To ask what it's like to work at McDonald's?

[rosesinmygarden]

DS is 17 and has an interview on Wednesday. It would be his first job. I suspect it's really hard work but reasonable pay.

Does anyone have experience of working there/teen working there?

Any tips for interview or thing to consider?

My ds has worked there 3 years through uni. They are great, all right pay, flexible with shifts. They are fine with doing less hours at exam times etc. they also transferred ds during hols so he could still work at local branch. They are also keen to train people up to team leader etc.

It has been for the last 20 years.

My friend has a mild learning disability. Was taken on by McDonalds 22 years ago after leaving school with 0 qualifications. She now has the equivalent of C grade GCSEs in Maths and English and a HND in business and service (or similar).

My son has a learning disability and he did catering at college in a lifestills course so doesn’t have any qualifications at all. McDonald’s were the only ones willing to give him a shot and place him within the business in a place that best suits his needs. He is great in the kitchen and doesn’t even mind cooking fries all day as he likes repetitive takes best but would be no good front of house so he always does either fries or batch cook. His contract is nil hours but as he has proven himself to be reliable he gets 5 x 8 hour shifts a week and as it is on the clock you get paid for every minute you are working if the shifts run over. He is on a better wage than retail and they other other incentives like employee of the month which he has won a couple of times when they give Amazon gift cards and other small gifts. Christmas he got free Christmas decorations and socks.He has been there 4 years now and I can see him being there at retirement as they are really good employers and don’t just play lip service the disability act unlike some.

This is brilliant to hear.

I've only ever heard good things about them as employers, it's nice to see that on this thread too.

I loved it. Made great friends give me a work ethic also I worked in 2 stores in uni one close to uni in term time and my home store on breaks. They where really flexible

THIS. ^ Saved me typing it all!

In addition, free food on your breaks, and a card for 50% off food (when you're not at work and you're going in with your family.) Good comradeship, good social life, good opportunities. I knew a woman in her mid 20s who had been there 5 years. She started as 'crew member,) and became Store Manager. She was on £42,000, at 26 years old, in Wolverhampton. (So not an expensive area.) This was ten years ago too. (Hopefully I'm right about the other stuff and they still offer it.)

And as above, kind to people with disabilities - customers AND staff!

I worked there in 6th form. We got an employee card to show when buying an extra value meal that got us a free ham or cheeseburger and a free meal each shift.

But I had a smell on me/in my hair that took all week to get off and by the time I did, it was time to go back (I did fri/sat/sun).

My friend used to work there and it was the best job she’s ever had.

Also I grew a lot of respect for them for closing down back in March 2020 before the furlough scheme was created. Shows they really care for their staff.

He might be on the grill as a New Starter, as my Son was on grill from Day One
He recently left, but that was his main task, the grill .
He said much the same, re the smell on the skin after a shift .
Works in a "Diner" now

Not sure if its been mentioned or even if its all Branches, but Son was paid every fortnight which He liked .

My son works at an out of town Mac Donald’s, good money, can do extra in the school hols, it is hard work but most jobs are. I would say avoid the in town locations as these attract the drunks and I can I imagine that can be rather challenging. Good job tho for a student.

I did the breakfast shift at McDonald's through uni. Loads of students did, good pay, flexible hours, free food. A few of my friend did the management training and ended up as shift managers so it was a good thing to put on cv when finished uni

There is a really great ask me anything on here where the poster works for McDonald's and tells you everything you need to know. Sorry, can't link to it at the moment.

I've never worked at McDonald's but both DH and I worked at KFC for a while when we were younger. I made some of the most wonderful, lifelong friends there and probably stayed longer than I should have due to them.
The main downside of fast food working in my opinion is the customers. You'd often get spoken to like a brain-dead moron. Ironically, most of my colleagues were at uni studying for their masters in some really complex scientific subjects.

Fine for young people. You wouldn't want to be supporting a family on that job though. DH found it depressing while he was there.

DD works there, and has learned a huge amount. They get good training, exposed to a lot of different jobs and roles, and see how a team works. It is very full on with zero down time. As usual in customer facing businesses, you can meet some awful awful customers. I think it has made her grow up a lot!

As usual with interviews at that young age, you really need to appear confident, capable, friendly (even if you are not!!) and working together in a team.

I worked there over 20 years ago when I was in 6th form. It was hard work but I made loads of friends, the pay was okay and free food... Honestly I look back on it quite fondly now. I wouldn't want to do it as an adult but for teens I'd say why not.

DH worked at MDs for a while (the big one at Liverpool St) when he was a student. It was reasonably hard and busy work, but the team spirit was good and MDs were a (surprisingly?) good employer. The big issue all of the staff had was customers in that neck of the woods who at times (particularly at night) could turn into the rudest, racist sometimes aggressive people possible. And these were often men and women in suits from their day jobs in the city. Certainly a learning experience.

Thanks everyone. This all sounds very positive and helpful too!

I'll pass it all on to DS.

If it's any use I specifically appointed an interviewee because he had worked in McDonalds and done some management training. It was a completely unMcDonalds job - more appropriate to his university degree - but I was impressed with the work ethic.

My friend started at the bottom with them after dropping out before his GCSEs, worked his way up to manager, stayed with them for years on a decent wage and has now transferred his skills to some kind of regional management role with Aldi earning a lot more than me (and a lot of our other friends).

A friend of my exH worked at McDs when he was 16. He hung onto the job all through his A levels, and transferred to a branch near our uni after that. He ended up as a part-time store manager, then after graduating, he went to work in the corporate side, and FLEW up the ranks. Last I heard, he was still with them and pretty damn senior, heading up a global division or something similar.

Not bad for a McJob....

On the flip side, another friend of mine worked for them during his A levels and was sacked for having the wrong attitude and bringing a packed lunch every day. Hes quite proud of that now.

😆

He wasn't sacked for bringing a packed lunch. Publicly criticising the products he was being paid to sell, maybe.