So I have a McDonalds Application in front of me - do I fill it out?

[GeorginaA]

Just how bad is a McJob going to be?

Some background - dh has lost a contract via his second (from home) job which has left us extremely tight for cash. Looking at various ways around it - I can't go back to "normal" work as I wouldn't earn enough to cover childcare which seems rather pointless all round, especially as I want to be at home if I possibly can before ds2 goes to school.

So that leaves only evenings to work in and as most of us have found out, there's not an awful lot of choice.

So do I fill out this application? Will it be dire, or will it be a lot better than I expect? Does anyone work for McDs or has done in the past that can give me a clue if this is a good route or not? My main concern is that I'll be under pressure to do extra hours outside of the times I'm able to work. My secondary concern is smelling of chip fat all the time

Thoughts?

How about a job in a care home? My Mum did this for a bit and loved it.

Do you get your local paper? Part time jobs are often advertised in there rather than at the job centre etc.

Oh, and sorry, but I can't help it...

What do you say when you meet an Astrophysics Graduate?

Big Mac & Fries please

I'm in Worcester - not terribly far flung I know, but last time I worked I was in Croydon - knew the lay of the land better and could pretty much walk into any temp agency and find something. I'm out of practise, basically!

I would say go for it - what have you got to lose.
I've never worked there but my eldest dd worked part-time while at school and, much to her surprise, she actually enjoyed it.
I think a lot depends on what your workmates are like and also what your managers are like - apparently McDonalds are a franchise so the owners of the individual restaurants can probably vary quite a lot in how they treat their staff.
Agree with the smelling of chip fat, my dd stank like a burger whenever she finished work. It did wash off though

OI Cheesy.... rude woman

Local paper has had nowt suitable for weeks - been checking.

I think you are more likely to get put upon working in a pub tbh

my dd and her partner both work in pub kitchens and there is lots of pressure to work more/different/unpredictable hours and she smells of fat and meat..but she likes it (and she has a toddler so it is her "proper" work rather than student job) But appalling pay

I know at least one person who did well with mcDonalds rising up through management so there are possibilities

Good Luck

Oh and I just remembered, a friend of mine did meals & wheels and helping disabled and elderly people get to bed in the evenings, I believe she worked 6-10 a few evenings a week and one day every other weekend. Might be worth asking your local council about something along those lines.

What is "normal" work, Georgina? Is there nothing related to what you've done available in the evenings.

I have done lots of evening jobs without having to resort to McDs. I don't get the impression you're convinced!

she likes the work not smelling greasy !

meals on wheels even

other out of hours work

call centres
cinemas/theatres
bowling
golf clubs

Gillian - used to work in Customer Services/Demand Management (not call centre). Grew to hate it though, so wouldn't really want to go back. Equivalent jobs here to what I was doing before, even full time wouldn't cover the childcare, and only call centre work seems to be available in the evenings.

What about doing Body Shop parties at home or something similar. Then you could work the evenings that suit you and the initial outlay isn't too much.

Have done a well known catalogue before, Bogwobbit and didn't last much beyond 3 weeks. I really wouldn't like to do ANYTHING that involved initial outlay ever again. I found it REALLY hard work and much much less than minimum wage for the hours involved (obviously can't comment on Body Shop as I didn't work for them, but once burned and all that).

Call centre's not so bad. Not all pushy outbound sales!

I have done care work as has been suggested and really enjoyed it. Not in a care home, but visiting people in their own houses to help with meals, put to bed, etc. There are lots of agencies who do this. Have a look in Yellow Pages under Nurse's Agencies if that interests you. I also worked in out of hour call centre for the same homecare company and have recently started a job with NHS24 (Scottish equivalent of NHS Direct).

Of course if you want to work for McDs don't let me put you off!

I wouldn't dream of working in McD's but if I was really really strapped for cash I might (big might tho) consider it. Would be a last resort though.

Just out of interest - how much is their hourly rate?

I started workiing 3 weeks ago on a casual basis (so hours to suit me) in a cafe of a local leisure centre. Extremely busy, friendly, hard work but I do the hours I want, which happen to be 4 til 9pm, I'm in charge of the cooking and preparing of meals once a week and I can cover if I'm needed but can say no without feeling bad as I am on a casual basis only. It pays £6.00 per hour which is more than my local Tesco.

I can type. I do some copywriter work but it's a bit thin on the ground at the moment - it's also not consistent enough - we need a fairly "guaranteed" monthly income at the moment just to cover the bills and be able to put some aside for things like birthdays and christmas.

FioFio - yes I realise that - but at least applying is better chance than not even trying and just letting debts mount up, surely? But feel free to laugh away if it makes you feel better

Gillian: flipping burgers would actually be preferable to me ever picking up a phone ever again - I have phone phobia from my last customer services job

go for it

off licences off evening work too

I worked at McD's when I was at uni - nothing wrong with it, the boss was pleasant, the uniform free and you got a free meal (seems less attractive now than it did then!).
I think they even have reasonably good career prospects - one the girls on my course at uni became a manager whilst I worked there (she'd been with them during the 6th form too).
The hourly rate is low of course, but it's better than nothing. I'd work there again if I had to.

Sorry Fio It's tooo hoooooot here and I'm not reading straight

Actully, when I recruited staff for a retail firm, it used to be quite hard to get people in, so it's always worth applying.

Care work seems a good option.

Have you tried the cinema? The Odeon? Coming up to the summer holidays they will be probably looking for some flexible employees.

Give me your email address and I will give you more details if you are interested. I am just finding out for you if there are any vacancies with the GM (friend of mine). If you are not interested, its not a problem.

Good luck job hunting x

"probably looking for some flexible employees"

Ah, but it's the employer I need to be flexible - I'm very inflexible (i.e. weekday evenings only)