OCCUPATION: RESTAURANT, BAR GENERAL MANAGER

Name: Dan Daugherty Company: National Sports Grill & Bar, Buena Park Thumbs up: “You wear so many hats in this business: psychologist, public relations, accountant, entrepreneur. That’s a lot of fun, and satisfaction of the customer is the reward. Hiring all of the employees is a high-energy, intense task. I like to be on the front lines, meeting with people rather than sitting at a desk and adding up numbers. Every day is different. You could have a bus from Barstow pull up at noon. Or rain will drive up the price of lettuce.” Thumbs down: “The hours can be long. But that doesn’t matter as long as the day is productive. When people get sick, you can get stretched from one end to another.” Advice: “School is important. I studied restaurant management. The practical education is good, but in the long run you will need the experience. I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t work. When I started out I was always looking over my boss’s shoulder, asking questions. . . . Time management is very important. You’ve got to be at the right place at the right time, pay attention to detail.” Salary range: $33,000 to $58,000 a year for experienced general managers, $24,700 to $39,000 for entry-level managers. “Most every operator I have worked for (has a salary plan) based on bonuses. A lot of it is based on volume. “ Fringe benefits: Most employers offer paid vacation, medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance and paid sick leave. Hours: “I call myself the ‘marathon man.’ I work five to six days a week and 14 to 16 hours a day.” Educational and training requirements: “I went to Glendale College, and then I won a scholarship to Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Paris. The school was the highlight of my career when I was young. Now I go to seminars. The larger (restaurant) corporations will hold their own.” Size of work force: Medium. 1,900 to 2,270. Expected demand: Stable. Job description: Check staffing, monitor closing and opening, ensure quality of food and drink, greet guests, check supplies, complete paperwork for ordering and receiving inventory. Major employing industries: Restaurants, hotels, taverns, contract food-service companies. Advancement: Larger establishments, regional management positions; some employees become owners or franchise operators. For more information: Orange County Private Industry Councils, 1300 S. Grand Ave., Building B, Santa Ana, Calif. 92705. Researched by TED JOHNSON / Los Angeles Times