New Year's Resolutions to Help Your Career........The New Year is coming up fast. If you're like many restaurant managers, the year ahead may make you a little uneasy; store closings, leadership restructuring, restaurants going out of business... Here are some New Year's Resolutions that will strengthen your position inside your concept and prepare you if you need to market yourself to other companies:Expand your network inside your current restaurant concept. Target key leadership in regions that are growing. Make it a point to introduce yourself to these people while in regional meetings to get yourself known and find out if there are any opportunities worth exploring.
Expand your network outside your company. If you aren't a member of several professional organizations, consider joining a few (National Restaurant Association, the local restaurant association, etc.). Become active and visible; it could pay off big if you need to look for a job in the new year.
Volunteer for a company-wide committee or event. If your restaurant is looking for volunteers to run the company picnic, lead a charity fund drive, or run a task force, raise your hand. It's important to become known as someone who wants to get involved and who reaches for more outside your job. It might also develop some new skills that will make you more marketable.
Develop a reputation as a constructive change-maker. Look for opportunities to make meaningful changes without ruffling feathers. Instead of complaining about a new menu rollout or bonus program change, suggest ways it could be solved and volunteer to work with others to make it happen. One of the most valued skills is the ability and willingness to make improvements.
Be a constructive team player. Restaurants are embracing the idea that in order to be competitive they need to empower the workforce, including you, the restaurant manager. Managers who have a good reputation for sharing power, involving others, coaching and developing people will be seen as the leaders of the future.
Stay technically proficient. Go back to school or take special training classes (Leadership training, ServSafe, etc.) to keep your skills up-to-date. Look for new skills to learn that will make you more valuable in your store and in your company. Multi-skilled managers are more valuable and flexible to your current and future companies than people with only a few skills.
Act as if you were looking for a job, whether you want a new job or not. Stay abreast of what the market is like out there. Keep track of the kinds of qualifications that are being requested. It's always a good idea to network with other industry insiders as well.
Polish your verbal and writing skills. If you're like most people, you are buried in information. The people who can wade through the paper and electronic data and boil it down to a few clearly thought out points will be valued. The people at the top can't assimilate it all and need people at all levels who can break it down and present it, so that good decisions can be made. Your resume should also reflect your ability to concisely describe qualities and skills that a company would be most interested in bringing on board.
Build your relationship with your boss. By communicating with your boss you will not only improve your own performance, you will stay abreast of any changes that might be coming.
Remember, your career is your responsibility.
Brian Bruce is Vice President and Executive Restaurant Recruiter with Premier Solutions in Oklahoma City and Blogger with 23 years operations experience. His vast knowledge of the industry comes from many years managing in national concepts, small start ups and restaurant ownership. He understands the day-to-day challenges from both sides of the equation, as a client trying to find quality operations candidates and as a management candidate trying to find a quality employer. He can be reached at 877-948-4001, by email at HeadHunterBrian@gmail.com, or on his blog at http://www.HeadHunterBrian.com/.
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