Sons McDonalds interview.

[frazers mum]

My DS 16 has two interviews next week with two McDonalds. I've heard good, but mainly bad
Experiences from other young people taking it on as their first part time job. Has anyone got any advice on working for the company. ( Good or bad)

[PoohBears#1fan]

DD worked in her local Mc Donalds during her 1st year of Uni, I'm afraid there's not much positive to say, the rostering often ignored her uni timetable which they'd acknowledged at interview, the final straw for her was when she was unwell and vomited at work and they insisted she stayed... handling food!

I've never been a fan of their food, but that put me off for life!

On the plus side, there was never any issues with paying on time etc.

[danisleigh]

My son has worled there since last October just after he turned 16 and loves it. The pay is good for his age and he has had a payrise already and they were fab with him when he had 6 weeks off for his liver transplant. There are loads of other young people work there and he has made loads of friends and expanded his social circle which is good. My son has the total opposite experience regarding illness and they insist you do not go to work if you are poorly as you are working with food and the public. Overall all very positive for our local one but they are all franchises so I assume some good and some bad.

[dubletrub]

My DD did 6 months at McDonald's and she loved it, she only left as DS is a supervisor at Primark and when they where advertising he let her know, they pay over £7 per hour for 16/17 year old, MacDonalds paid around £5.30 per hour so she moved for more money and the shifts where better.
The MacDonalds managers would not let people work until 48 hrs clear of D&V bugs where my daughter worked. She was sad to leave there.

[JoeA]

I worked there as my first job 12 years ago. I was there for 6 months while I was in sixth form.

As first jobs go, working for a large brand is definitely an advantage, it meant they were much more accommodating with my sixth form timetable, I think I worked one evening and Saturday.

Comparing to other positions available to me at the time time this was a better option for me, the alternative being slow and mundane (in my opinion) retail work, McDonald’s is fast paced, the shifts go quickly, and some of my friends were there.

All in all, don’t expect any long term development (which truly exists) unless you go to full time and show intent on staying even after your studies (people really do it, one of my friends stayed and became a franchising manager working all over the world).

This is my final point, McDonald’s is a franchise business, some are owned by them but most are franchised. Although it is one of the most comprehensively franchised stores in business, there will still be room for some movement in their management practices, e.g. one store may be more accommodating than others for your sons rota.

The best bet therefore, is have a list of questions for them at interview. Interviews are always working out if the business is a fit for you, not just if you are a fit for them.

[Snowball24]

Hi my 17 year old started there in April, he doesnt love it but he sees it as his first job to get on the ladder so to speak. He normally does 6.30-,10.30 Tues and Wed evenings, he is currently applying for another job but Mcd is a good start I guess.

[BevS97]

I worked at McDonalds in the mid 80s. I imagine a lot has changed but it was a good company to work for at the time.

[SimonB]

I think much of it depends on each individual branch as to how he will find it. I think a lot of them are franchises?

[Magic Mouse]

My DS worked there for 18 months while he was at college and never complained, DD on the other hand hated it and lasted about a fortnight (she’s now working at Build a Bear which is much more her thing)

[JLH]

My middle son had his first job there and did really well and enjoyed it . It was hard work and he had some awful experiences with customers but I think it made him a more confident person. He became a crew trainer after a few months and I am sure he would have progressed to management had he not decided he fancied being an estate agent !