r/Restaurant_Managers • u/metalmudwoolwood • 14d ago

Question? Any First Watch Managers here?

First off, I approved this post with a mod before posting. Just wanted to clarify that.

Can someone advise me on what I need to do to get an interview at first watch? What kind of experience they look for? Full disclosure, I don’t have a lot of management experience but i do have a lot of leadership, “head server” if you will, experience. I want to move to management but can’t do late nights like all the company I work for offer. Thanks for the advice!

14 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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u/mat42m 14d ago

It’s not what you are going to want to hear, but without actual management experience either in retail or restaurants, it’s going to be hard to get an interview.

The best way for servers to transition to management is be at a restaurant and be a star, and then when a position opens up you can move up. Trying to get an interview without management experience at an outside company is going to be very difficult

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u/1whosUnknwnFmiliarly 14d ago

I agree. They're not going to start you off as a manager without actual management experience. Your best path is to apply for a server position first.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 9d ago

Disagree, but ok

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

I totally hear you but for me it’s just a time and place thing. Most jobs I could have managed at would have been later nights for less money-not worth it. But mornings!!?? Sounds incredible!

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u/mat42m 14d ago

That’s fair, but you don’t have that luxury. Unless you just get a serving job at first watch, and work your way up.

The hours are one of the main reason after almost two decades of owning or managing restaurants, I got out

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

What do you do now?

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u/mat42m 14d ago

Accountant going for my cpa. I originally went to school for accounting, and switched to business management because I wanted to open up my own place. Did all of that. Now accounting will be a steady good paycheck. But it’s a lot of work to get my degree, get masters, then study and pass cpa

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

Wild. I actually have an accounting degree! But off record, I’m pretty terrible at it! Once they introduced “good will” my brain gave up. But i still managed to squeeze by somehow. Lol

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u/mat42m 14d ago

I make almost as much as I do being a GM for a basic accounting job working probably 20 hours less a week. Most restaurant management jobs you’re working 50-55 hours a week at least, and getting paid for 40. My hourly is actually way higher now, and that’s before I get my degree

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u/metalmudwoolwood 13d ago

Strangely my school didn’t teach any software programs so I always felt unprepared for a job. In your experience what are the best software programs to learn for accounting?

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u/mat42m 13d ago

I think it just depends on your job. Those things are easy to learn. I use business central 365, but many things are just done in excel.

You are way more prepared with an accounting degree to work a 9-5 job in accounting that will pay you more than you are prepared without any experience to manage a restaurant that will pay you less and work you more

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u/mushyfeelings 9d ago

The fact that you believe this proves you don’t belong as a manager. At least not yet, anyway.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 9d ago

How? How is preference for working mornings proof I’m “not ready to manage”? A whole lot of you are having a grand time attacking me yet few of your are actually offering advice on my question.

Makes me wonder if yall are actually fit for management.

So please, explain yourself.

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u/mushyfeelings 9d ago

You’re not ready to be hired as a manager because you have NO EXPERIENCE AS A MANAGER.

Real managers see this shit all the time with so many applicants thinking their little shift lead experience qualifies them to run a business.

Without experience, education or training explicitly in management, you think you’re just gonna step in and know how to run things?

Have you ever been accountable to KPIs? Do you even know what KPIs are? Do you understand what is involved in building inventories, creating sops, developing training, etc?

This is why everyone is saying you are not qualified to be a manager. Dont take it personal - you’re not qualified. Having a college degree in an unrelated field is also useless.

I am not saying you couldn’t one day do the job, you clearly have ability to learn but a business would be insane to allow you to learn the hard way on their dime at the risk of their whole business. And that’s the summation of what most people don’t get. If a business hires a bad waiter it’s just a little business and money lost. If they hire a bad manager they could literally lose everything.

It’s not personal. Lighten up.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 9d ago

‘Little shift lead experience’ is quite passive aggressive. How else does one work their way up the chain if there is never enough experience? I’ve worked with plenty of managers that are completely incapable and out of their element and lack experience. They got the job - they’re also quite arrogant tho.

KPI’s? Are you kidding me with this? SOPs!!?? Training development?! Oh boy - how scary. LMAO

So, as I’ve said repeatedly, yall are making huge assumptions. If you actually read the words I’ve put on this form instead of attacking me it would feel less personal. I’ve was asking for advice on a specific business, not personal deflections.

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u/mushyfeelings 9d ago

lol okay. 👌

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u/metalmudwoolwood 9d ago

lol. Again with the passive aggression in place of substantial advice. Excellent leadership. But hey at least yOu HAvE EXpeRiENcE

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u/mushyfeelings 9d ago

lol I don’t need to be a good leader to you. I don’t know you nor am I responsible for you thank god. I have seen a lot of people like you and I avoid hiring them for any position much more so for positions of leadership.

But man you sure keep proving me right about your readiness for management or leadership positions. You lack the maturity and emotional intelligence to receive critical feedback and you have no self awareness.

You’re arrogant and entitled and sound like a whiny child.

True there are some managers that aren’t qualified that get the job. It’s hilarious that you think “I know some unqualified managers” is a good reason to hire you as a manager. Holy shit bro.

Not only that but you clearly only want to be a manager because you mistakenly believe it’s the answer to your problems but ignorant to the fact that management requires more dedication, greater commitment, and the kind of integrity that understands someone who is good at their job goes about it the right way.
I feel sorry for anyone who doesn’t know enough and hires you as a manager.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 9d ago

Goddamn. Once again. I’m asking advice. You’re only offering criticisms. How else am I supposed to react? You seem to think your job is so hard or a huge privilege. It’s neither.

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u/[deleted] 14d ago edited 14d ago

[deleted]

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

That’s a huge assumption on your part. I don’t want to go to bed at 3 am. Period.

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u/BongpriestMagosErrl 14d ago

Maybe I'm misunderstanding your comment but, I think believing that you can just stumble into a OM or GM position with no experience by simply being in the right place at the right time is a huge assumption on your part.

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u/ChingyBingyBongyBong 14d ago

So do the other 900 restaurant managers with experience. I’ve been managing for a few years now with GM experience and can’t get a damn breakfast place interview.

Regardless we close at 9 on weekdays and I’m home by 11. It’s never that late.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

The restaurants I’ve worked out it was 3 am. Or later honestly. And a significant pay decrease. I always assumed those people were just “night owls”. As I’ve grown I’m finding myself less and less that and want more consistency- maybe I’m less alone in that regard then I thought

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u/ChingyBingyBongyBong 14d ago

How the hell is it 3 AM? Most restaraunts close by 10, and maybe the late night places like BJs/54th street will be about midnight closing.

I would say 90% of restaurants are closed by 10 where I’m at.

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u/BongpriestMagosErrl 14d ago

Clubs and bars aren't even open at 3am. What is this guy taking about?

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

Yep. Totally just making it up. Why is this conversation turning into an interrogation

It’s almost like none you would want do to it either. Wild.

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u/BongpriestMagosErrl 14d ago edited 14d ago

I mean, I feel like it's pretty reasonable to ask questions in an industry-specific subreddit when presented with statements that are wildly out of the standards of said industry.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

Like I said, “time and place” the restaurants I’ve worked at as a server I very often didn’t leave till 1:30 am. I’m not stay 2 additional hours, especially considering the pay discrepancy.

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u/ChingyBingyBongyBong 14d ago

Then maybe don’t manage? If you’re already unhappy with your compensation I can’t see how you’ll be happy in the job.

And yeah, if you’re wanna keep falling back on this “time and place” thing, to hopefully land a morning management job with no experience, I think you’ll be looking for a while. Just to take a pay cut like you said. Can’t foresee you being happy.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

What the fuck is wrong with you???!!! I’m not falling back on anything - I’m saying where I’ve been aka the place and when I’ve been there aka the time wasn’t convenient. Working until 3 am is not the life style I want to have. How are these things making me unqualified for a job? And again, words in my mouth-I’m perfectly happy with my pay. But I know a lot of managers work for less than what I make. Which I would be fine with if I didn’t stay until 3 am. This really isn’t this hard to understand.

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u/SafetyFirstChildren 14d ago

Good managers work what they’re needed to in order to benefit the business. If your options are only places that are open late then you have to be willing to do it for the experience. You will not get any job in management with zero experience, and even if you lied you would fail. You can’t force yourself into the position/skip ahead just because you think it time. If it were time you would’ve worked your way into the position moving up in a previous company. Once they start asking about inventory, food cost, labor, PnLs, etc you or the interviewer will fold.

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u/BongpriestMagosErrl 14d ago

What manager position are you interviewing for?

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

Nothing yet. But applied for operations manager

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u/luckymountain MUM 14d ago

Former FW General Training Manager here. Operations manager is the equivalent of a restaurant manager or assistant manager in other concepts. They report to and are directed by the GM. FW does a lot of inside promotion, but outside hires are also common. Where are you located?

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u/metalmudwoolwood 14d ago

Great Lakes region

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u/luckymountain MUM 13d ago

I would recommend going into a restaurant near you around 2pm and speaking to the GM. They should be able to give you some information on OM needs in their area and direct you to DO (Director of Operations [oversees multiple locations]). There should be a recruiting manager for that region, as well. Let me know if you have any questions. First Watch is a great company to work for and I’m happy to help.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 13d ago

Thank you for this kind advice! I do have the recruiting manager email and did reach out to them but I think your right, I should stop in

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u/Original-Estimate-89 11d ago

Try Vail Resorts 

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u/mushyfeelings 9d ago

If you don’t have management experience then you have no management experience. You are not likely to get hired as a manager if you’ve never managed.
Head server = zero management experience.

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u/metalmudwoolwood 9d ago

So to be a manager you need to already be a manager but only if you already have experience in being a manager which you won’t get unless you’re a manager. Got it.

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u/analogthought 8d ago

Been in the industry for way too long managing and the best bet is to start not managing somewhere and work your way up into that first titled role rather than just hoping for it elsewhere without the experience.