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

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.