/managers training are 3.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a shift manager. Additionally, they're 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Shift manager vs. Restaurant general manager
A restaurant general manager is someone whose responsibility is to handle the daily operations of the restaurant. Restaurant general managers ensure compliance with the overall operations to the company's standards. They oversee the preparation and delivery of products, restaurant repair and maintenance, team management, inventory management, and customer relations. To become a restaurant general manager, one should have excellent customer relations and service skills, and commercial awareness. Good personal skills, flexibility, and strong communication skills are also necessary.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that shift manager responsibilities requires skills like "management," "leadership," "help support," and "excellent interpersonal." But a restaurant general manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "strong analytical," "human resources," "strong customer service," and "kids."
On average, restaurant general managers earn a higher salary than shift managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, restaurant general managers earn the most pay in the hospitality industry with an average salary of $45,190. Whereas shift managers have higher pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $31,448.restaurant general managers earn similar levels of education than shift managers in general. They're 2.7% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Shift manager vs. Assistant restaurant manager
An assistant restaurant manager's role is to perform managerial support tasks and oversee restaurant operations, ensuring efficiency in workflow and customer satisfaction. Their responsibilities revolve around maintaining records of all invoices and contracts, delegating tasks, monitoring the inventory of supplies, liaising with suppliers and vendors, and addressing issues and concerns. There are also instances when one must attend to customers' needs, prepare schedules, perform regular workforce inspection, and report to the manager. Furthermore, it is essential to implement all the company's health regulations and policies, all to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, shift managers are more likely to have skills like "management," "leadership," "help support," and "basic math." But a assistant restaurant manager is more likely to have skills like "guest service," "food safety," "guest satisfaction," and "cost control."
Assistant restaurant managers make a very good living in the hospitality industry with an average annual salary of $43,632. On the other hand, shift managers are paid the highest salary in the retail industry, with average annual pay of $31,448.Most assistant restaurant managers achieve a similar degree level compared to shift managers. For example, they're 2.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Shift manager vs. Part-time key manager
A part-time key manager is a senior manager employed to work part-time. Key managers are hired for their expertise and experience for business development and growth to increase revenues, production, and profits. Part-time key managers are also responsible for recruiting the right talent to implement and attain the set targets. Part-time key managers may cover for full-time key managers or assist them in their roles.
Types of shift manager
Updated January 8, 2025
