General Manager: Key Skills, Qualifications and Career Path
Learn about the key skills, qualifications, and career path for a General Manager
Practice Interviews Online - Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic General Manager mock interview, under 10 minutes
Practice Now »What is a General Manager?
As a General Manager in the hospitality industry, your role would involve overseeing all operations of a hotel or similar establishment, including managing staff, organizing services like catering and entertainment, and ensuring guest satisfaction. You would also be responsible for strategic planning and budgeting to ensure the business runs smoothly and profitably.
Skills
- Leadership and management skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Excellent problem-solving and decision-making abilities
- Financial management and budgeting skills
- Customer service and guest satisfaction focus
- Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks
- Knowledge of health and safety regulations
- Team building and staff development skills
- Attention to detail and organizational skills
- Flexibility and adaptability to changing industry trends and demands
Qualifications & Education
- Entry possible with a variety of academic qualifications and/or relevant experience
- BTEC/SQA award, a degree or equivalent qualification, or a professional qualification required for most candidates
- Off- and on-the-job training provided
- Large hotel chains offer management trainee schemes
- NVQs/SVQs in management for hospitality, leisure and tourism available at Levels 3 and 4
Career Path
Frequently Asked Questions
To become a general manager in the UK, you typically need a bachelor's degree and significant work experience. It is also beneficial to pursue postgraduate study, such as a graduate certificate in business or an MBA, to enhance your qualifications. Additionally, gaining experience in managing people and processes within an organization will help you in your career progression towards becoming a general manager.
After being a general manager, you can pursue various career paths such as becoming a store manager, operations manager, assistant manager, owner, vice president, sales manager, or operations director.
The career path of a general manager in the UK typically involves starting in lower level managerial or supervisory positions within the same firm and gradually moving up to the role of general manager. Experienced hires from related fields are also common, but they must have extensive experience in lower level supervisory or management roles.
Identify your strengths and weakness in a realistic General Manager mock interview, under 10 minutes
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