đŸ”„Summer’s Heating Up — And So Should Your Job Search: 5 Quick Tips for Restaurant ManagersđŸ”„
By Restaurant Resume Tips, Blog, RR Guy

Look, I get it. It’s summer. Your days are filled with patio shifts, short-staffed kitchens, and customers asking if you’ve “got anything dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free, but still delicious?” Your sweat glands are working overtime and your resume? Probably sitting in the same folder it’s been in since last time your GM pissed you off.

But here’s the deal: if you’re thinking about making a move, this is prime time to do it.

The job market for restaurant managers is heating up faster than the fryers at Sunday brunch. Restaurants everywhere—from fast casual to fine dining—are hunting for leaders. So if you’ve been dragging your feet on that job search, here are 5 simple ways to fire things up and start landing interviews that actually matter.

1. Refresh Your Resume Like It’s a Summer Menu

Your resume shouldn’t read like a sad side salad. If it still says stuff like “team player” and “hard worker,” congratulations—you sound like everyone else applying. You want to stand out? Show impact.

✅ Use action verbs and actual data:

  • “Increased YOY sales by 18% through strategic menu updates and LTO rollouts.”

  • “Reduced turnover by 25% in one year through improved hiring and onboarding processes.”

✅ Keep it clean, modern, and easy to skim. Two pages max.

✅ Add a short 2–3 sentence summary at the top. Who are you? What kind of restaurant leader are you?

And if you don’t know where to start? We got resume templates at rrguy.com. Because nobody should be job hunting with a 2009 Word doc.

2. Stop Wasting Time Applying Everywhere

Not every job is worth your time. Stop applying to every listing on Indeed like it’s a scratch-off ticket.

Instead:

  • Focus on roles that match your level: Are you a GM ready for an Area Manager gig? Or just looking to escape a toxic store?

  • Look at brands with growth plans. You want companies opening new units, not struggling to keep the lights on.

  • Check out rrguy.com (yes, shameless plug) — we post restaurant manager jobs that don’t suck. From fast casual to fine dining, we’ve got companies that are hiring because they’re winning, not because they can’t keep people.

3. Network Like Your Rent Depends on It (Because It Might)

Here’s a dirty little secret: most great jobs aren’t posted. They’re filled before they hit the job boards. Why? Because someone knew someone.

Talk to:

  • Former coworkers (even the ones you haven’t spoken to since they ghosted your text about brunch)

  • Past bosses or vendors

  • That one bartender who seems to know everyone

Networking isn’t about begging. It’s about reconnecting. Let people know you’re open to opportunities. People love helping, especially in this industry.

4. Clean Up Your Online Image

Yeah, your Instagram is đŸ”„. But if your profile pic is a margarita tower and your bio says “Don’t talk to me ‘til I’ve had my shift drink,” maybe lock that down.

✅ Make your LinkedIn current. Add your last two jobs, some wins, and a professional photo (no sunglasses, no crop jobs from weddings).

✅ Search yourself. Seriously. Google your name + city. Make sure what pops up won’t make a hiring manager run screaming.

First impressions matter. And today, that first impression is digital.

5. Practice Your Pitch

You’re not just a restaurant manager. You’re the engine behind sales, service, staffing, and P&L. So stop underselling yourself.

Next time someone asks, “Tell me about yourself,” don’t ramble.

Try this instead:

“I’m a restaurant GM with 8 years in casual and upscale dining. I specialize in driving sales, building strong teams, and improving operations. At my last role, I took over a struggling location and increased revenue by 22% in under a year.”

Boom. Short, confident, and memorable.

Final Thought: Don’t Let Summer Pass You By

You deserve better than:

  • A toxic manager who micromanages everything but their own calendar

  • A schedule that changes daily with no notice

  • A salary that hasn’t gone up in three years but somehow includes more responsibilities

If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it.

đŸ”„The market’s hot. You should be too.đŸ”„

Check out new roles at rrguy.com, send us your resume, and let’s turn this sweaty summer into your next career move.

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RR Guy

Serving career advice hotter than a kitchen on a Friday night