Fast food or retail?

Which is better for your first job?

I really think it depends on what you want to do later on. If you only wanna work retail, starting at BK or Mickey D's isn't really the way to go. You'll need the experience of working in a store selling clothing or something else.

Same thing goes for fast food. If you later on want to work in a restaurant or another fast food place, it'll look good that you had experience with that. It really depends on your interests.

Retail almost always requires that you have something else on your resume, whereas fast food will take you at any age and any skill level. A lot of retailers also prefer people who can work longer hours, which pretty much rules you out if you're at school five days a week or just looking for holiday work.

Caustic_Chaos:

I really think it depends on what you want to do later on. If you only wanna work retail, starting at BK or Mickey D's isn't really the way to go. You'll need the experience of working in a store selling clothing or something else..

Actually, it generally is the way to go. You have to start somewhere. Most people get into low-level retail after they have an easy job or two, and fast food is about the easiest there is. When it comes to applying for other positions, it's not what you do for your fist job that matters (most first jobs hardly involve much technical skill), but more the fact that you have a reference for your CV and proof that you can be responsible, handle cash, get along with people, etc.

Besides, it is not as though anyone really plans on a career in fast food. It's just a launching pad that many young people use to break into the workforce.

Haley is Rad xo.:

Retail.

fast food is very fast-paced. haha.

For sure, retail is a lot nicer. But fast food is far easier to get into, which is why I'd recommend it as a good place to start.

If you can get a retail job first go though, then good for you. Also, you can keep in mind jobs like working as a checkout chick that are kind of in-between- easier than fast food, but not as picky as retail when it comes to hiring.

Retail sucks. Because, you're more likely to deal with bitchy customers.

At least at a fast-food joint, people aren't going to argue over the price of their food, or the quality of it (as much). Or do the whole, "Why isn't this on sale? gr gr gr. That price is wrong. blah blah"

If you work in retail: prepare to be very good with your people skills. Prepare to deal with bitchy customers on a daily basis. Prepare to fold clothes until you never fold your own clothes at home because you're so sick of folding clothes!

I did both and fast food had its downs, but I dealt less with annoying customers in a food place than retail.

I miss food places, it was so much simpler.

As for flexiblity: I got hired at JCPennys when I was 16 and only worked weekends. So don't rule out retail because you don't think they'll hire because you're still in high school. They always need people for the weekends.

Fast food is good to get something on your CV, but that's all it's good for. Any entry-level food related job is hellish.

It also makes you appreciate retail work more, even though retail is shit enough anyway. Retail jobs can be a lot more taxing on your self confidence and people skills, but the actual work and environment are a lot nicer and cleaner in nature than that of the food industry. Retail would be great if not for the customers.

Well, Im a waitress, and it's my first job. And personally. I hate it. I mean, it pays good, but after you've worked 12 hours, your feet hurt, and you go home and you smell like your job!

So I retail I guess. I don't know much about it...

what would you all consider grocery stores?
O_O
i mean, it's retail, techincally.
am i right?

Retail. I worked in a diner washing dishes and it grossed me out being in the kitchen. I hardly eat fast food anymore because of it.

Retail, definitely.

My first job was at a grocery store as a cashier, and it was okay. The only problem I really had with it was the inner drama. I started dating a stock boy that everyone liked and suddenly all the other cashier's hated me. I don't know if it is like that everywhere, but I worked at a small chain of stores so that could have been it.

And I have worked at both retail and in food, and I have to say retail is so much better. I loved working at Hollister and I probably would have stayed if they had given me more hours (they hired so many people that they would give us all one day a week for five hours). I work in food now, and I hate it. The boss is miserable, all the other employees are bitchy, the customers act like they are better than you, and the pay isn't worth it. Retail > Food. For me at least.

my first and only job is See's Candy.
Best Job.

PERIOD

If you can take it, I'd recommend fast food. I know it's gruesome, but it can really impress future employers. I worked at Tim Hortons for a year and a half, at the store in our city with the worst manager, and I'm all the better for it. I had an interview with the local library recently and they were very impressed that I stayed there that long, and with all the skills I learned, as well as my willingness to adapt to protocals and staff changes. I guess what I'm trying to say is, you learn a lot of skills in fast food that will really help in the future.

Tim Hortons got my that job at the library, so I'm probably a little biased too.