Here is the scenario; you are the restaurant manager on duty and in walks your District Manager and a guy from HR. They have a little small talk with some of the hourly staff and then ask to speak with you in the office.
They ask if you know the company policy about (sexual harassment, inventory control, cash handling) and then describe to you an incident where you are alleged to have violated company policy. There is a short discussion about the incident and then you are told you are being terminated for violation of company policy.

So you get your resume, contact the Gecko Hospitality recruiter and start your interviewing.

The toughest question is: Why are you no longer with your last company?

How you answer that question will determine how successful you will continue in the interview process.

What I usually hear is, there were differences between the District Manager and me, there was no room for upward growth, the company has gone through cultural changes that I wasn’t comfortable with and a bunch of other stories.

I usually listen to those and then ask, what really happened? This is the time when it is important to tell the truth.

I recently placed a manager who had been terminated for violation of company policy regarding fraternization. Of course, that wasn’t what the manager told me, he said “I just wasn’t happy there any more and it was time to move on”.

I got a list of references, and after the first call found out about his termination was for fraternization. I had already sent his resume to a recruiter for a national company, who I have a great working relationship with.

I called the recruiter and let him know what I found out. The recruiter really liked my candidate and decided to continue him in the process. He was then interviewed by a District Manager and was offered the new position.
The District Manager understood that sometimes mistakes happen and he saw a candidate with great potential who made a mistake.

The truth will set you free, be honest with your recruiter and explain your circumstances. We might be able to help you talk about your separation from your last job that still puts your skills in a positive light.

Marty Tarabar

After  6 years of recruiting restaurant managers and 20 + years as a restaurant manager, general Manager and Area Director, I have interviewed over 10,000 people.   What I can honestly tell you is this; It is much easier to get a new job if you are currently employed then if you are unemployed.  Now don’t get me wrong I successfully place unemployed people all the time however if you are currently employed and want to look for a new opportunity without posting your resume all over the job boards, You will get more interviews and be paid a higher salary then if you are not currently working.  The reason is simple, companies want the best managers out there and they often like the challenge of taking a great manager from one of their competitors.  Managers who post their resume on all of the job boards are not a challenge and usually not the best.  If someone put a Honda Accord next to a BMW 3 series and said choose the one you like, 9/10 people would pick the BMW not because it’s a better car but because it’s more expensive and their for harder to acquire.  Honda makes a great car and I have one myself but what I’m saying is be the BMW.  Make yourself more desirable through marketing yourself to the select few.

Managers who are unemployed are unemployed for a reason and usually that reason is they were let go or forced to resign. Sure people quit every day because they need time to interview and want to take a break before starting something new but what I will say is this.  When you are hired to run a business, you are hired to make good sound decisions and quitting a job with no job in your pocket is a reckless and a reflection on your ability to make good sound decisions.  Before you give notice, call me and we can discuss all of your options, you won’t regret it.