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

Absolutely nothing wrong with your job.

My friends daughter got a part-time job at McDonald's whilst at university and loves it, she's ended up being a shift manager and about to buy her first house.

A job is a job! Pays the bills.

YANBU @Dinkleberg I don't know why there's this horrible snobbery around people working in McDonald's. It's often from the same people who look down their nose at people who work in places like Premier Inn and Travelodge and Pizza Hut and Domino's. Or Poundland, or in factories etc etc. Anyone who sneers at you is NOT a friend.

McDonald's is actually a bit of an awesome place to work. The pay is decent, the hours flexible, the promotion prospects good, and the camaraderie and the social life is amazing. You get a card for 50% off for you and anyone that goes in with you, (when you're not working,) and while you're on the premises working, you actually get free food. It can add an extra 30 pounds a week to your wages in food saved.

I worked there for a short spell between jobs about 7 years ago. I think it was about 10 or 11 months on the lobby and I absolutely loved it. The only reason I left was that something came up that was more in line with what I've been trained to do/what my qualifications are in, and it was actually double the pay. So I did leave. Plus I can work from home in the job I'm doing. So as much as I liked working in Maccies, taking this job made more sense.

You're friend is a knob. Well done on the working/studying/kids, it sounds like you're doing great x

I worked there years ago and it was a pretty bloody amazing time to be alive.

I did get offered a spot on the graduate scheme but I needed a change at the time for various reasons.

A couple of friends stayed and progressed and are now extremely senior. Fair play to them.

It's a really flexible position especially if management can trust you to pull your weight.

YANBU. I worked in Greggs for a while when I was in a similar position to you and needed to earn money to live. (I hated it but that was because the manager was a nightmare, not because of the work itself!)
People were quite rude about it. The alternative was signing on which I didn't want to do at that time.

I'm on my 2nd stint at McDonald’s (I went back after having my children as childcare costs were crippling us) I've been back just over 4 years & I am now a shift manager. It's bloody hard work at times but it's so flexible, my store have accommodated my shift change requests to enable me to spend more time with my very young children & not having to find out of school childcare.
It can sometimes feel hard to feel pride in saying "I work at McDonald's" but at the end of the day, it puts food on the table & clothes on our backs & means that during school holidays I'm there to look after my kids & I can do both school runs. I feel very lucky that they are such an accommodating employer.

The MacJob is used culturally to describe a low paid, low skilled, dead-end role (the term came from 90's movie American Beauty.

Another poster mentioned the work hard at school or "You'll end up working in MacDonalds" school of thought amongst teachers, and parents and pupils too.

Another poster mentioned the teen insult "Your Mum works in MacDonalds".

I suspect that's why you get the gut reaction to MacDonalds and not KFC, Burger King etc.

This.

There is a stigma, but it's unjustified. I knew someone who worked there whilst getting their degree, stayed there and worked up the management scheme, they were happy and well looked after.

Some people just can't see past the end of their noses, unfortunately.

Its not really any of her business, but I think she was just surprised due to your previous experience and qualifications. If you are studying and bringing up kids the last thing you might need is an intense career.

I left a job in a bank and wiped arses in a care home so I could do my degree. A lot of people were shocked, but it was fine with me at the time. I met the father of my kids there, so it's a good job I did choose to work there!

If you are happy, it's nobody's business what you do for a living. Enjoying your job is half the battle, so you are lucky.

I'm a mature student I'll be looking at finding part time work come September when my youngest starts reception, think I'll take a look at Mc D's. Didn't realise they were such a good employer! Who cares what your friend thinks!

You enjoy it, it’s nearby, you can work around your kids needs and finish studying around it. It’s the perfect job! Just ignore the negativity and snobbery!

This.
Good for you OP. I often wish my job fitted better around the children.

I'm failing to see the shame in working to providing for your children, putting a roof over their heads and food on their plates, would this friend rather your children go without? She's a snob and needs to grow up.

My sister and her bf work and McDonald's and both love it, he also has a degree but couldn't find work in his field, so did exactly as you did and worked his way up to manager.

No one should be looked down on for what they do for a living, degree or no degree.

Hi I’ve worked for McDonalds for 7 years and I felt exactly the same it was a last resort and yes people did express humour at the fact I was working there at 40 alongside 16 year olds but I’m not the only older crew member people get over it especially when they realise I’m probably earning more per hour than they are!!! It’s so normal for people to see me there now so just go for it and use the flexibility to your advantage!!!

Well done for finding a job that pays the bills and that is so close to your home and gives you flexible hours.

Your ''friend'' is a snobbish idiot...

If I lost my office job tomorrow I would have no problem applying for jobs in retail/leisure/hospitality/care.

Flexibility is the most important aspect for me and a short commute so what you have sounds good to me!