If you are good under pressure, enjoy working as part of a team and want a clear route to a management position, the fast food industry provides an ideal path to success. It provides a fast-paced, sociable working environment with flexible hours - which is perfect if a 9 to 5 job doesn't fit in with your lifestyle!
While many people don't see fast food as a career option, many companies are working hard to change the negative perceptions of the industry. There are actually excellent career opportunities available, and most companies promote from within - for example, the majority of McDonald's managers and franchisees began as crew members on the restaurant floor.
It is also a very profitable industry - at a time when many people have less money to spend, the fast food industry is booming. For example, Domino's Pizza was one of the few companies that actually grew during the recession.
The fast food industry covers a range of different restaurants which offer hot or cold food for consumption on or off the premises. These can be found in high streets, shopping centres, service stations, leisure parks and other locations.
Large multinational brands dominate, and the types of food provided commonly include sandwiches, burgers (McDonald's, Burger King), pizza (Dominos, Pizza Hut), fish and chips, chicken (KFC) and others, such as ethnic restaurants, sushi and noodle bars.
Information on careers available and new emerging jobs, transferability of skills career paths and opportunities for progression
There are a wide variety of jobs in this industry and, in the case of many of the branded fast food restaurants, there are clear pathways for progression from a crew member through to management positions and beyond.
For a lot of the 'entry level' positions, many employers say that the willingness to work hard and a good attitude are the most important things they look for. For public facing roles, such as bar staff or waiting staff, good people skills and an appreciation of the importance of customer service are an advantage. Progression in the industry is most likely for committed workers who are willing to take on new responsibilities.
Many fast food restaurants find it difficult to hang on to their staff, as a lot of employees tend to work part-time while studying, and sometimes do not stay in their job for long. Individuals who show enthusiasm and commitment to their job are often rewarded by employers with rapid progression up the ladder.
Individuals wishing to move into higher-level (e.g. director) positions in this industry are likely to require previous managerial experience and be able to display a solid understanding of the industry.
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