Fast Food and Counter Worker
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DESCRIPTION

Perform duties such as taking orders and serving food and beverages. Serve customers at counter or from a steam table. May take payment. May prepare food and beverages.

TASKS ranked from most to least important

Communicate with customers regarding orders, comments, and complaints.

Accept payment from customers, and make change as necessary.

Scrub and polish counters, steam tables, and other equipment, and clean glasses, dishes, and fountain equipment.

Perform cleaning duties such as sweeping, mopping, and washing dishes, to keep equipment and facilities sanitary.

Balance receipts and payments in cash registers.

Request and record customer orders, and compute bills using cash registers, multi counting machines, or pencil and paper.

Serve food, beverages, or desserts to customers in such settings as take-out counters of restaurants or lunchrooms, business or industrial establishments, hotel rooms, and cars.

Prepare daily food items, and cook simple foods and beverages, such as sandwiches, salads, soups, pizza, or coffee, using proper safety precautions and sanitary measures.

Clean and organize eating, service, and kitchen areas.

Monitor and order supplies or food items and restock as necessary to maintain inventory.

Brew coffee and tea, and fill containers with requested beverages.

Serve customers in eating places that specialize in fast service and inexpensive carry-out food.

Collect and return dirty dishes to the kitchen for washing.

Wash dishes, glassware, and silverware after meals.

Wrap menu item such as sandwiches, hot entrees, and desserts for serving or for takeout.

Notify kitchen personnel of shortages or special orders.

Prepare and serve cold drinks, or frozen milk drinks or desserts, using drink-dispensing, milkshake, or frozen custard machines.

Select food items from serving or storage areas and place them in dishes, on serving trays, or in take-out bags.

Replenish foods at serving stations.

Perform personnel activities such as supervising and training employees.

Take customers' orders and write ordered items on tickets, giving ticket stubs to customers when needed to identify filled orders.

Distribute food to servers.

Set up dining areas for meals and clear them following meals.

Add relishes and garnishes to food orders, according to instructions.

Deliver orders to kitchens, and pick up and serve food when it is ready.

Arrange tables and decorations according to instructions.

Plan, prepare, and deliver meals to individuals with special dietary needs.

INDUSTRY

Accommodation and Food Services; Retail Trade

SKILLS ranked from most to least important

Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Service Orientation→ Actively looking for ways to help people.

Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

ACTIVITIES ranked from most to least important

Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates→ Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Assisting and Caring for Others→ Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Coaching and Developing Others→ Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others→ Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others→ Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

RESPONSIBILITIES ranked from most to least important >

Clean food preparation areas, facilities, or equipment.

Clean tableware.

Process customer bills or payments.

Communicate with customers to resolve complaints or ensure satisfaction.

Take customer orders.

Balance receipts.

Operate cash registers or tills.

Serve food or beverages.

Clean food service areas.

Cook foods.

Order materials, supplies, or equipment.

Prepare hot or cold beverages.

Collect dirty dishes or other tableware.

Arrange tables or dining areas.

Add garnishes to food.

Move equipment, supplies or food to required locations.

Package food or supplies.

Communicate dining or order details to kitchen personnel.

Arrange food for serving.

Stock serving stations or dining areas with food or supplies.

Deliver items.

Manage preparation of special meals or diets.

Prepare foods or meals.

Train food preparation or food service personnel.

Schedule dining reservations.

ABILITIES ranked from most to least used

Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.

Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

KNOWLEDGE ranked from most to least required

Customer and Personal Service→ Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Food Production→ Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.

Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Public Safety and Security→ Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Sales and Marketing→ Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Administration and Management→ Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Production and Processing→ Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

COMPUTER PROGRAMS ranked alphabetically

Computer based training software

Database user interface and query software -- Data entry software; Menu and nutrition database software

Office suite software -- e.g., Google Workspace; Microsoft Office

Operating system software -- e.g., Linux; Android; Apple OS; Microsoft Windows

Point of sale POS software

Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Google Sheets; Microsoft Excel

Web page creation and editing software -- e.g., Instagram; Facebook

TOOLS ranked alphabetically

Bar code reader equipment→ Barcode scanners; Linear imaging scanners; Long range charged coupled device CCD barcode scanners; Point of service scanners

Belt conveyors→ Food conveyor belts

Cappuccino or espresso machines→ Cappuccino makers; Espresso machines

Carbonated beverage dispenser→ Carbonated beverage dispensers; Soda machines

Carts→ Motorized food transportation carts

Cash registers

Commercial use blenders→ Blenders; Milk frothers

Commercial use broilers→ Broilers

Commercial use coffee grinders→ Commercial coffee grinders

Commercial use coffee or iced tea makers→ Coffee makers; Commercial coffeemakers

Commercial use convection ovens→ Convection ovens

Commercial use cutlery→ Chefs' knives

Commercial use deep fryers→ Deep fat fryers; Deep wells; Fryers

Commercial use dishwashers→ Commercial dishwashers; Commercial glasswashers

Commercial use dough machines→ Pastry makers

Commercial use electric can openers→ Can openers

Commercial use food choppers or cubers or dicers→ Automatic dicers; Food choppers

Commercial use food grinders→ Meat grinders

Commercial use food processors→ Food processors

Commercial use food slicers→ Automatic slicers; Commercial food slicers; Slicing machines; Vertical cutters

Commercial use food warmers→ Electric warming tables; Steam counters; Steam tables

Commercial use graters→ Grating equipment

Commercial use grills→ Commercial kitchen grills; Grills

Commercial use heat lamps→ Infrared heat lamps

Commercial use microwave ovens→ Commercial microwave ovens

Commercial use mixers→ Mixers

Commercial use molds→ Patty making machines

Commercial use ovens→ Commercial cooking ovens

Commercial use peelers→ Automatic peelers

Commercial use ranges→ Electric ovens; Electric stoves; Gas stoves; Gas stoves; Stoves

Commercial use scales→ Portion scales; Scales

Commercial use scoops→ Metal ice cream scoops

Commercial use steamers→ Steam cookers

Commercial use toasters→ Toasters

Desktop computers

Domestic kitchen or food thermometers→ Food thermometers

Food grade sanitizers→ Sanitizing units

Ice dispensers→ Ice machines; Ice-making machines

Intercom systems

Laser printers→ Ticket printers

Magnetic stripe readers and encoders→ Credit card machines; Credit card processing machines; Credit card scanners

Milk dispensers→ Milk dispensing machines

Milkshake machines→ Milkshake and smoothie machines

Non carbonated beverage dispenser→ Juice dispensers; Non-carbonated beverage dispensers

Personal computers

Pocket calculator→ Handheld calculators

Point of sale POS receipt printers→ Point of sale POS printers

Point of sale POS terminal→ Point of sale POS computer terminals; Point of sale POS terminals; Point of service workstations

Slush machines

Soft serve machines→ Ice cream/yogurt machines; Soft-serve ice cream machines

Touch screen monitors

INTERESTS ranked from most to least relevant

Realistic→ Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional→ Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Social→ Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

WORK STYLE ranked from most to least relevant

Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.

Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.

Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.

Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.

Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.

VALUES ranked from most to least relevant

Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.