To get a job at McDonald's/retail just to meet new people and make some friends?

[mcdonaldsme]

I run a small business part time, waiting for DS to start school in September so I can do it full time. In the meantime, I really want to get a job retail, McDonald's anything not for the money, but just to meet new people and make some new friends.

I feel so lonely, I have zero friends and no social life outside home/kids. Has anyone applied for a job for the same reason?

I used to work in shops when I was a teenager and I have fond memories of the all the friends I made, but lost contact because I moved/life happened.

My local McDonald's is hiring btw.

If it's not for the money, have you considered volunteering? Perhaps in a charity shop? I'd really recommend trying it, even if just for 2 hours a week. You could meet some lovely people.

I've heard that McDonald's are good employers actually, so I would say go for it - assuming everything will still be up and running in the short term.

Personally I would hate a job dealing with the public! I admire people who work in those jobs and are able to keep smiling.

I wouldn't open with that at the interview!

Working in retail is a really good way to meet people. I’ve made lifelong friends through my old jobs etc. However it largely depends on luck, if you end up with a good team or not. Currently I’m back in retail after a break from my ‘real’ job as the hours suit family life better, and while my team is lovely I don’t really have anything in common with any of them. They’re nice to socialise with at work but not really people I could spend huge amounts of time with socially if that makes sense. If you took a job at McDonald’s it’s likely the majority will be young people. So unless you’re still into clubbing etc you’d be better off applying to like a supermarket or somewhere with a varied range of ages. Good luck!

How much time will you actually have to spend with people? At McDonalds I see them rushing around all the time. Maybe visit and see whether there are any workers your age. The demographic of workers may have changed. If not would younger colleagues get to know you as a friend or just a colleague?

You'd have to work weekends.

Hobbies are a better way to socialise, then everyone there is interested in the same thing

I have worked in retail and retail management for a long time and haven't maintained a relationship outside work with anyone

I’ve just quit my ‘make friends’ job as I literally made no friends. I ended up resenting everyone there, and found it hard to leave the house in the end for the hassle and low pay. I’m enjoying working from home with no stress and no drama. The grass is always greener.

The shifts might be a problem.
My DS ( 20yo at University) works P/T at a fast food retail , if he wants to change a shift he has to ask his collegues to swap.

He sometimes does a late shift , finishing at after 11pm........ he's within a 10 minute walk.
You'd have to allow clearing up and getting home .

(And bear in mind some customers are really unpleasant !..
MNetters who work in retail don't call them cuntstomers for nothing )

I worked in (supermarket) retail through my late teens and 20s and made some friends for life and have amazing tales to tell from my time there. I genuinely loved it and have very fond memories.

As someone else said - it very much depends on the people you work with as you could do the same job with 2 different sets of people and love it or hate it.

Unless you need the money, I'd look at volunteering.

Especially in the current climate as if the over 70s do end up isolating, that's a massive part of the volunteer workforce gone.

Do whatever makes you happy. Life is short.

I think hobbies are better. Although my experience of retail jobs is pretty bad.

Does your local area have a couch to 5k? (Or running club if you’re already a runner!). Obviously with everything that’s going on they might not be going much longer but definitely something to consider.

Or you could do gym classes/ dog walking groups/ slimming world (if you want to lose any weight obviously)/ Or use Mum aps like mush or see if your local area has a Facebook page for Mums.

What's the demographic of the staff like? If it's younger people then you won't necessarily make friends, especially if you don't need the money.

It can be lonely in work, if you are different from your coworkers.

I'd suggest volunteering, as said. Pick something that you are interested in and you might find common ground to build a friendship on.

There's loads of local volunteer groups springing up. Would you do dog walking? People talk to you when you have a dog with you.

I don't need to work but have a job in a women's fashion chain.. I love it and have made friends.. it's so good to chat to people and get out the house .. retails can be harsh but I'd suggest something you are interested in rather than Mac Donald's as there won't be time to chat plus they will be young mostly .

I work in retail, always have.
My colleagues are mainly late teens, they are lovely and we get along great, but it’s a work relationship. I’m interested in their lives and they in mine, but as a 40+ mum my life is very different. They aren’t my friends.
Having said that, if you just want to break up the monotony there’s usually someone to have a random chat with.
The customers are the problem, especially at the moment. I could happily work in retail forever were it not for the public.
My volunteering is where I have my friends. That’s where I would start, retail is constantly changing and hard to fit around family life in particular.

You might as well try it. I did exactly that- got a part-time job in retail just because I wanted to get out of the house. I figured if it didn’t work, I could just quit. As it turns out, I absolutely love it and it’s turned my life around.

I did try volunteering first and I enjoyed it at first but it started to feel like a chore after a while. The obligation was too much- feeling like I was letting people down if I didn’t give more and more of myself to the cause. I don’t get that pressure in my job.

I probably got lucky with a great team and a wonderful manager, but you might find luck too!

Pub work might be an option

McDonald's is a great company to work for. Go for it.

I worked in a pub when I separated from my dh as he'd alienated me from any friends I had, it was a great place to socialise and meet new people. Pick a more local type pub than a town one as you get more regulars and get to know people rather than having folk who just go in once in a while with mates

Places that still have libraries often need volunteer staff to help with story reading, IT support etc could this be an option? There are also homeless charities that often need support staff or places that help refugees etc with basic living skills and English language. If it's paid employment then Care Work could be an option though often long shifts, supermarkets seem to have a wide range of ages, or possible Market Research ( The ones you get in the streets asking you to smell laundry powder or whatever for £3/ a bar of chocolate).

You'll be hard-pushed to get a job in retail or pub work. Many businesses will be going bust...

Retail hours are rubbish if you need to work around school hours. One of my DDs works in a leading ladies wear shop in a big shopping centre and she's often working till 6pm/9.30pm or 11pm and they always want you in at weekends. A friend works in a big chain supermarket and shifts for her are either 8 until 4 or 10 til 6. You don't often get to pick and choose what you want.

PP suggestion about volunteering is a good one as you can be more picky about hours.

What ever you choose to do, have a look at the other people there. Do you expect to have things in common with them? Are they friend material?

Hobbies, classes, volunteering can be better ways of meeting "your people".

Has your area got any small business networks / support groups you could get involved with?

When I was younger and worked in retail, I found I made lots of friends and we used to hang out after work etc. But I went back to retail briefly after my DS was born, and the social aspect definitely wasn't there. I mean, I chatted to the other mums in the staff room and occasionally while stocking shelves, but it was harder to click with people and get to know them. I think it gets harder in general as you get older, plus you have to get lucky with your team.

Plus, if you work in retail, even very part-time, you end up having to do shite shifts like boxing day and at least one short shift each weekend.

As PP said, charity shop or voluntary work is probably better. Or find some social groups. Someone in our small town posted on the local Facebook page that she's mid-30s and looking for friends, and they ended up starting an entire separate FB group for drinks, brunches, dog walking etc. I plan to join in, once this isolation thing is over.