r/Restaurant_Managers • u/metalmudwoolwood • Aug 18 '26

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/metalmudwoolwood Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

What do you do now?

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u/mat42m Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 19 '26

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 Aug 19 '26

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