Volunteer from W.H. Bender & Associates to train Gen Z for their first jobs

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Oct. 22, 2018 - PRLog -- A volunteer from W.H. Bender & Associates to train Gen Z for their first jobs.

William Bender of W.H. Bender & Associates will help Gen Z students prepare for their first jobs – everything from resume-writing to practical interview skills. This one-day classroom takeover on Oct. 23 is hosted in 53 high schools across the state, training nearly 3,500 students.

The annual event, called Force In Training™(FIT), is put on by the California Restaurant Association Foundation (CRAF) in partnership with restaurant brands.

Restaurant volunteers lead the three-hour FIT training at each high school. Students learn how to write a resume, interview, read a paycheck, move up in a career, and more. Restaurant industry volunteers bring the lessons to life with real-world examples and experience.

Restaurants have a major role to play in youth employment. Nearly one in three people got their start in restaurants. First jobs are also critical to fostering soft skills like teamwork, customer service, and responsibility – skills that may not be as intuitive for Gen Z digital natives. W.H. Bender & Associates and CRAF are teaming up to provide youth the skills, certifications, and resources they need to land that all-important first job.

"Many of us were fortunate to receive mentoring in our teen years. I was lucky to have joined Steak and Ale Restaurants, where we received training and coaching by senior managers. This had a huge impact on me and provided future opportunities. I really feel it's very important to give back to the community" explained Bill Bender, FCSI, an industry veteran consultant and founder of W.H. Bender & Associates.

FIT Day is a part of ProStart®, a program offered through CRAF that provides restaurant career-exploration and training programs for high school students.

"We are so grateful to CRA members for taking the time to invest in our students," said Alycia Harshfield, Executive Director of CRAF. "For 75% of the students we serve, this is the only job-readiness course they receive. Together with our volunteers and partners, we are preparing these young people for very bright futures."

For more information, visit www.calrestfoundation.org/fit

About the California Restaurant Association Foundation:

California is home to more than 90,000 eating and drinking places that ring up more than $72 billion in sales and employ more than 1.6 million workers, making restaurants an indisputable driving force in the state's economy. The California Restaurant Association Foundation is a non-profit that empowers and invests in California's current and future restaurant workforce. Founded in 1981, CRAF supports the restaurant community through emergency assistance grants for restaurant workers facing a hardship, job and life skills training for 9,000 high school students each year, and scholarships.