单项选择题

"Would You Like Success with That"
What do Madonna, Brad Pitt, Jay Leno, Sharon Stone, Shania Twain, Jennifer Hudson, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Olympic medalist Carl Lewis have in common They all worked in the fast-food industry before becoming famous. Restaurant jobs do offer entrees into many rewarding careers.
Madonna worked as a waitress for Dunkin Donuts, and Pitt dressed as a crazy chicken while employed by El Polio Loco. Carl Lewis credits the work ethic (职业道德) he learned at McDonald’s for helping lay a foundation for his career, and Shania Twain says she "learned tons about the meaning of service there. " Burger King rewarded its former employee, Jennifer Hudson, with free food for life when she mentioned the chain after her Oscar win for "Dreamgirls" in 2007.
According to the California Restaurant Association, 32 percent of adults received their first job experience in a restaurant. In fact, the restaurant industry is the nation’s second-largest employer, after government.
"California’s restaurants employ 1. 4 million people," states Kearsten Shepherd, spokeswoman for the CRA. "And one of the things that attract potential employees to the fast-food segment is the flexibility of the job. It’s not your basic 9-to-5 workplace. "
Serve and Learn
Teenagers find fast-food shifts fit in with their schedule, allowing them to work after school and on weekends. The quick-service businesses also provide a valuable foundation for those entering the workforce for the first time. Shepherd says most restaurant chains have effective training programs teaching teamwork, money skills, how to interact effectively with other staff members, how to work under pressure, management and, most of all, customer service.
"For ambitious employees who are interested in earning and learning more, there are opportunities to move up in the organization," she says. "McDonald’s produced an ad campaign that profiled successful employees in their stores. "
Shepherd has a few tips for those jumping into the workforce pool for the first time.
"When you apply for any job, it’s important to dress appropriately when you pick up an application and when you return it," she advises. "When you drop off a completed application, ask to speak to the manager instead of leaving it with an employee. Speaking to the man or woman in charge can get you noticed. "
According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, all minors under the age of 18 must have a permit to work (available at the student’s school) and the permit must be renewed annually.
Foundation for the Future
When Mateen Rasuli first arrived in the United States from Afghanistan seven years ago, he spoke very little English, but he had big ambition.
"I realized I had a language problem, but I needed a job," he recalls. "There was a fast-food chain in my New York neighborhood—Crown Fried Chicken—and I applied and landed a job there. "
The first week was unpaid training, learning the health department codes, what to wear and how to cook the chicken. He learned fast and his education extended beyond the kitchen.
"I basically learned how to speak English there," he says. "When I look back at that time, I realize now my job was in a pretty rough neighborhood. But during the ongoing training I also learned about customer service, dealing with stressful situations and, most of all, respect. Drawing on those skills helped a lot when I moved to the front counter and then to cashier. "
Rasnii stayed at the restaurant for four years, and as his language skills improved, so did his career path. He moved from cashier to shift manager to assistant manager. He still remains in touch with his former co-workers after moving to the West Coast for further development.
Experience in that fast-food environment gave him the foundation to move forward with his career. Today he is the manager of a retail store in San Francisco and has plans to start his own business.
"Working in that first American job definitely helped me adapt to living in a new country," he believes. "I’m very grateful to those who took a chance and gave me an opportunity to work and learn. "
Super-Size That Job into a Career
Victoria Straschil, senior vice president of human resources at Carl’s Jr, stresses that working in fast food is just the beginning. "We have around 450 locations in California and our employees are the most important commodity we have," she says. "They learn that to be a part of a team—you have to be on time and connect with your co-workers. We want them to understand that the success of our organization depends on their work. A sense of camaraderie (友情) in the workplace is especially important for young people. "
Carl’s Jr. has extensive formal and on-the-job gaining, depending on the skill level of the job and the person. Managers also personalize the training with a development plan, because everyone learns at a different rate and some people require more training than others. In addition to healthcare coverage, some of the perks (额外补贴) include flexible work schedules, meal discounts, vacation, sick leave and more.
"Many employees find their first job at Carl’s," Straschil reports. "In fact, all of our regional vice presidents started in the restaurants. Our culture is constantly learning and growing and we have the company infrastructure (基础建设) to support this movement. "
Most importantly, employees learn about other career opportunities within the company. They hear about positions in human resources, marketing, operations or finance, and their eyes are opened.
According to Straschil, Carl’s Jr. has the lowest turnover (人员更换) rate in the industry. One reason is that most promotions come from within the company.
"College isn’t for everyone," she contends. "Many don’t have the desire to continue a formal education; but the opportunities are unlimited when you work for our company. We are always looking for people to promote. "
"I think the most bankable attribute a future employee can have is enthusiasm," she emphasizes. "I just love to see that kind of passion, plus the willingness to accept responsibilities without being asked. That person’s success is guaranteed. \
What did McDonald do to praise its outstanding employees