Know before you go! For many, McDonald’s is a great first job, or a way of earning extra cash on the side. Though it may seem like an easy job to pick up, you will have many others just like you vying for the same position. McDonald’s treats its employees well and makes an effort to offer great benefits for even its entry level employees. If you are looking to pick up a job at your local McDonald’s, you should know what to expect when you are going into the interview.
Prepare
You should have an idea of what to expect before going into your interview. Since you are reading this I assume you have taken the initiative to research what will be expected of you. You should make sure to be clean and dress nicely before showing up to the interview. You should also have an idea of what questions will be asked. Do some quick brainstorming to go over your answers to some of the most common questions that you can expect from your interviewer.
Interview Day
Show up slightly early (10 minutes is fine), clean, groomed and well dressed. Remember, your impression is just as important as the interview. Make sure to walk in and inform someone of your arrival so they can show you where you will need to wait and inform the manager that you have arrived. (If this interview is for a higher level position, make sure to bring along a copy of your resume. Most employers will have your application but may not have it in front of them when they interview you. Give them something to go off of by bringing a copy of your work experience and educational credentials so they don’t feel like they are forcing an interview either. These are busy people and may not have had as much time to prepare for your interview as you did.) Shake hands hard, introduce yourself, be polite and make eye contact.
Answer the interview questions
Sounds easy doesn’t it? If you have practiced answering some sample interview questions, you should have no problem in the beginning of your interview. This is good because the questions will get more and more job-specific as the interview goes on. You will get into a groove and begin to relax.
Ask questions back
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your interviewer will most likely ask you if you have any questions before the interview is completed. You should have questions. This will show that you are truly interested in the position and have considered it carefully. Questions like “What is the normal working pace?”, “What are the opportunities for advancement?” and “How can I make myself stand out at this position?” will be much better regarded than questions like “How long are lunch breaks?” and “Where can I smoke?”. Use these questions to imply that you are a forward thinker and ambitious, not a slouch.
Complete the interview
Make sure you provide your interviewer with a way to contact you. Most likely they will have other candidates to interview and won’t hire you on the spot. Give them a card or a simple contact sheet so that once they have made their decision they will know how to get a hold of you (this won’t be necessary if you have provided them with a resume). Then, exit cordially and wait for a call!
The interview is what will set you apart from anyone else applying for the same position. Don’t be nervous. If you have been asked to come in for an interview, then the management has already shown initiative and interest in your background. Now you just have to show up clean and on time to prove that you are the right candidate for the job.
