What should I include on a restaurant general manager resume?

A strong restaurant general manager resume should include a targeted summary, relevant skills section with industry keywords, quantified experience bullets showing measurable impact, and education or certifications. Focus on results and metrics rather than just listing responsibilities.

How do I make my restaurant general manager resume ATS-friendly?

Use a clean, single-column format with standard section headers (Experience, Education, Skills). Include keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume. Avoid tables, graphics, and unusual fonts. Use a standard file format like PDF and ensure your contact information is in plain text.

What are the most important skills for a restaurant general manager resume?

The most important skills vary by specific role and employer. Review the job description carefully and match your skills section to the required qualifications. Include both technical/hard skills and relevant soft skills. Use the exact terminology from the job posting to pass ATS keyword filters.

Restaurant General Manager Resume Example (2026)

Priya Nandakumar

Chicago, IL | [email protected] | (555) 791-3456 | linkedin.com/in/priyanandakumar

Summary

Restaurant General Manager with 11 years of full-service restaurant experience managing high-volume locations generating $4.5M+ annually. Proven ability to increase same-store sales by 22%, maintain food costs below 29%, and build teams with turnover rates 30% below industry averages.

Technical Skills

Restaurant Operations: P&L Management, Inventory Control, Menu Pricing, Opening/Closing Procedures
Team Leadership: Hiring & Training, Shift Scheduling, Performance Management, Labor Cost Optimization
Guest Experience: Service Standards, Online Reputation Management, Loyalty Programs, Complaint Resolution
Systems: Aloha POS, Restaurant365, Yelp for Business, 7shifts, QuickBooks

Experience

Restaurant General Manager - Harvest Table Kitchen Feb 2019 – Present

Oversee full P&L for a 180-seat restaurant generating $4.8M in annual revenue with 55 staff across front-of-house, kitchen, and bar departments

Increased same-store sales by 22% over 3 years through seasonal menu refreshes, a weekend brunch launch averaging 310 covers, and a local catering program

Maintained food cost at 28.4% against a 31% industry benchmark by implementing daily waste tracking, portion standardization, and bi-weekly vendor price comparisons

Built a team culture that reduced annual turnover from 85% to 52%, saving an estimated $78K in annual hiring and training costs

Assistant General Manager - Urban Grill Restaurants Jun 2015 – Jan 2019

Managed daily operations for a 140-seat casual dining restaurant serving 600+ guests daily with 38 team members across 2 shifts

Improved Yelp rating from 3.6 to 4.3 stars over 18 months by overhauling service training and implementing a 24-hour review response protocol

Reduced labor costs by 12% ($96K annually) through optimized scheduling using 7shifts and cross-training 80% of front-of-house staff

Led the rollout of an online ordering platform that generated $340K in incremental revenue within the first year, representing 9% of total sales

Education

Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management - Kendall College at National Louis University 2013

Why This Resume Works

Leads with full P&L ownership and revenue figures, immediate

Leads with full P&L ownership and revenue figures, immediately signaling GM-level accountability rather than shift-manager responsibilities

Pairs cost control metrics (28.4% food cost) with revenue gr

Pairs cost control metrics (28.4% food cost) with revenue growth (22% same-store sales), showing the candidate drives profitability from both sides

Quantifies team retention improvements with dollar savings,

Quantifies team retention improvements with dollar savings, translating a soft skill into a financial outcome that resonates with operators and owners

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

State total years in restaurant management, annual revenue of the largest location, and 2-3 headline metrics. Specify full-service, fast-casual, or QSR to match the target role.

Skills

Organize by operations, leadership, guest experience, and technology. Include the specific POS system, scheduling software, and accounting tools you use daily.

Experience

Start each role with seat count, revenue, and staff size. Follow with same-store sales, food cost, labor cost, and guest satisfaction improvements, each with hard numbers.

Education

Include culinary or hospitality degrees and relevant certifications like ServSafe Manager. If you rose through the ranks without a degree, emphasize brand training programs instead.

Key Skills for Restaurant General Manager Resumes

Based on analysis of thousands of job postings, these are the most frequently required skills:

P&L Management Food Cost Control Same-Store Sales Growth Labor Cost Optimization Menu Engineering Staff Hiring & Training Guest Satisfaction Online Reputation Management Inventory Control Vendor Negotiations Catering Operations Aloha POS Health & Safety Compliance Shift Scheduling Revenue Forecasting

Common Mistakes on Restaurant General Manager Resumes

⚠Describing GM responsibilities without specifying restaurant - Describing GM responsibilities without specifying restaurant revenue, seat count, or daily cover volume
⚠Omitting food cost and labor cost percentages, which are the - Omitting food cost and labor cost percentages, which are the primary metrics owners and operators evaluate
⚠Listing 'improved guest experience' without measurable proof - Listing 'improved guest experience' without measurable proof like Yelp rating changes, NPS scores, or repeat visit rates
⚠Failing to show P&L ownership by only describing operational - Failing to show P&L ownership by only describing operational tasks instead of financial accountability
⚠Not including technology platforms like POS systems, schedul - Not including technology platforms like POS systems, scheduling tools, or inventory management software

Restaurant General Manager
Resume Example

Priya Nandakumar

Why This Resume Works

Section-by-Section Breakdown

Summary

Skills

Experience

Education

Key Skills for Restaurant General Manager Resumes

Common Mistakes on Restaurant General Manager Resumes

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