My job: Managing the Domino's effect

Ryan Bohm has always been hooked on the pizza industry. Photo / Supplied

MY JOB
Name: Ryan Bohm
Age: 25
Employer: General manager of Domino's New Zealand.
Salary: $75,000-$150,000.
Working hours: 70-85 hours per week; 5am-10pm.
Qualification: No formal qualifications.AMBITIOUS: Ryan Bohm was already a shift manager when he was in his last year at school.

What do you do?

I'm the connection between the franchisees and head office so a large part of my role is supporting Domino's' 40 franchisees and their 76 stores. My phone is on 24/7. I also, among other things, source new products, organise purchasing contracts and establish new business relationships. I'm also involved in the Domino's brand's strategic approaches.

History?

I first worked for Domino's in Canberra, wobble-boarding on the roadside when I was 12 years old. When I was 16 I started working part-time in a store making dough, then cutting pizza. After six months I went into a manager-in-training scheme and became a shift manager.

At 17 I left school and went full-time. I was promoted to store manager, then regional manager overseeing two stores. I then helped with store start-ups, before moving into the audit team. Six of us audited 60 stores per month, looking at pizza quality, cleanliness and store image, etc.

While I was in that role I was asked to come to New Zealand as regional manager for the eight stores here. I moved into a franchise consultant role and after three years got this New Zealand general management role.

Domino's don't consider age an issue. You just need to do the job well and have the right attitude.

Did you ever think of going to university?

In my last year at school I was managing a store and working for a Domino's franchisee who was a 25-year-old millionaire. I wanted to see how far I could go. Originally my aim was to buy a franchise but I had a car crash when I was 18 and I couldn't stand up for long periods of time in the store. This seemed a disadvantage if I was going to take on a store.

So youth isn't a disadvantage?

When I first started the franchise consultant role, I sometimes felt people were looking sideways at me and not taking me seriously. But once we got talking they realised I knew the business well and that won them over.

I wondered if my age might be an issue but I decided Domino's wouldn't offer me the job if they didn't think I was the right person.

What skills are important?

My biggest strength is that I have worked in the business from the ground up. An important skill is to set goals and stick to them. You need to be open-minded and able to multi-task.

You need to be passionate about the pizza business and the wider fast food industry trends. You also need to know when to ask for advice; for me that has been applicable to the business side, such as payroll and GST.

Training?

Domino's provided training for me in accounting and employment relations. There is a lot of in-house training at Domino's, including online training in areas such as food policies, making dough and washing hands.

Is the recession a problem?

No. In early April we set up a specific Domino's job website through which we advertised 500 jobs. While many companies have been laying off workers of late, we are crying out for staff from delivery drivers through to pizza-makers. People seem to be saving money by ordering in, rather than eating out.

What do you enjoy most?

I love how I keep growing and learning and that keeps me sparking. Everything changes continually. "More fun with us" has been proven true to me.

I really enjoy being part of a group working with the Hospitality Standards Institute (HSI) to improve the image of employment in fast food industries. I really like being able to have a say on how the sector is viewed and help with future developments.

Challenges?

A personal challenge is my way of learning. I'm not the quickest learner. I like to learn by doing it and looking at print-outs and graphs. I need to understand something thoroughly before buying into it.

The industry itself is challenging because it is so fast-paced. We're always keeping an eye out and researching for ways to be ahead of the game. External influences can also be a challenge, such as legislative changes like the minimum wage going up or restrictions on advertising.

Advice?

If you want something and feel passionate about it, do the research and go for it but don't set unrealistic goals. No one becomes boss after two weeks.

Your future?

Domino's has 9000 stores worldwide in 60 countries so it's a business that can take you around the world. I've lived in Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, Canberra and now Hamilton. I'd love to eventually work in Europe.