Looking for new employment? Think McDonald’s might be a good fit? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through all of the steps to finding, applying for, and interviewing for a McDonald’s job.
I’ll also tell you the best way to fill out your McDonald’s job application, with insider tips to boost your chances of getting a McDonald’s job.
Looking for Specific Information About a McDonald’s Job?
How to Find a McDonald’s Job in Your Area
How to Submit Your McDonald’s Application
The #1 Tip for Making Your McDonald’s Application Stand Out
How to Rock Your McDonald’s Job Interview
Key Tips for Starting Your McDonald’s Career
How to Find a McDonald’s Job in Your Area
The first step to getting a McDonald’s job is to find a McDonald’s location near you that is hiring. McDonald’s careers website will help you do that in just a few simple steps.
First, you need to decide if you’re interested in working in a McDonald’s restaurant or in a corporate office. There are far fewer corporate McDonald’s jobs, and those typically require specialized skills. In this article, I’ll be outlining how to get a McDonald’s restaurant job, since those are the more commonly available McDonald’s jobs. However, much of the advice will be applicable to applying for a corporate McDonald’s job as well.
To find a restaurant job, you need to start by visiting MyLocalMcDs.com and selecting your state and city:
Once you select your state and city, the website will pull up a map showing your nearest McDonald’s and will let you know what jobs are available in that area:
Click on view all jobs to see the types of jobs currently available:
Most McDonald’s jobs available are categorized as Maintenance, Management, or Crew:
- Maintenance workers are responsible for cleaning, taking out the trash, unloading delivery trucks, and changing light bulbs.
- Crew members are responsible for “greeting customers with a smile,” taking customer orders, and arranging customer order.
- The management team is responsible for overseeing all of the restaurant employees and making sure the restaurant runs smoothly.
Consider which McDonald’s job you’re most interested in and which job most matches your personality and former job experience. Do you like interacting with people or working alone? If you like interacting with people, you might be interested in being a crew member or manager. If you prefer solitary work, you might prefer a maintenance McDonald job.
Do you have previous work experience? Have you worked in sales or in a job that required teamwork? If yes, you should apply to be a crew member or manager. Have you worked in cleaning, been a handyman, or done janitorial work? If yes, you should maybe apply to work in maintenance.
Have you managed people before? If yes, you should consider applying for a management position. If not, you may want to apply for a crew or maintenance position to start and consider trying to move up to management later on.
Once you see the available job opportunities, click on the “Apply Now” link beneath the job you’re most interested in.
This will take you to the job application.
How to Submit Your McDonald’s Application
In this section, I’ll walk you through the steps of filling out a McDonald’s application. When you click “Apply Now,” you should be transferred to this page:
Don’t worry about filling in the Promotion Code box, it should automatically fill in with a unique code that represents the job you’re applying for at that specific McDonald’s location near you. Simply click submit on this page.
Personal Information
You’ll then be asked to enter your basic personal information.
Note: You will not be able to apply for a McDonald’s job unless you have a social security number (SSN). If you don’t have a social security number but are legally allowed to work in the US, learn about getting a SSN here.
Complete all of the information on this page. You do not need to have an email to apply for a job at McDonald’s. If you do not have an email, you can simply enter no@email.zzz in the email field. Once you’ve entered all of the information, click submit.
Special Accommodations
You’ll then be asked if you need a special accommodations to complete the application (for example if you have difficulty typing or reading).
If you do not need an accommodation, simply click continue. If you do need assistance, then follow the instructions on the page, and do not continue the application. You’ll have to stop and wait for McDonald’s to send you different application.
Double Check Job Location
The next page simply asks you to confirm that you’re applying to the right McDonald’s location. The page will give you the address of the McDonald’s you’re applying to. If the address is correct, then continue. If the address listed is not where you meant to apply, then go back to MyLocalMcDs.com to select another location.
Work Availability
The next step in the application process will ask for some additional basic information (current address) and will ask your work availability and desired hours.
The more flexible your schedule is, the more likely McDonald’s will be able to offer you a job. Therefore, make sure to check off as many shifts as you could work to give yourself the best chance of getting a job.
Let’s say McDonald’s is only trying to find someone to cover Breakfast (5 am to 10:30 am) 7 days per week (a total of 38.5 hours). If you’ve checked off that you have the ability to work full-time or part-time and are free anytime 24 hours a day 7 days a week to work, then you can work this job. If you didn’t select any morning shifts and only said you could work lunch or dinner shifts, then you wouldn’t be considered for this job.
Be honest when you say what hours you can work. If you’re in school or have another job, make sure to double-check those schedules before filling out your shift availability on the McDonald’s application.
Once you’ve filled out all the information on this page, click “Continue.”
Education and Previous Job Experience
The next step in the McDonald’s job application process is to list your education and job. Try to be as detailed as possible. For example, in the education section, list any relevant classes: i.e. business, leadership, economics, etc.
Leave sections blank that don’t apply to you. For example, if you’ve never had a job before, you can leave, the entire employment background information section blank and simply click continue.
Note: If you’ve had an unpaid internship or done unpaid volunteer work, you can and should list that under employment background information. Some experience, even unpaid, looks better than no experience. That being said, even if you have no experience (unpaid or paid), don’t be discouraged: McDonald’s will still consider you.
If you have been previously employed, under reason for leaving, try to be as positive as possible. McDonald’s employers likely don’t want to hear “my job was boring” or “I disliked my co-workers/boss. McDonald’s whole business brand is focused on happiness (think of their slogans “I’m lovin’ it” or “Put a smile on”). They want to hire positive people, so try to be as positive as possible in your responses.
Even if you hated your previous job, try to come up with a good spin on why you left. “I decided to focus on my education/I wanted to spend more time with my family/I needed a more flexible schedule/etc.”
Criminal History
In the next section of the application, you’ll be asked if you have been convicted, plead guilty or plead no contest to a crime in the last five years (excluding misdemeanors and traffic violations). You’ll also be asked if you’ve ever been a registered sex offender. If the answer to both of these questions is no, then simply say no, and click continue.
If the answer to one or both of these questions is yes, then check to see exactly what you’re required to disclose. On the page, it tells you that in certain cities and states, you don’t need to answer these questions. For example, if you’re applying to a McDonald’s in San Francisco, then you don’t have to answer these questions.
However, in other cities/states, you are required to answer these questions. Check on the page to see what’s required in your area. Answer accordingly, then click continue.
Sign
After submitting this information, you’ll then be asked if anyone referred you to this job. If a friend/former co-worker/classmate told you to apply, then put their name down. If they vouch for you, then they can help you better your chances of getting the job. That being said, if you don’t have anyone to refer you, don’t worry! It’s not a requirement for employment.
On the bottom of the page, you have to electronically sign to confirm that all the information you wrote on your application is factually correct. Once you’ve signed you’re almost done with your application!
Personality Test
The final step in the McDonald’s application is essentially a personality test. You’re given a series of statements, and you have to decide which one you agree with more. It can feel a bit frustrating because the two statements often have nothing to do with each other. For example, one statement will say, “I’m good at making friends,” and the other will say, “I work hard.” Obviously, both of those things can be true about you but you have to pick the one you agree with more (or even slightly more).
When approaching these statements, try to get into the mindset of a potential employer. You’re being asked these questions so that McDonald’s can gain some insight into what kind of employee you’d be.
To an employer, “I’m good at making friends” could indicate you’ll be good at talking to customers, but it could also suggest you’ll be distracted chatting with your fellow co-workers. “I work hard” suggests that you’re a hard worker who will be focused on the job and reliable. I think that’s the slightly better answer to choose.
Once you complete the personality and click submit, you’ll get a confirmation that your application has been submitted.
The #1 Tip for Making Your McDonald’s Application Stand Out
I’ve mentioned a couple tips as I walked you through the steps of filling out the application, but I just want to reiterate them here. The number one tip for making your McDonald’s job application stand out is being positive.
When you’re listing your education and job experience, be positive. Tell them about any applicable classes you took: business, family and consumer sciences, etc. Tell them about any job you’ve had, including unpaid internship and volunteer work. Put a positive spin on why you left your previous jobs. For example, “I wanted to focus on school/my family” or “I needed more flexible hours.”
Try not to be negative: “I hated my co-workers.”
If you know anyone who works at McDonald’s, ask them if they’ll refer you. Having a referral from someone who already works at McDonald’s can help your chances of getting an interview.
When answering the personality test, think positive, and think about the McDonald’s brand that sells happiness and smiles. Try to avoid selecting answers that might make you sound unfriendly or unmotivated. For example, if you had to choose between the statements, A: “I easily make conversation with strangers” or B: “If I don’t want to do something, I usually try to pass the task to someone else.” Statement A would be the better choice because B makes it seem like you’re a little lazy while A makes you seem friendly.
How to Rock Your McDonald’s Job Interview
The key to rocking your interview and kick starting your McDonald’s career is preparation. You’re already off to a good start by reading this article. I’ve combed through the Internet finding every bit of information about the McDonald’s interview process, so I can teach you how to ace it.
Interview Questions
Let’s start by reviewing the typical questions you might be asked in your McDonald’s job interview:
- What days and hours are you available to work?
- Do you have reliable transportation?
- Why do you want to work here?
- What’s one reason I should hire you?
- How long do you expect to work here?
I recommend that you write out an answer to each question ahead of time, so you’re prepared to respond to each question. Again, think positively. When answering “why do you want to work here?,” have something more to say then “I need the money” (because everyone who is applying needs the money).
If you’re in school or hoping to go back to school, a good response could be “I love the flexibility the job allows for school, and I love that the company has programs to support employees in school.” Another good response could be “I love the team environment between the employees, and I love interacting with customers, so it seemed like a good fit.”
Interview Attire
When interviewing for any job, I’d always recommend dressing similarly to how they dress in the office or slightly nicer than they dress in the office. Using that logic, if a typical McDonald’s employee wears slacks with a collared shirt and dark colored sneakers or work shoes, then you should wear this same outfit or something slightly nicer. A McDonald’s employee said she “wore a blouse, slacks, and flats” to her interview, which sounds perfect.
Overdressing is better than underdressing. You might be a bit out of place wearing a suit and tie to your McDonald’s interview, but it’s better than wearing basketball shorts and a T-shirt.
McDonald’s Employee Advice
Now, I’m going to share some interview advice from some McDonald’s employees:
Crew Member: “Was super nervous cause this was my first interview (I’ve had volunteer work and freelance jobs but nothing steady). Arrived 10 minutes early, manager introduced himself and told me to have a seat and wait. He apologized for the wait… [was] really friendly. He asked really straightforward questions and took notes; mostly about my availability. Brought a folder with a resume and pen, he said it wasn’t necessary but still looked at it. Overall interview lasted about 10 minutes, told me I was hired and could start orientation next week and to bring my ss card and ID. “
Even though the employer said that bringing a resume wasn’t necessary, bringing the resume showed she was prepared and professional. I’d recommend bringing one copy of your resume if you have access to a printer, since it’ll show you prepared for the interview.
Crew Member: “During the interview they will ask the most common interview questions. As long as you have good eye contact and a friendly personality you will most likely be hired. The managers are not looking for shy and unenthusiastic people. You need to be friendly and outgoing to work here.”
As I’ve said, McDonald’s is all about positivity. If you want a McDonald’s job, then you need to seem friendly and outgoing.
If being talkative or making eye contact is difficult for you, then practice before your interview. Ask a friend or family member to do a mock interview with you using the interview questions above. Have them ask you the questions, and answer them as if you were in the real interview. It’ll help you get prepared and make you feel more confident.
Summary: Key Tips for Getting a McDonald’s Job
- You can find a McDonald’s job near you at theMcDonald’s careers website.
- To find and apply for a McDonald’s restaurant job, you will need to visit my local McDonald’s website.
- There are three main types of McDonald’s careers: Maintenance, Management, or Crew.
- Select the job you’re most interested in and that best matches your personality/prior work experience.
- On the McDonald’s job application, you’ll need to submit basic personal information, work availability, education history, former employment history, and criminal history. You’ll also be given a personality test.
- To make your application stand out, be as positive as possible, and try to get a friend/family member/classmate to refer you to work for McDonald’s.
- To rock your interview, prepare your answers to the questions in advance, dress appropriately, bring your resume, and smile!