To think I shouldn't be sneered at for working at McDonald's?

[Dinkleberg]

Regular poster but NC for this. I have a degree. I did have a full time job related to my degree but unfortunately was made redundant whilst on mat leave in October last year (and wasn't entitled to redundancy pay as I'd been there less than 2 years). So when my mat pay ended last month I needed to find a job fairly swiftly! Unfortunately I couldn't find a job related to my degree and bills were piling up, so I applied for anything I could find, and McDonald's came up.

I got the job and am really enjoying it, its it's a 10 minute walk away, the hours fit in perfectly around my children and DHs hours (I do evenings and weekends) and of course it helps pay the bills and put food on the table! I'm starting my Masters in October and again the flexibility the job offers is good.

But recently I had a catch up/conversation with a friend who I hadn't seen for a few months. We talked about what we were doing now etc and when I mentioned I was working at McDonald's she seemed baffled and embarrassed for me? Said "But you have a degree so why are you working there?". When I said it was to pay the bills until I could complete my Masters, and that the hours were perfect for me in terms of childcare ect she was like "But surely anything is better than bloody McDonald's?"

Is working at McDonald's really something to be embarrassed about?? A job is a job surely? And said friend eats at McDonald's so surely she realises someone has to prepare and serve her food? I should say a lot of my colleagues are students.

I left the conversation feeling quite deflated 😞 I know I shouldn't care what others think but I do! Sometimes too much.

YANBU - she's being horrible and you shouldn't be sneered at
YABU - she has a point

There's nothing wrong with working for McDonald's. They have a really good career progression scheme.

I own a food business and my supervisor is ex McDonald's, she is amazing and I am happy to take full advantage of all the training she amassed there! There is absolutely no shame in working there, your friend is a horrible snob

Your friend is a snob, there's nothing wrong with working at mcdonalds

I worked at mcdonalds when I was a student. I enjoyed it, they were really flexible and the pay was above minimum wage. I'd happily work for them again if I left my current job.

A friend of mine worked at McDonalds, in theory until she finished her degree. But when she finished she liked it so much and loved the flexibility that she stayed there at least for a year more. Then she started studying a master, because entry level work from our degree paid less than McDonalds and with worse schedules.
Sadly we are not in touch anymore so I don’t know whether she even stayed after that. But she was quite happy and btw very happy about paid overtime and restaurant cleanliness.

When you've got bills to pay you take whatever job you can get and if it fits in with childcare and is flexible then great! I applied for all sorts of jobs last year when I needed extra income. I'd have done anything and I can't imagine anyone I know would have scoffed if I'd taken a job in McDonald's.

Of courde you shouldn't be sneered at for working at McDonald's. There are lots of perks and it's an honest day's work.

But, is it sensible to do a Masters while money is tight and if you already can't find a job in the field related to your degree? Will a Masters actually help that or will it put more financial pressure on you and take you out of the labour market for longer?

Proud that you chose to work instead of being snobbish about what you did. I really don't understand why people get snobby about jobs.

Well done you. I'm proud you got to work right away. That's exactly what I'm going to be doing very soon once these 3 babies grow a little.I also have qualifications but gave up job while having the kids and because in covid time aswell. But im more than happy to take any job that fits in with nursery. Luckily my family support anything I do. I have 4 friends with various qualifications after uni to trained to be vets there now working in lidls and morrisons there was no jobs for them. There both happy just to be earning and one feels like he wasted a lot of time incurring uni debt and not to become a vet anyway. You sound a great mum ignore what's said you know whats right for you 🙂🙂

@SpicedPumpkinLatte in order to really progress in my chosen field beyond entry level you need a Masters. Unfortunately Masters degrees are not like Bachelors, where tuition fees and maintenance fees are separate. You can get funding for a Masters but you're expected to both pay for tuition fees AND live off of the same lump sum. Obviously this amount is not a lot (I can get up to 11.5k but tuition fees are 9.5k) so to actually live and pay the bills DH and I both need to work whilst I'm studying. This is why the flexibility this job offers is so vital. I'm not out of the labour market as I'm currently working?

McDonald's crew work bloody hard!! What is your Masters in? McDonald's is a huge business not just restaurants. Head office have in house lawyers, marketing, HR, acquisitions surveyors, project managers, finance etc. There are many franchisees who started out flipping burgers too. Being crew can be a good foot in the door and way to show you understand the business at grass roots level. Depending what career you are trying to develop. This could actually help you!!

You’ve found a job that you enjoy and it’s on your doorstep with hours that work around your family. Absolute win!
You might even stay long term and progress up to management. You just never know.

Why should you work 30 minutes away in something you don’t really like and that is tricky to fit in around your family life? All to make you look “better”?

I bet she’s the type of person to moan about people who don’t work, isn’t she? Then sniggers at people who work at McDonalds. 🙄

Stick to your guns OP and don’t let her make you doubt yourself!

I'm similar to you. Have a degree and a professional career then got a job in a warehouse to tide me over when I was made redundant. I love it and don't think I'll ever go back to what i did before.

What a snob!

What matters is you and your family. I'm just leaving a long career due to the stress and unpaid overtime.

I will be looking at McDs or cleaning to fit round my life and to not have a job where employers take the piss.

If others don't like that, they need to take a long, hard look at themselves.

Good luck, it sounds ideal!

Yeah I know how funding for a Masters works. Wasn't suggesting you are currently out of the labour market, just whether the marginal gains of the Masters is worth not working full time.

@SpicedPumpkinLatte okay, apologies I wrongly assumed you didn't know how Masters funding worked. To me, yes. 😊

Recently, I heard a comment "nobody lives solely on Macdonalds food"

Many years ago, I worked for a short time at MDs & all employees were allowed free food at the end of their 8 hour shift

At the time, I rented a room, with no cooking facilities, so I did infact live on their food.

I replied, that not everyone has a family to go home to & a home cooked meal is provided

Op, there is no reason to be embarrassed
You are working & providing for your family

I hope in the future, that you will be able to use your degrees for a better career.

I hope that you look back on your time working at MDs with fondness.

My son works at McDonald's around his college course. He likes it, they pay really well for his age and its flexible. Some of his friends, who don't have jobs, have sneered at it. Nothing wrong with it at all.

Respect to you, OP. You're working and paying taxes and that should not be sneered at.

My son works in mcds and he gets paid more than me, above minimum wage. Also if he was to move away, he would have a job in mcds away. Can not fault it very flexible and my friends daughter works there and she is a trainer and gets paid extremely well.

F**king hate job snobs. They can get on the bin. You're working hard, contributing to society, doing a useful service, earning taxable income, looking after yourself and being happy. Good for you, you should feel proud, your friend should be ashamed.

I have heard good things about McDonald's. As a gap filler for you it sounds great. As a supported career path for my friends dd it is working out pretty well. But yeah, people do view it snobbishly, so you might want to look at career related alternatives like your last job for CV polishing during your Masters. Yes a job is a job, but some sectors that people view negatively (like fast food, gambling) can make later career moves harder. If you want a career with them, no problem.

Your friend is a snob.

You're working hard and providing for your family and that should be applauded.

I also hear they are a great employer and really invest in their staff.

OP Hold your head high and ignore your"friend". I'm always very impressed by the staff in Macdonalds. They work very hard under pressure and do their jobs well.
I met someone who recruited for them. She was prepared to give people who had faced challenges in their lives a chance to work for them. I admire that.

McDonald’s pay isn’t a lot different to supermarket work, do people get snubbed for working at Marks and Spencers?

It’s a job and it fits in around your life. I’ve actually heard that McDonald’s are good to work for and there is scope for promotion for those that want it.

I knew if a guy who worked for Burger King, he got promoted and is now fairly senior in the company.

When I go to McDonald’s occasionally, the staff are always nice and helpful, and they look like they’re having a good time.

I agree with Parisj and it can make it tricky for future career prospects depending on what you want to do. Is your friend not just wondering about the connection between your degree and the Macdonalds' job. My DH worked at Burger King when he was 19 and at Art college, I worked in quite a few jobs one being Boots as a 6th former and in uni holidays I worked in bars/cafes but I think people view it differently at that age. I'm not suggesting it is correct to do so but yes, when I was younger my Dad in particular wouldn't have expected me to be a bar person after I graduated from my Masters degree.