Company: McDonald-s
Date: 2013-11-07
Overall rating: 3/5
Employment status: former
Experience level: Junior

Good first job if you're a 16y/o high school student.
Pros: This is still the most structured company I have ever worked for. Everything is done very efficiently with step by step instructions. All of the tasks are amazingly simple if you have at least two hands and a 30 second memory. Cash register is easily the best position, but you'll only get it if you're a girl or one of the manager's favorite boys. Interacting with customers is much nicer than interacting with coworkers. Regardless of position, you'll learn to work as part of a team with frequently challenging partners. BEST PART: McDonald's is way more flexible with scheduling and call-offs than any other employer I've had. I didn't realize how nice this was till I went to work elsewhere. Plus you get tons of free food.
Cons: Promotions are based entirely on how long you've worked there and how long you plan to stay. Although most employees are high school students expecting to work part time, the job starts to completely consume your life if you let it. Learn to say "no" when the manager inevitably calls asking you to work Sunday at 6am or Friday until past midnight. Finally, you will be working in a small, hot space under high stress with coworkers who are frequently ignorant and selfish, so you better have thick skin and good communication skills.