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I just got a job at McDonald's and started training yesterday. I'll be a regular crew member working in the service department (cashier, drive thru, fry station). For background, I'm a 23 year old college dropout living with my mom. Dropping out of college was not a choice as much of a necessity due to unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances. I almost chose to go back to college next year but decided to work instead in order to pay off some debt I've accumulated and save some money. I don't have a car so I had to choose somewhere close to home that I could get to by walking or riding my bike. McDonald's was actually my first choice. I thought it would be more interesting than the grocery stores or video store I also applied to. I worked at Arby's one summer in high school and I've decided that working in fast food isn't nearly as boring as some other jobs I've worked, like being a bellman or doing janitorial work.
After my first day of training yesterday, I'm quite pleased that I got this job and will be working at McDonald's. The people are friendly and enjoyable to be around. They provided 3 sets of shirts and pants for my uniform, so all I had to buy was a decent pair of black shoes that won't hurt my feet after standing up for 8 hours. I get $7.00 of free food everyday during my meal break. I have the option of signing up for health insurance immediately. After 1 year I get paid vacation and the option of starting a 401 (k). In short, it feels like McDonald's treats their employees very well, which was a bit of a surprise. I thought they would cut costs as much as possible in order to maximize profit. I'm starting at $8.00 an hour, which isn't a lot, but it's entry level, unskilled labor and I live in Kansas where the cost of living is very low. I can get up to a 35 cent raise every 6 months.
Compare this to Arby's. I got one shirt and had to provide my own pants. I only got half price food during my meal break. No paid vacation or health insurance or 401 (k). And the atmosphere was not always positive. I was a hard worker so the managers liked me, but there was drama between the managers and I think the newly appointed regional manager was on a bit of a powertrip. She would pencil in someone to work on their day off on the schedule after it was posted and then suspend them when they didn't show up because they didn't know they were supposed to come in. That almost happened to me once but I happened to check the schedule more than once that week and caught it.
Ultimately, I would like to finish college and design video games, but I think I will enjoy working at McDonald's for at least a year and possibly longer. I'm hoping to become a manager, which would be good work experience and would look good on a future job application. I'm not sure how long that will take. I'm sure I'll stand out just as I have with pretty much every job I've had due to my work ethic and intelligence. I was hoping a few months, but I think it may take longer. I really don't know. I'll have to come up with some good suggestions on how to improve something. If any of you guys go to McDonald's, let me know if you there are any things you like or don't like or have suggestions for improvements.
Cowpieguy
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Hi I like mcdonalds more than other fast food restaurants because it tastes less shitty. Also, the people who work there are pretty nice. I wish they would give me more cheese.
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Awesome, man. Good work and good luck with your future plans ^^.
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do you eat mcdonalds every day?
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I cannot actually believe I read this, I mean it's good that people will be satisfied with such bad working conditions... But I mean as a reference...
I work at iPhix for $18/h. I am 18, just finished high-school this year. The job itself includes free (paid) training, and all you do is sit on a chair all day, fixing phones as customers come in.
Good luck with your "career choice" either way.
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What is 401 k?
Also, this:
On July 04 2012 05:08 mizU wrote:
do you eat mcdonalds every day?
I guess it is hard to pass up the free food when you are trying to save some money and I guess you can get salad and stuff at McDonalds but let us know how long it takes to get sick of the food;)
Other than that, I can just say try not to forget about your plan to become a game designer.
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On July 04 2012 05:21 FiWiFaKi wrote:
I cannot actually believe I read this, I mean it's good that people will be satisfied with such bad working conditions... But I mean as a reference...
I work at iPhix for $18/h. I am 18, just finished high-school this year. The job itself includes free (paid) training, and all you do is sit on a chair all day, fixing phones as customers come in.
Good luck with your "career choice" either way.
Only so many such jobs exist. Not to mention that McDonald's in no way really constitutes bad working conditions. There are far worse jobs, mentally, physically, and financially. I think the people that really have a sheltered early life, or get a certain break/opportunity are far more critical of jobs like McDonald's, at least in my experience.
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A couple years ago I worked at an independently owned weinerschnitzel, and the best advice I can give you is to not start eating the food. It was about a year before i could manage to eat hot dogs again, and I still haven't gotten over my new revulsion of chili.
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On July 04 2012 05:25 divito wrote:Show nested quote +On July 04 2012 05:21 FiWiFaKi wrote:
I cannot actually believe I read this, I mean it's good that people will be satisfied with such bad working conditions... But I mean as a reference...
I work at iPhix for $18/h. I am 18, just finished high-school this year. The job itself includes free (paid) training, and all you do is sit on a chair all day, fixing phones as customers come in.
Good luck with your "career choice" either way. Only so many such jobs exist. Not to mention that McDonald's in no way really constitutes bad working conditions. There are far worse jobs, mentally, physically, and financially. I think the people that really have a sheltered early life, or get a certain break/opportunity are far more critical of jobs like McDonald's.
I suppose the average person wont think to look farther than some store relatively close to his house. There are so much jobs out there that you may not even realize exist. In Calgary online you can find some recruitment agencies that will drive you up North for example for work in the oil industry. With no experience being an adult you will have $25/h starting wage. NO EXPERIENCE no anything, all it requires is for you to be dedicated and show up to a few meeting they require you initially to know you mean business.
$8/h works out to be $320 week, assuming you don't pay any taxes with that salary, lets say that works out to be $16 640 a year. That is nothing, it doesn't let you achieve anything with your life, but with that much money it'd take you years to save up for your university if that was your only expense.
Maybe I value work more than I should, but if I was making $8/h I would do whatever it took to find a better paying job, as that's practically living in poverty. Go out of your way to reach your goals, don't settle for this.
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I'm going to find you and abuse your ability to buy half-priced items.
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On July 04 2012 05:36 FiWiFaKi wrote:Show nested quote +On July 04 2012 05:25 divito wrote:On July 04 2012 05:21 FiWiFaKi wrote:
I cannot actually believe I read this, I mean it's good that people will be satisfied with such bad working conditions... But I mean as a reference...
I work at iPhix for $18/h. I am 18, just finished high-school this year. The job itself includes free (paid) training, and all you do is sit on a chair all day, fixing phones as customers come in.
Good luck with your "career choice" either way. Only so many such jobs exist. Not to mention that McDonald's in no way really constitutes bad working conditions. There are far worse jobs, mentally, physically, and financially. I think the people that really have a sheltered early life, or get a certain break/opportunity are far more critical of jobs like McDonald's. I suppose the average person wont think to look farther than some store relatively close to his house. There are so much jobs out there that you may not even realize exist. In Calgary online you can find some recruitment agencies that will drive you up North for example for work in the oil industry. With no experience being an adult you will have $25/h starting wage. NO EXPERIENCE no anything, all it requires is for you to be dedicated and show up to a few meeting they require you initially to know you mean business. $8/h works out to be $320 week, assuming you don't pay any taxes with that salary, lets say that works out to be $16 640 a year. That is nothing, it doesn't let you achieve anything with your life, but with that much money it'd take you years to save up for your university if that was your only expense. Maybe I value work more than I should, but if I was making $8/h I would do whatever it took to find a better paying job, as that's practically living in poverty. Go out of your way to reach your goals, don't settle for this.
So the US equivalent would be going to the North Dakota oil fields and living&working in the middle of nowhere in a trailer? Those resource sector jobs do have their problems..
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Where do you live at in Kansas?
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On July 04 2012 05:36 FiWiFaKi wrote:
I suppose the average person wont think to look farther than some store relatively close to his house. There are so much jobs out there that you may not even realize exist. In Calgary online you can find some recruitment agencies that will drive you up North for example for work in the oil industry. With no experience being an adult you will have $25/h starting wage. NO EXPERIENCE no anything, all it requires is for you to be dedicated and show up to a few meeting they require you initially to know you mean business.
The reason the wage is so high is because of the conditions of that "no experience" job and its relation to regular life in general. I know many people that have been offered jobs or taken jobs in Alberta because of the pay and benefits, but it's precisely because of the surrounding conditions; personally, not something I'd be interested in.
Those businesses and jobs have to pay way above the average for that very reason. My dad was offered $120,000/year + fully paid living expenses to go work in Whitehorse (he's an accountant/controller). Something that, depending on the industry/company, generally pays anywhere from $60-100k in Ontario depending on scope and personal experience.
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My first job was at Maccas and I'll never forget some of the people I met. I'll always be grateful for experiences that job lead to, good and bad (good in disguise). Although you're not 15 like I was when I started working there, so you probably don't need to hear this, but, I implore you, please, do not eat the food, even if free.
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Calgary26003 Posts
McDonalds was probably the most fun I've ever had working. It was fast-paced and the people made it fun. Some days it was hard work and some days it was agonizing, but no job is perfect. Years later when I was trying to get my first job after graduation, interviewers were still commenting on having McDonalds on my resume as a sign of a good foundation.
Sounds like you're enjoying it. Hope everything works out well.
On July 04 2012 05:36 FiWiFaKi wrote:
I suppose the average person wont think to look farther than some store relatively close to his house. There are so much jobs out there that you may not even realize exist. In Calgary online you can find some recruitment agencies that will drive you up North for example for work in the oil industry. With no experience being an adult you will have $25/h starting wage. NO EXPERIENCE no anything, all it requires is for you to be dedicated and show up to a few meeting they require you initially to know you mean business.
Calgary is the hottest job market in Canada right now. Outside of niche fracking operations in the US, it might be the hottest job market in all of North America. So I think it's a little presumptuous and actually a little offensive to use that as a basis for job markets anywhere else, especially when the OP touches that there are other issues going on. You know what else you'll need to work in Calgary? A work permit! Great advice to give to an American...
On July 04 2012 05:36 FiWiFaKi wrote:
Maybe I value work more than I should, but if I was making $8/h I would do whatever it took to find a better paying job, as that's practically living in poverty. Go out of your way to reach your goals, don't settle for this.
This is good advice (although I don't know why you keep relating it to how amazing you are...). It's way easier to find work if you're already working. You should find when you apply somewhere and tell them you currently have a job but you're looking for something more challenging that it builds up a little credit for you.
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Calgary26003 Posts
On July 04 2012 05:44 brolaf wrote:Show nested quote +On July 04 2012 05:36 FiWiFaKi wrote:On July 04 2012 05:25 divito wrote:On July 04 2012 05:21 FiWiFaKi wrote:
I cannot actually believe I read this, I mean it's good that people will be satisfied with such bad working conditions... But I mean as a reference...
I work at iPhix for $18/h. I am 18, just finished high-school this year. The job itself includes free (paid) training, and all you do is sit on a chair all day, fixing phones as customers come in.
Good luck with your "career choice" either way. Only so many such jobs exist. Not to mention that McDonald's in no way really constitutes bad working conditions. There are far worse jobs, mentally, physically, and financially. I think the people that really have a sheltered early life, or get a certain break/opportunity are far more critical of jobs like McDonald's. I suppose the average person wont think to look farther than some store relatively close to his house. There are so much jobs out there that you may not even realize exist. In Calgary online you can find some recruitment agencies that will drive you up North for example for work in the oil industry. With no experience being an adult you will have $25/h starting wage. NO EXPERIENCE no anything, all it requires is for you to be dedicated and show up to a few meeting they require you initially to know you mean business. $8/h works out to be $320 week, assuming you don't pay any taxes with that salary, lets say that works out to be $16 640 a year. That is nothing, it doesn't let you achieve anything with your life, but with that much money it'd take you years to save up for your university if that was your only expense. Maybe I value work more than I should, but if I was making $8/h I would do whatever it took to find a better paying job, as that's practically living in poverty. Go out of your way to reach your goals, don't settle for this. So the US equivalent would be going to the North Dakota oil fields and living&working in the middle of nowhere in a trailer? Those resource sector jobs do have their problems..
From what I've heard, fracking in North Dakota is exactly like the Canadian oilsands were 8 years ago. Smallish towns overrun with people, impossible to get a hotel room or a place to live, overbooked camps, etc. It's a rich life but not an easy one. If I was back in 2006 I don't know if I would take a job in the oilsands...
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On July 04 2012 05:08 mizU wrote:
do you eat mcdonalds every day?
I don't eat much fast food in general. I'm sure I will bring my lunch sometimes as I try to stay healthy and not get fat. But I'm sure I will enjoy their salads and fruit smoothies quite often and sometimes indulge in a hamburger and fries. I really do not want to get fat.
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On July 04 2012 05:45 GoShox wrote:
Where do you live at in Kansas?
I live in Topeka, in the northeast, about an hour from Kansas City.
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Please get the orders right. At my McDonalds, (Mississippi) all of the employees are complete dicks and get your order wrong EVERY SINGLE TIME. They've lied before because it was late when asking for a milkshake (saying the machine was broken, I proved them wrong later on) and talk in a very unfriendly manner.
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EPT
