Yes, It’s Possible To Love Your Job!
Restaurant owners know how important their staff is to the success of their business. Establishments rely on their teams to produce exceptional food, provide first rate service, and keep customers coming back for more.
However, beyond being an asset to profit margins, a restaurant workforce is like family. That’s why it is more important than ever to help employees navigate some of the challenges the industry has been facing, especially in light of the last few years, not only for the sake of the business, but also for the community at large.
The average longevity of a restaurant employee is just one month and 26 days. As owners know, restaurant turnover is not only expensive, but it’s also bad for business and morale.
At SERG Restaurant Group we understand the challenges our managers, servers, bartenders, and kitchen staff face, and we have worked very hard to implement a positive culture in all our restaurants.
Yes, It’s Possible to Love Your Job!
The SERG Restaurant Culture
If you join the SERG family, we want you to thrive. After many years as a successful restaurant group, we’ve learned the key characteristics successful team members share. So how do you know if SERG’s culture fits your personality? Easy. We broke it down into four simple words.
Food
If you work for a SERG restaurant, you love food. We’ll give you plenty of chances to expand your knowledge of food and recipes. We’re continually bringing in new and exciting food products for you to experience and introduce to our guests.
We try new cooking techniques to bring out the texture and flavor at our variety of restaurants. Before you know it, you’ll be a food aficionado. It’s all part of the reason we like to say that a SERG restaurant stands for “simply great food.”
Integrity
Honor and integrity are woven into the way we approach our guests, coworkers, and the business of food service. It can be summed up as doing the right thing. We’re honest with ourselves and others. Truth is a powerful communication tool. Which is why we don’t assign blame, or make excuses. Instead, we work together in an open and respectful manner. It results in actions that solve problems rather than intensify them.
Talent
When you join the SERG team, we’ll help you nurture your natural talents. Our high energy and positive work/dining environments create plenty of opportunity to assert yourself. Our most successful team members are those driven by excellence, never settling for acceptable. At a SERG restaurant you are always learning and improving. Our intensive training program puts you in a position to succeed.
Service
To say our service goes above and beyond is a bit of an understatement. We like to say our team members have hearts for service. They truly love serving others. It shows each and every day as they do some pretty amazing things for our guests. This friendly atmosphere makes a SERG restaurant the place where people come to celebrate a birthday, go on a first date, or gather with friends. It says a lot about our people that our guests choose to spend special times with us.
Our Jobs
You’re just an application away from some incredible jobs. The following job descriptions will help you find where you might fit in at a SERG restaurant. The jobs are as diverse as the people who work with us every day. Here’s hoping you find something you like.
General Manager
As the general manager you are ultimately responsible for operating a successful and profitable restaurant. You set the standard that assistant general managers and team members strive to reach. Because you lead professionally and by example, your team will know what is expected of them as they provide great guest service, properly prepared menu items, and maintain a clean and safe environment. In short, you oversee creating a desirable atmosphere for both guests and team members. When an issue arises you deal with it in a timely manner and make sure the appropriate people are brought into the loop. You have the responsibility to recruit, hire, train and develop your team, and take pride in seeing others grow. Your professional, confident and outgoing personality makes it obvious to our guests and your team members that you are in charge yet approachable. As general manager, you will be responsible for enforcing all federal/state laws and company policies pertaining to health and safety as well as team member related laws and policies.
Assistant General Manager
Working for and in support of the general manager, assistant general managers will independently manage the restaurant on their shifts. Your focus is on guest satisfaction, giving direction to team members, increasing sales, ensuring proper food preparation, and maintaining a desirable and safe work environment. Your outgoing personality will serve you well as you visit with guests, make sure that their experience met their expectations, and take time to get to know them. You will need to be comfortable and confident in your decision-making skills. You will be held accountable for making sure each team member on your shift completes their tasks. You will be responsible for ensuring that all safety, sanitation, and food handling laws and policies are being followed as well as all employment related laws and policies.
Server
As the person who has the most contact with our guests, you are SERG’s service ambassador. You will ensure every guest’s dining experience is exceptional. You possess a deep desire to serve and engage with others and make them feel at ease. Your love for good food will aid you in making menu recommendations to our guests. As a person who takes pride in the appearance of their surroundings, you will be required to do some cleaning.
Chef/Cook
Our chefs and cooks man the heart of any SERG restaurant, the kitchen. You need the ability to prepare a number of eye- and palate-pleasing items in a timely fashion. Our food and service sets us apart from our competition. More importantly, you are able to adjust to the flow of business, assist in menu changes, and create specials. You must be able to communicate with other team members to ensure our guests’ overall satisfaction. You’ll also maintain a clean and well-stocked kitchen.
Host/Hostess
As the first point of contact for our guests, you set the stage for their overall dining experience. Your sincerity and ability to engage our guests in a friendly conversation will be key.
Dishwasher
Your attention to detail and willingness to work hard is exactly what is required as a dishwasher at a SERG restaurant. You not only ensure that our dishes are clean and sanitary, but also that clean dishes, glassware, and silverware are always available.
Work Environment
How We Work
One measure of a workplace is whether the people who work there are happy. Do they stay long? Are they satisfied with their jobs? Would they want their friends and family working there? Here at SERG Restaurant Group we’re proud to say these questions all get a resounding “Yes.”
Our people are the key ingredients in our success, so we are truly dedicated to their development. We put a lot of work into making a SERG restaurant a great place to work. A recent team survey revealed the top reason team members work at a SERG restaurant:
- Enjoyable work environment
- Guest service oriented
- Enjoy working with their team
- Flexible scheduling
- Great new-hire training
- Ongoing skill development
- Personal recognition
We strive to retain our workers and pride ourselves on a low turnover rate. We offer great perks and incentives, including:
- Meal discounts on duty
- Meal, shopping, entertainment discounts off duty
- Bonus opportunities (managers)
- Paid vacation, sick days (managers)
- Opportunities for advancement
- Career development
- College savings plan
We also offer competitive employment benefits including:
- Medical (major for managers)
- Vision
- Dental
Let’s Dig a Little Deeper
We reach for the stars and we seek employees that do the same. Here are four questions that we always ask of a SERG Restaurant Group applicant:
- Kindness and Optimism – We work long hours and want to be surrounded by friendly, hopeful people. Skeptics rarely work out well on our team. Are you comfortable with that?
- Intellectual Curiosity – Do you approach each moment as an opportunity to learn something new?
- Work Ethic – Does it matter to you to do your job as well as it can possibly be done?
- Empathy and Self Awareness – Do you know your personal ‘weather report’ and how it’s impacting other people and you today? Do you care how your actions make other people feel?
A job at a SERG Restaurant is not just a path but a journey. Again this is what you can expect along the way:
- Personalized mentorship and training to help your hone your craft and progress your skills
- Opportunities for growth and strategic and thoughtful development
- A work environment that prioritizes and promotes inclusivity, acceptance, community, and (of equal importance) a dose of fun.
You and a SERG job – Perfect Together!
