What the pros say

William, Subway supervisor

"The most important thing in this job is to be responsible and to have leadership skills to motivate the troops!" explains William, a supervisor for the Subway fast food chain. Personnel management is a key task in managing a retail business, and requires tact, organization and authority."

"I'm there to help employees, in their professional tasks as well as in achieving a work/personal life balance, by arranging their use of time, for example. I don't hesitate to talk to them, and to lend an ear to understand their needs and motivate them. Supervisors are there to guide their employees, while allowing them to be independent."

It's a challenging job, often requiring many hours on the job. Often Williams gives his team a head by taking a turn at the cash register, but also in directly assisting the store manager to manage the store. "It's a very stimulating job, where you need to have a lot of energy, be able to spot problems and tackle them. It's never boring," he says.