Getting into restaurant supervisor careers

As a Restaurant Supervisor, you would be responsible for the health and safety procedures, quality standards and staff and customer satisfaction. The nature of the role is both business-oriented and creative, allowing you to dive into tasks ranging from strategic planning to day-to-day management activities.

This role is available at many types of restaurants such as high-end, casual dining and quick service outlets.

Working hours

It is not uncommon for a restaurant supervisor to work over 40 hours a week, often including weekends and evenings.

Shift work and working on public holidays is also typical.

When considering this role, it is important to remember that you must be willing to work until the job is completed, which may mean overtime.

Useful skills to put in your CV for restaurant supervisor jobs:

• ability to lead and motivate a team of staff
• awareness of hygiene, and health and safety regulations
• a flexible and hands-on approach to work
• problem-solving ability
• strong planning and organisational skills
• ability to work independently and make decisions confidently
• strong written and oral communication skills
• ability to cope under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• good business awareness

How do you get these skills?

Vocational qualifications and work experience will help you build these skills over time.

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School, College And Training

When considering what you need to enter the hospitality industry, practical experience, strong interpersonal skills and an understanding of business are key. Having a degree is not always a necessity as it’s possible to train on the job and work your way up into the role of a restaurant manager.

Hospitality Apprenticeships

If you want to get straight into a role and don’t have directly relevant qualifications or experience, you can train on the job and earn money at the same time by taking an apprenticeship in hospitality.

These are available at different levels. After gaining some experience you could take the:

• Level 3 Hospitality supervisor advanced apprenticeship
• Level 4 Hospitality manager higher apprenticeship

Once you are ready, the GOV.UK Find an Apprenticeship service can help you to find suitable positions.

Developing Your Skills With Training

If you want to develop your skills in the industry, the type of training opportunities available usually depend on the size of the restaurant you’d be working for and whether it’s an independent operation or part of a chain.

Larger restaurant chains typically offer structured training schemes, while independent restaurants are more likely to offer informal on-the-job training.

Key training areas include:

• First aid
• Health and hygiene
• Management skills

Hospitality Management Training

If you are currently working in a restaurant role you could develop your management skills by taking a relevant hospitality qualification such as:

• Level 3 Diploma in Hospitality Supervision and Leadership
• Level 4 Diploma in Hospitality Leadership

Hospitality Graduate Schemes

If you are interested in joining a graduate recruitment scheme you will need a degree. These schemes are usually available with large restaurants and fast-food chains. Having a degree in the following subjects could be beneficial when applying; business or management, hospitality management or hotel and catering.

Structured management training schemes for graduates generally last between 12 and 18 months. During this time, you could expect to gain practical experience within each function of the restaurant and be assigned a mentor to help you during your initial months.

Who Can Help?

Many professional bodies also offer a range of training opportunities, including activities that count towards continuing professional development (CPD). Find out more below:

• Hospitality Guild – lists training courses including college-based qualifications and apprenticeships, regulation and licensing courses, and CPD options.
• Institute of Hospitality – offers a range of hospitality-related qualifications, professional development workshops, webinars, online courses and networking events.
• UKHospitality – hosts various events across the year and provides publications and resources for members.

Work Experience Tips

Gaining relevant work experience is can also be a key component to landing your dream role! If the restaurants you want to work at don’t offer work experience placements, you should consider finding part-time, weekend or summer jobs in restaurants. This way it could be possible to gain experience as you study or apply for positions.

• plan menus with the chefs
• organise shifts and rotas for kitchen and waiting staff
• manage stock control and budgets
• work closely with food and drink suppliers

• make sure the restaurant follows licensing, food hygiene, and health and safety rules
• recruit new staff and help to train them
• work on plans for large events like weddings or birthdays
• deal with customer feedback

What would you like to know about catering & hospitality careers? Maybe we can help!

• Front of House vs Back of House – what’s the difference?
• Interview tips for hospitality & catering jobs
• What hospitality & catering apprenticeshps and degrees are there?
• 5 hospitality & catering career myths busted
• What types of jobs are there in the hospitality & catering industry?

See all

• graduate restaurant manager jobs
• graduate restaurant supervisor jobs

• graduate hospitality management jobs
• hospitality management apprenticeships
• hospitality leadership training

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.

These employers all carry our Youth Friendly Employer Mark. We work with them to make sure that they are providing great support and opportunities to young people.

Click on an employer to find out more about them and the youth-friendly opportunities they offer, from work experience and apprenticeships through to graduate schemes.