What Do General Managers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for general managers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what general managers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
General Managers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about general managers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
General Managers plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.
Popular Job Titles For General Managers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Operations Managers
- Management Trainees
- General Managers
- Shift Supervisors
- Operations Supervisors
- Assistant General Managers
- Directors of Operations
- Assistant Managers
- Managers-in-Training
- District Managers
- Executive Directors
- Vice Presidents of Operations
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for general managers can be found.
Best Industries for General Managers
General Managers Jobs By Industry
- Restaurants and Other Eating Places: 4.3%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 3.5%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 2.9%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 2.6%
- Building Equipment Contractors: 2.2%
- Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities: 2%
- Other: 82.5%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of general managers can be found working in the Restaurants and Other Eating Places sector. In 2023, about 4.3% of all jobs for general managers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3.5%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (2.9%), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (2.6%), Building Equipment Contractors (2.2%) and Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (2%).
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Degree Options for General Managers
Maximize prior learning credit or transfer credit and earn a transfer-friendly online A.A.S. in Business Administration.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
With an associate of science in business administration degree, you’ll dig into the functional areas of business and learn how to connect each function with the others to advance business goals and further outcomes while you prepare for a variety of roles in operations, sales, management and coordination.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Gain college credit for your training and work experience and prepare to move into management or grow your small business.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Build a strong foundation of real-world business knowledge suitable for a variety of career options in your industry of choice.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Expand your leadership capabilities to change the business of doing business.
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Blend business essentials with leading-edge analytics and become an innovative leader with Franklin’s 18-month online STEM MBA.
- Class Type: Face-to-face, Online coursework
- Months To Complete: 18
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Strengthen your grasp of brain science and personality styles, individual and organizational intelligence and innovation and change management and become a transformational leader, with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Business Psychology.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Master financial analysis tools and tactics that provide the knowledge you need to contribute at a strategic level with Franklin’s 12-month online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Finance.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 21
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
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- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Build your business knowledge while you gain practical understanding of database management, information security and IT-project management with Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Information Technology.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Drive strategic promotional efforts that leverage emerging media by building your familiarity with digital marketing tools, marketing communication strategies and analytics as part of Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Marketing.
- Months To Complete: 12
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Prepare to improve operations in any industry by building your knowledge in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, supply chain management and Total Quality Management with the help of Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Operational Excellence.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Create a high-performance culture by broadening your knowledge of leadership theory, change management and managerial psychology through Franklin’s online accredited MBA with a Specialization in Organizational Leadership.
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
Develop into a well-rounded, adaptive and strategic business leader with a comprehensive mindset.
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do General Managers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what general managers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work general managers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that general managers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for general managers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's General Managers
Based on 536,978 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for General Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Management | 76,411 | 14% |
| Marketing | 72,619 | 14% |
| Merchandising | 68,902 | 13% |
| Finance | 51,574 | 10% |
| Project Management | 47,423 | 9% |
Top 5 Common Skills for General Managers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 292,479 | 54% |
| Management | 291,258 | 54% |
| Leadership | 253,948 | 47% |
| Communication | 250,388 | 47% |
| Customer Service | 245,875 | 46% |
Based on 536,978 job postings related to general managers, operations management was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 14% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for marketing, merchandising, finance, project management and auditing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, operations was the most desired skill found in job postings for general managers, followed by management, leadership, communication, customer service and sales.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Management | 76,411 | 14% |
| Marketing | 72,619 | 14% |
| Merchandising | 68,902 | 13% |
| Finance | 51,574 | 10% |
| Project Management | 47,423 | 9% |
| Auditing | 46,149 | 9% |
| Retail Operations | 44,396 | 8% |
| Profit And Loss (P&L) Management | 42,159 | 8% |
| Inventory Management | 41,295 | 8% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 39,400 | 7% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 35,468 | 7% |
| Accounting | 32,848 | 6% |
| Process Improvement | 31,098 | 6% |
| Selling Techniques | 30,720 | 6% |
| Restaurant Operation | 28,020 | 5% |
| Customer Relationship Management | 26,285 | 5% |
| Warehousing | 23,942 | 4% |
| Business Development | 23,449 | 4% |
| Loss Prevention | 23,432 | 4% |
| Product Knowledge | 22,918 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations | 292,479 | 54% |
| Management | 291,258 | 54% |
| Leadership | 253,948 | 47% |
| Communication | 250,388 | 47% |
| Customer Service | 245,875 | 46% |
| Sales | 194,848 | 36% |
| Planning | 102,796 | 19% |
| Coaching | 89,516 | 17% |
| Problem Solving | 85,204 | 16% |
| Scheduling | 62,918 | 12% |
| Writing | 62,041 | 12% |
| Detail Oriented | 61,010 | 11% |
| Microsoft Excel | 56,435 | 11% |
| Training And Development | 54,747 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 54,007 | 10% |
| Coordinating | 53,140 | 10% |
| Accountability | 53,021 | 10% |
| Microsoft Office | 52,365 | 10% |
| Computer Literacy | 52,286 | 10% |
| Budgeting | 52,149 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for General Managers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Managers | 98,411 | 17.8% |
| Management Trainees | 60,828 | 11% |
| General Managers | 51,955 | 9.4% |
| Shift Supervisors | 39,750 | 7.2% |
| Operations Supervisors | 53,859 | 9.7% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was operations managers, with 30,002 unique job postings. Management trainees were second, with 18,906 postings, followed by general managers, shift supervisors and operations supervisors.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to general managers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Managers | 98,411 | 17.8% |
| Management Trainees | 60,828 | 11% |
| General Managers | 51,955 | 9.4% |
| Shift Supervisors | 39,750 | 7.2% |
| Operations Supervisors | 53,859 | 9.7% |
| Assistant General Managers | 33,691 | 6.1% |
| Directors of Operations | 33,626 | 6.1% |
| Assistant Managers | 45,745 | 8.3% |
| Managers-in-Training | 27,652 | 5% |
| District Managers | 21,125 | 3.8% |
| Executive Directors | 16,724 | 3% |
| Vice Presidents of Operations | 11,685 | 2.1% |
| Hourly Managers | 7,877 | 1.4% |
| Area Managers | 8,502 | 1.5% |
| General Managers In Training | 8,168 | 1.5% |
| Studio Managers | 5,507 | 1% |
| Store Management Trainees | 12,158 | 2.2% |
| Business Managers | 6,707 | 1.2% |
| Regional Directors of Operations | 5,521 | 1% |
| Dispensary Managers | 4,088 | 0.7% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for general managers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for general managers.
How much do general managers make?
General Managers: How do you become one?
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