Great Jobs, Aisle SevenCareers in grocery stores are looking good. Mary Fons |
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You'll probably find these or other specialty ingredients at one of the increasingly popular niche supermarkets springing up across the country.
If you're looking for a rewarding career that thinks outside the bag, you might find that, too. Since 2006, the number of these niche markets continues to grow. As people embrace the organic food trend, "green" their lives, or just become more conscious of their (or their family's) nutritional needs, these stores supply an increasing demand for higher-quality specialty and healthful foods. With more stores come more jobs, of course, and these jobs can look as good as a slice of organic cheesecake.
Paula Labian, vice president of Team Member Services at Whole Foods Market says that being an employee at Whole Foods involves a lot more than working a cash register or stacking loaves of bread.
"Whole Foods Market offers an empowering work environment, and our success in our 28-year history is dependent upon the collective energy of all team members," Labian says. "We recognize that the role of the company's leadership is to make our team members happy. And they will make our customers happy." She adds that Whole Foods has been ranked for 11 consecutive years as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by Fortune magazine.Why are supermarkets like these so great for those who work there? In a word: Benefits.
While the scope of benefits varies widely within the industry, many specialty natural foods supermarkets offer health benefit packages, paid leave, competitive salaries and even stock options. "[We] believe all team members should be involved in choosing the benefits package that best fits their needs," Labian says. "[They] have the opportunity to vote on the company's benefits every three years - everything from medical plans and paid time off to life insurance and a 401k match. Team members are eligible to participate in the medical plan after 400 service hours. In addition to fair wages, those eligible also receive a team member discount, flexible paid time off and the opportunity to participate in our gain-sharing program, stock incentive plans and other benefits."For Kyle Barhamand, his job at a similar supermarket is about more than the company's benefit plan, which is comparable to that of Whole Foods. For Barhamand, a non- nine-to-five career is a must."We have many early shifts as well as those that run rather late. It provides for a great environment because it allows us to more or less customize our work schedule to fit our lives," Barhamand says. "Actors take advantage of earlier shifts to allow themselves the free time in the evenings, people with smaller children, myself included, appreciate those same hours because it allows us to maximize our time with our families. And students relish the ability to not have to show up for work until four or five in the afternoon." And while supermarket work is great for those interested in other professions, Barhamand says he likes his job so much, he's not going anywhere.
"Unlike some in my profession, I am not marking time until something better comes along," he says. "Conventional education and I did not agree with one another. I chose to seek out a job at a store that combined an area of interest with a personable sales angle. "The opportunity to be around a variety of food and drink has done for me exactly what I'd hoped - refined my cooking techniques and opened up new culinary horizons as well as provided me with valuable insight as to how food gets from its source to our tables."Working in such an environment might not be for everyone, however. Many stores require employees to take on a multitude of responsibilities which could include heavy lifting, late-night hours and spending the majority of your day on your feet. And of course, injuries are more likely to happen to a person working on a loading dock than in a cubicle. But if your passion for passion fruit is knocking on your door and you can't stomach the idea of punching a clock in a place where lunch comes from a vending machine on the third floor, seeking employment in the upscale supermarket sector might be worth your time, money - and dinner.
How many hours a week do you work?