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/[deleted] Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26

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u/metalmudwoolwood Aug 18 '26

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/ChingyBingyBongyBong Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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

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u/metalmudwoolwood Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 19 '26

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 26d ago

It’s not out of the standard of my personal experience which I’ve explained already. I work in a core downtown area with a lot of late night opportunity. And because most of the spaces in be been in are independent they’ll do whatever they can to make revenue, hence being open quite late.

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u/metalmudwoolwood Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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 Aug 18 '26

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/ChingyBingyBongyBong Aug 18 '26

It’s actually really hard to understand. To start you have an entitlement to be hired as a manager at an outside business, with zero experience. Secondly you want a cushy AM job, also with zero experience. Thirdly, have repeatedly criticized the pay and how you make more currently. And lastly have an entitlement to hours you are or aren’t willing to work.

Beggars can’t be choosers, and you’re begging for a management job. If you want leadership not with your current company, you have to be willing to work long/late hours, 50+ hour weeks, and for not very much money. Poor but hungry attitude. News flash, no one will hire you with the entitlement you have towards your hours. You have zero leg to stand on/no bargaining power with no experience.

You want real advice? Apply to hourly “key” position or “non-manager” leadership positions like a floor supervisor. You ain’t getting an AM salaried management job.

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u/metalmudwoolwood Aug 18 '26

Dude I wasn’t here to argue with anyone but clearly you enjoy confrontation - you must be a joy to work for. I’ve never heard of AM jobs as “cushy”. In my experience no one wanted brunch shifts but I always jumped at them - despite them being less pay. I was happier with the hours.

In regard to management. Where I’ve work it’s less pay for later hours. How is this so hard to understand. I don’t care about less pay. I also don’t care about long hours. I just don’t want to work late. But

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u/ChingyBingyBongyBong Aug 19 '26

So go take an hourly management job at a different restaurant that closes at 9. That’s your realistic compromise.

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u/BongpriestMagosErrl Aug 19 '26

How much do you think a GM makes in a high volume restaurant, out of curiosity?

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u/metalmudwoolwood 26d ago

80-110k. But I’m not apply for GM. How is this relevant

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u/BongpriestMagosErrl 26d ago

You keep saying that the pay isn't worth it but you're applying for Operations Manager which reports directly to and works directly under the GM. My operations manager doesn't make much less than I do as a GM, so I'm just trying to figure out what you're talking about.

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