Second only to the chef, the management of your food service business will be the most important employees that you hire. The General Manager will oversee much of the operations while the assistant managers will keep the business running when the general manager cannot be there. These employees will be in charge of running the business, making critical decisions and working with the remaining staff. It is vital that you select the most qualified candidates for these positions if you want to see your business succeed.

1. When you set out to find a General Manager, it is important that your chef be involved in the process. These two will work closely together to ensure that your establishment runs smoothly and your customers are happy. They must be able to have a good working relationship and get along well. The chef will be able to help you in the selection process by giving opinions on those prospects that they feel they can and cannot work easily with. Once you hire a General Manager, it is customary for them to hire the assistant managers that they feel will do the job best, and work best with them, to ensure the success of your business on a daily basis.
2. As you begin the search for a General Manager, you want to look at their experience and make sure that it encompasses all that you need. While it is vital that they be able to handle the business side of your establishment, they will have other duties as well. There may be times that they are required to work with wait staff or in the kitchen, if things get a bit hectic. Having relevant experience in both aspects of the business will give them a better understanding of what is required, and how they can be of help.
3. When you hire, no matter what the position is, references are important. However, when it comes to hiring someone to have complete control of your business, referenaces are vital. You need to not only collect reference information, but make sure to contact them to verify that they have had a positive work experience with your potential manager. Some applicants will create references in the hopes that they will never actually be contacted. You can weed through these prospects by taking the time to make the calls, and ensuring that you are considering someone who is honest, reliable and has the qualifications for the job.
4. It is also very important that you know what you expect from the General Manager and what you have to offer. Before you begin selecting candidates, you should establish a full description of their responsibilities and duties of the job. This lets the applicant know whether they qualify for the job and allows you to require them to adhere to your expectations. If you have decided on the slary, make sure to include it as well. This will eliminate candidates that do not want to work for the salary you are offering.

Finding a General Manager is an integral part of running a food service business. Taking the time to hire the most qualified applicant that has the most to offer your establishment is worth the effort. With the right management staff you can relax knowing that your business is being well taken care of.

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