Fast food giant McDonald’s offering flexible work for yummy mummies
The multi-national chain is recruiting for 5,000 jobs, and keen to offer parents flexible hours to fit around their busy family life
WANT to get back into work fast?
Then try McDonald’s.
The fast food chain is searching for 5,000 new starters over the next 18 months and is keen to recruit mums and dads searching for flexible hours.
So with the kids back at school, it could be time to find a job you can fit around your family.
The roles are situated right across the UK and include team members up to restaurant management and even some head office roles.
No experience is necessary and every new starter receives full training.
There are a host of top benefits too, including childcare vouchers, discounts at major high street retailers, private medical care and life assurance.
Once panned as handing out “McJobs”, the firm is now renowned for offering a quick route from shop floor to management, with restaurant managers running their own multi-million pound businesses.
But there are also thousands of opportunities for staff that simply want to work a few hours a week and earn extra money.
Claire Hall, chief people officer at McDonald’s UK, explains: “People join McDonald’s for different reasons but what they want from their jobs is the same — a flexible, fun, working environment and to meet and learn from others.
“The skills we look for such as teamwork, time management and good communication aren’t the prerequisite of any particular age group and appeal to people from every walk of life.
"Qualifications, training and career progression are available for everyone and across the UK we proudly recruit, retain and promote talent from all age groups and backgrounds at all levels of the business.”
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I'm a huge fan
SARA STANIFORTH is a Business Manager for McDonalds in Nottingham.
The mum-of-three started as a crew member but now runs a restaurant and manages 90 staff.
Sarah, 35, from Nottingham, said: “As a busy parent, having a job that offers flexibility is the most important thing.
"McDonalds roles can really work for families as the company offers a ‘scheduling package’ which means you go online and just book the hours you want to work.
“I’ve been working at McDonald’s since I was 17-years-old and studying my A-levels, and I love how as I’ve changed and grown up over the years, my career at McDonald’s has also evolved to give me new opportunities and meet my changing needs.
“We recruit based on qualities not qualifications, and there is a role for everybody at McDonald’s.
“Working in the kitchen is fast paced and requires high energy, so the skills we look for are things like the ability to work well in a team, good communication and time management skills.
“And if you do want to progress higher, McDonald’s offers lots of different training and development courses.
";These are the courses that helped me reach the position of Business Manager, so I’m a huge fan and am always encouraging my team to get involved when the opportunity arises.”
Top tips for parents
- 1) Find a job that offers flexibility with shifts.
- 2) Seek out supportive firms that understand you have commitments outside work.
- 3) Some parents feel guilt when first returning to work. Find a solution that works for you and your employer as you adjust.
- 4) Look for training opportunities offered by your firm so you feel as though you are progressing.
- 5)Can it offer you a long-term career when the time is right? Ask what the opportunities are.
Wannabee a farmer?
WITH the UK’s bee population plummeting, a scheme is hoping to find 30 trainee bee farmers to help boost the British bee count.
The programme is run by the Bee Farmers Association (BFA) and Rowse Honey.
There are already ten apprentices on the Bee-a-Farmer scheme with an average age of 19, compared to the industry average of 66.
Stuart Weekes, 24, an ex-shop assistant from Chichester and trainee, said: “Since joining the scheme, I’ve learned so much.
“If you enjoy being outdoors I can’t recommend this scheme enough.”
Ian Ainsworth, MD for Rowse Honey added: “Since the Bee-a-Farmer scheme launched last year, we have had a fantastic response and hundreds of applications.”
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Students targeted for scam
GRADUATES and students are being targeted by online jobs scammers with almost half being conned into parting with an average of £2,600.
Forty six per cent of academics ended up becoming victims, a study found.
Online firms CV-Library and SAFERjobs have joined forces to warn jobseekers what to watch out for when you are contacted on email and social media about job opportunities.
Top job scam signs include:
1) Personal email addresses i.e. [email protected]
2) Spelling and grammar mistakes.
3) Unrealistic salaries. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
4) Stating “no experience necessary” as a job title.
5) A job offer without an interview.
6) Extortionate DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) costs – anything over £75 should be queried. Or requesting a candidate to pay for a CRB check (Criminal Records Bureau), which no longer exists.
7) Premium rate phone numbers for interviews.
8) Illegitimate company names and web addresses.
Lee Biggins, founder of CV-Library, says: “This is an exciting time of year for students and graduates, who will be starting to think about their first job, post-university.
“But this could be hindered by the fact that scammers are out there targeting a cohort that is unaware of the threats and potential impacts of job fraud.”
Fibbing a lie-risk strategy
TOLD a few porkies on your CV?
You may just get away with it, as a survey shows that almost half of human resources staff never check interviewee credentials before offering a job.
The research by management consultancy Axelos found that almost 100,000 job applicants have lied about their qualifications in the past three years.
Applicants were most likely to get away with embellishing their CV if they had previous experience in the sector.
But beware – 37 per cent of bosses said they would dismiss staff if they were caught out after lying about their qualifications.
On average, firms spend £10,000 in rehiring costs for each person sacked for lying on their CV, with one in 11 firms spending more than £40,000.
Axelos spokesman John O’Brien said: “Lies can quickly get out of hand.
“It can soon become apparent that the individual is having difficulty meeting the expectations set out in the new position.
“While the employee could face their contract being terminated, the employer has a lot to lose, both financially and in terms of its reputation.”
Happy returners
NINE in ten bosses would re-employ a former worker, a new study reveals.
The phenomenon – known as boomerang employees – is becoming increasingly common, with 36 per cent of HR bosses successfully hiring former staff, rising to half of big firms.
Just seven per cent of managers say they would never let ex-colleagues return.
Phil Sheridan, Senior MD of recruiters Robert Half UK which carried out the study said: “Rehiring former employees can help offset the challenges companies face in the war for talent.
“Many firms see value and cost savings in allowing employees to expand experience outside their organisation.”
Micro's biggest triumph
IT MAY not be as cool as YouTube or Google, but tech giant Microsoft has just been rated the top employer for UK undergraduates.
Researchers sifted through more than 15,000 reviews on ratings site to reveal the best firms for student placements and internships.
Microsoft knocked last year’s winner Bank of America Merrill Lynch down to second place, while professional services firm, Grant Thornton, came third.
Lucy Saunders, University Recruitment Manager at Microsoft said: “Internally our interns are extremely well regarded and they never fail to make huge, positive impact to our UK business and beyond.”
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It's TGI hire day
THERE’S a feast of opportunity at TGI Fridays as the company is taking on 180 new staff.
Positions on offer include kitchen managers, chefs, bar staff and hosts. Apply at or visit for more jobs in the hospitality industry.
Browse thousands of jobs at today!