What do McDonald's restaurants look for in crew members?
McDonald's says its mission is to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone, and it names five core values: community, inclusion, family, service and integrity. The company also says Ray Kroc's original commitment to quality, service, cleanliness and value has endured. Crew interviews usually come back to those basics: are you friendly with customers, careful with food and cleanliness, honest, and dependable on a fast-moving team?
A short answer to "Tell me about yourself" that covers reliability and teamwork goes a long way.
I'm a high school junior, and I've helped run the concession stand at our football games for two seasons. It gets busy fast, so I've learned to stay calm, keep my area clean and help wherever the line is longest. I'm looking for a job where I can learn new skills and work with a good team.
What does the McDonald's hiring process look like?
McDonald's restaurant jobs are listed on McHire, where a virtual recruiting assistant named Olivia helps you search for jobs and walks you through the application. McHire says some restaurants can schedule your interview during the application if you qualify. Many restaurants are run by independent franchisees, and McHire notes that at a franchised restaurant, the franchisee is your employer, not McDonald's, and handles hiring and scheduling. That means interview style, pay and training details can vary by location, so ask the restaurant directly.
Thank you for meeting with me today. I'm excited about the crew position, and I can start as soon as you need me. My availability is weekdays after 4 p.m. and all day on weekends.
How would you handle a rush at the drive-thru?
Show that you stay accurate and friendly under pressure. Our cashier interview quiz has more rush-hour scenarios.
At the concession stand, the line got long at halftime every game. I repeated each order back before we made it, so we didn't waste food on mistakes, and I kept a smile on even when people were impatient. Getting it right the first time was faster than fixing it later.
How would you handle an unhappy customer?
Managers want to hear that you listen, apologize and fix the problem quickly, without arguing.
If a customer said their food was cold, I'd apologize, get them a fresh order as fast as possible, and thank them for telling me. I wouldn't argue about whether it was hot when it left the kitchen. A quick fix usually turns an upset customer into a returning one.
How do you keep your area clean during a shift?
Cleanliness is part of the quality, service, cleanliness and value commitment McDonald's traces back to Ray Kroc. Show that you clean as you go and treat spills as safety issues.
I clean as I go so it never piles up. If I see a spill, I take care of it right away because someone could slip, and during slow stretches I wipe down tables and restock napkins and straws. I'd rather the next shift walk into a clean station than a mess.
How do you work as part of a team?
Use a real example. The STAR method helps you keep it short: situation, task, action and result.
During a playoff game, our grill volunteer got sick and left early. I had only worked the register, but I asked the coordinator to show me the one task she needed most, which was wrapping burgers. I did that for the rest of the night, and we kept the line under five minutes.
What is your availability?
Be specific, and if you are under 18, mention school. Federal law limits hours for 14- and 15-year-olds, and many states also set limits for 16- and 17-year-olds, so restaurants have to schedule around those rules. If this is your first job, our list of jobs for 16-year-olds explains what to expect.
I'm in school until 3 p.m., so I can work weekdays from 4 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. During summer break I'm open every day. I'm looking for about 15 to 20 hours a week during the school year.
Why do you want to work at McDonald's?
Show that you understand the pace of the job and want to grow. McHire says restaurants hire at every level from crew through management and describes education help through Archways to Opportunity. Our guide to why do you want to work here has more ways to frame it, and how much McDonald's pays covers typical wages.
I like fast, team-based work, and I want to build skills I can use for a long time. I've read about the education benefits and the path from crew into management, and I'd like to work toward that while I finish school.
JobQuix is not affiliated with McDonald's. Pay and hiring practices change; check the company's careers site for current details.