Has anyone here worked in Fast Food before?

United States
December 27, 2008 5:17pm CST
I just applied for employment in Fast Food. I recently lost my job at a Grocery store.I was a Good worker but i got mixed up with the sceduale and i missed a day by accident and they let me go because of this. I was just wondering what you's(any of you's) thought about working in fast food restuarants.I am Very Well aware that the stereotype of "You just flip burgers" is WAYYYY OFF!!!....I Know for an absolute fact that There's ALOT more to it than this! So,would you's say overall it's better or worse than working in a Grocery Store...? Yes,i know i'm basically technically overqualified for working in Fast Food but Dang It,i need a job... NOW!!
6 people like this
14 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
27 Dec 08
I worked in fast food as a teen and so did all of my children. What I noticed with this last one was that fast food places pay better than they used to. I believe that, if you need a job and there is a job available, you should take it and do the best that you can. It's fairly easy to get into management in the fast food business because they're chains so they need to move people around sometimes. They also have pretty good benefits...at least the ones down here do for full time.
2 people like this
@arcidy (5005)
• United States
28 Dec 08
That sucks you got fired I work at stop and shop and ive missed a lot of days there mainly because I was sick luckly I havnt gotten fired yet. But I did work at mcdonalds when I was 15 and a half and let me tell you it was the worse job that I ever had I hated that job so much that it scared me from wanting to work again for a few years. So I would try to find a better job but hey you might have a better time then me.
1 person likes this
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
28 Dec 08
I don't see anything wrong working in fast food. I worked temp in mailroom once and my co worker (who was also temp) said that it was a mindless job. well good thing she was only temp I guess. At the time she told me she never got called by temp agency for other positions and didn't sound happy that I did. She had a job as shoe sales girl in the mall which sounded OK to me. I mean she didn't have to travel and all, just go to mall and stay there serving customers. What is so bad in that? and what is so mindless about distributing incoming mails and stamping mails before sending them out? Then she complained that she never got a job in her field which is web developing some kind. I never got a job in field either, which is Accounting. And yet I had worked as clerk, cashier, data entry, general labor, inspection labor, lab sample preparer, then mailroom and reception (for a day at least). Now I even have my own small business LOL why do people think so highly of themselves? Mindless or not, it's a job not a crime. And it pays too.
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
28 Dec 08
Hello, bobbyd. Please, don't take it as an offensive statement, but yes as a constructive one. You seem to be overwhelmed in self confidence. You should not say that you were a good worker, because if you really were a good worker you wouldn't be fire, would you? You should only say that you are a good worker if everybody around you is telling this about you. And you should not say that you are overqualified either. I'm sure that, if you are taken for the job, you will have the hardest time in your life working in a Fast Food restaurant. Again, no offenses meant. Working in a fast food restaurant is not easy. It is not as simple as flipping burger. It is a very stressful job, because you will be always in a hurry, running around to serve your clients as fast as possible. If you are the ones making the burgers, you will probably get burned a lot in the beginning. Your boss will be yelling orders all the time. A stressful scenario, really. Respectfully, Munhozmib.
• United States
28 Dec 08
Munhozmib.Thanks for you're comments. I apologize if i sounded offensive in seeming to self proclaim that i was a Good Worker,and i apologize for maybe coming off the wrong way by saying that i feel i'm overqualified.The reason i said i was a Good worker is because the manager that let me go admitted that i was a Good Worker.This was while i was trying to defend my case and explain everything.he is a Mean Boss but he admitted that i was a Good Worker and thats why i said in in my original discussion blog. Secondly,The reason i said that i felt i was overqualified is because i have a Cdl Driver's License! Yup...I Have done Beverage Delivery in the past.I am kinda old ya know.HaHa. Thing is though,all those kinds of Cool jobs are all taken from what i've observed from all of my various job hunt searches. The company i did beverage delivery with closed they're business after i was with them for a year and a half.This was way back in October of 2000,so yeah,like i said,i'm kinda old ya know. Some time after that,i got in at another Beverage Distribution center and i did Merchandising.I stayed there for 11 months and then decided to try another one that i figured would provide me with a company van.I was putting too much wear and tear on my own car and thats why i left the merchandising job. The next distribution center i applied at were really interested in hiring me because they heard i was a good worker with the previous place that i had just left because i wanted my own van to use for all the travelling.They were gonna gladly provide me with my own company vehicle and only needed me to drive out and find they're company headquarters which was located deep deep deep in Nyc.I drove out there and got terribly lost.The directions they gave me were way off and i let them know that and the office lady got really offended at me saying that the directions were way off and she proceeded to report me for inappropriate langauge conduct and i was disqualified from getting the job that was ready to be offered to me.Talk about Terrible Terrible Luck Aye?! : ( Anyway,since then,i've done security jobs and one in particular was really good and i was there for almost 2 years but this one office lady didnt like me.She was heavy and insecure and she thought that i was someone who deserved to get written up for anything so one day she complained about me coming in without my uniform shirt on.I had done this many times before and it was never reported before.She just wanted to get me upset.I always would go into the restroom and change into my uniform shirt but this one day she decided to report me for this. They werent going to fire me or anything.They just asked me about it and i explained and everything was fine but i just couldnt stay there anymore with this lady being there who didnt like me.So,i soon afterwards decided to give my notice and move the heck onwards...I then worked for Wal-Mart for awhile and it was okay.The pay was pretty good after awhile but they would push us ridiculously hard and treat us unfairly.I was an unloader and the bosses were never satisfied with us and were always understaffing us.I started doing a techn ique where i would jump back and forth across the line along the rollers leading to the trailer of the truck and one day i slipped and banged my knee real real bad and it swelled up. They wanted me to pay for my own x-rays because they said it was my own fault even though i explained why i had adopted this technique to get more work done in order to please them.The other workers loved me doing this technique because it took a load offa them but in the end,i payed dearly for it.They wanted me to pay for my own x-rays and i refused and then proceeded to depart from the job.otherwise they would've just let me go anyway. So yes,i had to explain alot just now but thats me.i like to explain everything.Otherwise,people just dont know who the heck you are. I have worked at fast food before as well.It was very tough and i left because i got another job at that time.But now,things are very tough out there and i will have to settle for a fast food job for a good long time it looks like.
1 person likes this
@munhozmib (3836)
• Sao Paulo, Brazil
5 Jan 09
Hello there. Wow, seems like you have worked in many places already! I'm sorry if I sounded offensive as well. It is just that it sounded like if you were not in the level of taking a fast food job. If like you were above it, when actually we are all alike, there should be no prejudice in working terms, you know? I'd understand if you didn't want to take it because of the salary, though. But hey, take it, and work it for a while, until you get a better proposal. Respectfully, Munhozmib.
• United States
28 Dec 08
Years ago! I worked at Wendy's for 3 years.. I had a great time there! hahaha! seriously! it was a perfect job for someone like me.. who loves people watching! there are some funny people out there!
@kylaerin (145)
• United States
28 Dec 08
I worked in fast food from the time I was 15 til I was 19. I made good money too, well at least good money for a teenager. I only made 7.50 an hour but I got OT every week because no one wanted to work weekends or people would call in. You won't get rich but it will pay the bills and hey we need burger flippers or there is no McDonalds :)! I would advise you to maybe try a restaurant where you could serve if you are really friendly because you can make a killing in tips if you are good at your job!
1 person likes this
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
Being a crew in a fast food restaurant was my very fist job... and that was when i finished high school... it is an okay job... not very challenging... but the money is also okay... because they pay by the hour... it can be very demanding especially when there are a lot of customers... and when the supervisor is a bit of a jerk... i had one like that... If you really need a job... and cannot find a very good one... working in a fast food is a good alternative...
• China
28 Dec 08
I'm sure you a very careful person though your missing a day by accident made you lost your job. I've never worked in a grocery store or fast food restaurant because I don't think I'm good at dealing with people. I tend to lose temper easily and can't withstand those people who ask a lot questions when buying things. I lack patience. I suggest you have a try, and I believe you can do it well. good luck!
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
28 Dec 08
I worked in a grocery store and a mcdonalds. I can honestly say i liked the grocery store alot better - i stocked shelves and really didnt have to deal with people. I'm not a people person. The mcdonalds basically i took orders, took cash,filled the bag with the food cooked and filled the pop. Then handed the bag or tray to the customer. If it was busy we spent time restocking the bags and food containers and food, cleaning tables, cleaning garbage. I hated cleaning up after people...they could be such slobs there.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
28 Dec 08
i am sorry to hear you lost your job. that is a shame especially in this economy. i hope you find one soon. i have never worked in a fast food restaurant but i am sure it is a challenge as they are always busy with customers coming in and out. good luck to you.
• United States
28 Dec 08
That is just wrong that the grocery store let you go just because you were messed up on your schedule and missed one day sorry to hear that. As for a fast food resturant I never have worked one but frm seeing what they do and all it's alot more fast paced and it will keep you busy especially during lunch hour. I think if you go in there and have a positive attitude that you can achieve this goal. I give you credit for going right to look for another job and wanting to work. I do wish you the best of luck on your new job and may it be good for you.
@singlemommy (2955)
• United States
28 Dec 08
I have never worked in a fast food restaurant but if I need a job and they were hiring then I don't feel that I should turn down a job just because someone else might think it is terrible. I don't find it terrible that you are applying to work in fast food. You need a job, everyone needs a job. What would be terrible is if you weren't looking for work at all. I see so many people who don't even try to look for a job and just sit around their house and expect the government to give them everything they need and take care of them. That is HORRIBLE in my eyes. Good luck finding a new job even if it is fast food. Happy MyLotting, SingleMommy
@jzqt27 (541)
• Canada
28 Dec 08
bobbyd bud! sorry about your job! yes! i worked in a grocery store for about seven months. when i was working there everything is great; i get discount, good shifts, good people to work with and my job was very easy. but, i did missed two days of work before and they just gave me a friendly warning! but, i eventually quit the job due to school.
• United States
28 Dec 08
I have worked in fast food and there is no shame in doing an honest days work. Some of the fast food places pay quite well. I think most of us do what we must to get by until better things come along. Go in with a positive attitude and you will come out with a positive attitude, plus you will not resent the people or job. There are a lot of good site to post your resume with. The sites really do contact you back and it takes effort on your part to research and apply to them though.