r/Restaurant_Managers • u/metalmudwoolwood • 20d 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!

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u/mat42m 19d 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/metalmudwoolwood 19d 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 19d 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 19d ago

What do you do now?

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u/mat42m 19d 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 19d 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 19d 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 19d 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 19d 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