Training for Taco Bell Employees

There are four primary roles within the Taco Bell fast food restaurant: team member, shift lead, assistant manager and restaurant general manager. Entry-level team members receive step-by-step training in customer service and food handling from a resident trainer. Employees with aspirations to move up the ranks into restaurant manager positions or regional management roles receive training for progressively more responsible positions.

Instructions

1. Introduce yourself to the Taco Bell team member trainer to whom you report for on-the-job training. Explain what you already know about the job from new-hire orientation. Demonstrate enthusiasm and willingness to learn work responsibilities and guidelines for your entry-level role as a team member.

2. Study workplace postings concerning safety, sanitation and food handling. Many postings have pictures that illustrate how to lift heavy items, recommended hand-washing method, and required items such as gloves and hair nets for safe food handling procedures. Practice these activities, following the posted illustrations. Model your behavior after other employees who demonstrate proper hand-washing, food handling and disposal methods.

3. Read your employee handbook to learn about workplace rules, policies and procedures. If you don't understand certain topics, ask for clarification from your direct supervisor, your assigned trainer or an experienced team member. Review the Taco Bell menu and study the list of ingredients for each menu selection. Become familiar with the quality, type and location of ingredients.

4. Follow the Taco Bell process for greeting walk-in and drive-through customers. Use good diction and speak clearly with a pleasant tone to welcome restaurant patrons. Repeat the customer's order to ensure you understand it correctly. While the customer's food order is being prepared, focus on assembling the drink order and totaling the cost of the customer's order. Use your time wisely in this role before you move onto food preparation.

5. Listen carefully to the drive-though window or counter agent when he repeats a customer order. Pay careful attention to the customer's order, which may include modifications, such as extra cheese or no lettuce. Become familiar enough with preparing menu items that you won't have to refer to your handbook for ingredients. This will increase your ability to service the customer quickly; however, don't sacrifice quality and neatness for speed.

6. Practice the steps in each menu items preparation booklet. Follow each step carefully according to Taco Bell standards for measurements, handling, preparation and packing. Memorize the restaurant's recommended procedure for sales, including suggesting items and beverages. Embody the company's practice for customer services, which begins first with listening to the customer and ends with thanking the customer for his order.

7. Observe your trainer's food preparation methods until you are comfortable enough to prepare a mock order. Concentrate on your technique and speed. Utilize tips from your fellow team member on how to improve. Repeat your practice steps until you learn how to mix ingredients properly, efficiently and in accordance with Taco Bell standards. Above all, use ergonomically correct methods for reaching, bending and stretching to avoid injury or stress.

8. Watch how your shift lead interacts with other team members if you're interested in moving into a leadership role. Strive for continuous improvement in your communication skills with team members and customers. Observe how shift leads resolve customer complaints. When the opportunity presents itself, volunteer to handle a customer complaint to demonstrate your capabilities.

References

• Taco Bell: Restaurant Careers
• Animal New York: Not Fit for Public Consumption

Resources

• HR.com
• Society for Human Resource Management
• The American Society for Training & Development
• Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc.