Even though most say they believe fast food is unhealthy and bad for you, about 80% of us eat it at least once a month, and half of us visit the drive-through on a regular basis. However, there is something about fast food that keeps us coming back for more, whether it be the convenience or the deliciousness of the salty-fatty-sweet combination.
There’s a lot about the people working behind the scenes to get you your food in record time that you might not know, like the ones who are there day and night frying our chicken nuggets, putting lettuce on our burgers, and filling our cups with shakes and soda. Continue reading to learn more about working at a fast food restaurant.
DO’S AND DONT’S WORKING IN FAST FOOD || FIRST JOB TIPS
Pros of working in fast food
Here are a few benefits of working for a fast-food establishment:
Gaining valuable work skills
Gaining valuable work experience and soft skills while working in the fast food industry can help you qualify for higher-level positions in the future. For instance, if you work as a cashier at a fast food restaurant, your duties might include taking orders, handling payments from patrons, and completing drink orders. You can learn time management, multitasking, and adaptability on the job, which are abilities that employers value in candidates. You can also include customer service and conflict resolution to your resume since you frequently interact with customers. Your experience working in fast food can demonstrate that you are an expert with versatile skills.
Developing friendships with coworkers
The friendships you can develop with your coworkers are another benefit of working in fast food. You may rely on coworkers to speed up the process of taking and fulfilling orders while satisfying customers when the restaurant is busy. If you’re new to your position, someone who holds a similar position to you might train you on how to handle the responsibilities.
Your regular interaction with coworkers can foster relationships, which could make your workplace more enjoyable. You can enlist the help of a reliable friend who will motivate you when you face obstacles at work and help you with your tasks. For instance, if the drive-thru line is particularly long on a Friday night, you may feel more at ease asking a coworker for assistance because you know they will be able to answer your questions thanks to your friendship with them.
Advancing in the industry
In the fast food industry, workers can benefit from opportunities for advancement. You can advance to a shift supervisor or assistant manager position after gaining experience as a line cook or cashier, for example. The next step could be becoming the manager of one restaurant location, then several locations in a particular area. You may be able to earn more money, have a more flexible work schedule, and receive more benefits by moving up in the company. Working in fast food is a good option if your career goal is to hold a leadership position.
Enjoying food at discounted rates
Some fast-food restaurants may give employees discounts on certain menu items. For instance, you could get 25% off of everything you buy at the restaurant. Other companies may provide unlimited free food for employees. Working at a fast food restaurant may entitle you to receive discounted or free meals before or after your shift. When you stop for lunch, you can get food without spending any of your own money.
What does working in fast food involve?
Working in fast food involves preparing and delivering food. An employee greets a customer at the front desk or drive-thru window, inquires about their food preferences, and processes their payment. Additionally, there are staff members who prepare the meals and serve them to the client. Employees tidy the tables and replenish supplies like cups, napkins, and condiments to accommodate customers who want to eat inside the restaurant.
Cons of working in fast food
Here are some drawbacks you might experience working in a fast-food restaurant:
Working an unpredictable schedule
Fast-food employees work in shifts. The schedule can change because the restaurants are typically open for the majority of the day and every day of the week. It can be difficult to coordinate plans for your free time without conflict with your work schedule if, for example, you work the morning shift on Thursday and the evening shift on the weekend. The scheduling system has the benefit of allowing coworkers to switch shifts. You have more freedom to organize your personal life, and you can make sure the restaurant still has enough staff to serve customers.
Resolving issues with customers
Since working in fast food requires providing customer service, you might run into customers who are dissatisfied with their orders. You face a challenge when trying to defuse a situation while keeping a positive outlook. Applying customer feedback to your business can be helpful if you want to learn from your mistakes and prevent future disputes. Once the incident has passed, you can concentrate on your current situation to improve your mood and carry on with your workday.
Experiencing the physical demands of the job
You might have to spend a lot of time standing up if you work in a fast food restaurant. As an illustration, if you work in the drive-thru, it may be your duty to use the intercom to take orders, accept payments, and hand customers their food through the window. You might have to stand outside if there are a lot of cars in the drive-through line to interact with the customers while they are inside their cars, which can be physically taxing.
You can stay energized throughout your shift by eating and drinking before it begins. Additionally, you can unwind and reenergize during breaks and lunches. Stretching your muscles while standing can help prevent cramps, and wearing comfortable shoes can help prevent foot pain.
Performing a routine
The routines of working in fast food may not be as interesting to everyone as other types of work. As a line cook, you might, for example, follow the same procedures to prepare the food items that customers order. As a cashier, the routine of entering orders using a keyboard, managing money in the register, and printing receipts can get monotonous.
The same routine can improve your professionalism as a worker, which can increase your eligibility for a promotion. To break up the monotony, you can ask to work in a different position at the restaurant. Once your shift is over, you can relax knowing that you have completed your duties and can now take advantage of your free time.
FAQ
Is it hard to work in fast food?
Fast food workers typically have a variety of responsibilities during their shift, making it a difficult job overall. While some people are adept at multitasking by nature, others often find it difficult because they don’t feel completely at ease handling multiple tasks at once.
How do people survive working in fast food?
- Don’t Eat the Food. Despite the temptation to regularly eat the food you serve and the healthy staff discount, resist the urge.
- Look After Your Feet. Being on your feet all day is typical when working in a fast food restaurant.
- Aspire. …
- Safety First.
Is working in a fast food restaurant good?
Working in a fast food restaurant is a fantastic way to gain work experience. You deal with customers, work with people one-on-one, are a part of a team, and are in charge of a kitchen on a daily basis. If this is your first job, it is excellent experience to list on your resume.
Is it stressful working in fast food?
Working in the restaurant business can be challenging and stressful. The hours can be long and the work strenuous. You might experience a lot of pressure to prepare meals quickly but with high quality during busy meal times. Your breaks might occasionally be pushed back due to a high volume of customers.
