Hire Café Managers
There is something about a great café that makes people feel comfortable and encourages human connection. Ask anybody about their favorite coffee shop and you are in for a story or two. Nowadays, cafés are judged by several parameters: coffee, ambiance, location, and, yes, if the coffee shop looks great on social media. A fantastic café manager really sets a coffee shop apart from its peers through excellent customer service and creating a comfortable and positive culture.
Finding a café manager begins with drafting an accurate and compelling job description that catches the eye of job seekers. To write an effective job posting, hiring managers should be clear, concise, and detailed. Carefully outline the position's responsibilities as well as requirements. Do not forget to include details about your restaurant’s values and culture to make it appealing. These details will help candidates picture themselves working in your restaurant.
Aside from general job boards, it is helpful for hiring managers to post job announcements on industry-specific job boards, online groups, and in local community groups as well. Getting referrals from the restaurant employees themselves is a great way to find candidates for the café manager position. Your staff may already know a friend or family member who would be a great fit, so let them know you’re hiring!
Cafe Manager Responsibilities
A café manager oversees the daily operations of a café. Aside from more technical responsibilities, the main role of the manager is staff management. Being the leader of the team, the manager needs to set clearly defined roles within the café and must ensure that the café is well maintained, clean, and presentable at all times, and ready to serve customers.
The café manager ensures the quality of food and service, hiring and training of staff, and compliance with food and safety quality standards. The café manager plans out work schedules, monitors work hours, payroll, and finds solutions in the case of an absence or tardiness of staff. The procurement of supplies, resources, and stock inventory are also handled by the café manager, who works with the given budget.
In an industry where there can be a high turnover rate of staff, a café manager plays an essential role in creating a positive work environment for employees. In a way, the café manager interacts with two types of customers: internal employees and external customers or restaurant guests.
To ensure a positive customer experience, the café manager should be able to train the front of house staff in customer service and professionalism and may even need to help out on any task if the need arises. Moreover, the Cafe Manager is the one who deals with customers’ feedback – may it be a positive review or a complaint. The café manager takes notes and uses them to improve customer service.
Cafe Manager Skills and Qualifications
A restaurant may require a high school diploma or GED, and may also prioritize further certifications in food safety training. A bachelor’s degree in business management or any related field is an advantage.
The ideal candidate must be a leader, able to work with different personalities, and understand how to foster teamwork. Excellent organization and communication skills are also highly valued in this role.
In terms of work background, proven customer service experience in a restaurant setting is preferred. Most café managers have previous experience in being a coffee barista or a server. Familiarity with Point of Sale (POS) and other restaurant systems is a plus. Lastly, the ideal candidate should be able to adapt to a varied work schedule; available to work in shifts, on weekends, and holidays.
Hiring a café manager that is the right fit for your coffee shop can do wonders for a business. Not only will it take some work off the restaurant owner’s plate, it will set a standard for exceptional customer service.
