Word Of the Week #591: Prepare

December 2, 2015 by  

Prepare – to make or get ready.

Are you a person who likes to prepare in advance? Did your first job offer skills that prepared you for career opportunities? Do you have family members who are preparing to get their first job? Does anyone you know want to make a career change?

Since I and many of my subscribers are in the Hospitality Industry, I felt this article spoke to the many positive benefits it offers. The Sunday UT Business section featured “Skills learned in restaurant are far-reaching for career success.” One in three Americans get their first jobs in restaurants, and half of all American adults have worked in the restaurant industry at some point in their careers. Restaurants are the nation’s second-largest private sector employer, offering skills and career opportunities to millions.

A majority of employees who work in the restaurant industry are proud to do so, and while not everyone stays in foodservice forever, the industry still prepares them to succeed in any career path they choose. Teamwork, professional behavior, time management, and communications are all skills learned in the restaurant industry. These skills are applicable to any industry, and serve to prepare students and young people for their careers.

It is not only possible, but common, for employees to move from entry-level positions to those ofa prepare management, and even ownership. Nine of 10 restaurant managers, supervisors and chefs, and eight out of 10 restaurant owners’ first restaurant job was in an entry-level position, according to “Who Works in the U.S. Restaurant Industry? A Nationwide Survey of the Restaurant Workforce.” The upward mobility offered to employees in the restaurant industry allows for growth and fosters a belief that it is a place where people of all backgrounds can open their own business.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Labor published the first-ever Food & Beverage Service Competency Model, officially codifying the skills learned at each level of a restaurant career, and profiling the employability and technical skills essential to achieving life-long career success in the industry. The model is made up of nine tiers. The first two include personal effectiveness and academic competencies measured in any industry. Skills include motivation, critical thinking and dependability.

Because these base skills learned in a restaurant are so important for any job, the industry is effectively training American’s workforce. Data, as well as anecdotal evidence, suggests that no matter what career they end up in, people who have worked in the restaurant industry never stop using the skills they’ve learned there. The restaurant industry offers a unique blend of opportunities not usually found in other industries. These traits make it a good choice for your first job, a second career or a life-long commitment.

This week’s focus is on being prepared for your future. Are you currently in a position that fosters growth and upward mobility? Are you acquiring skills that will prepare you to succeed in any career? Do you have a desire to own your own business?

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