The 50 Most Asked McDonald’s Interview Questions with Answers

Here are the top 10 most asked McDonald’s interview questions, followed by an explanation of what the interview is looking for, and then suggested answers for you to practice before your interview to show you are the person for the job.

1. Tell me why you want to work here at McDonald’s.

The interviewer wants to know that you don’t want to work for just any generic fast-food restaurant. They want to know that you want to work specifically at McDonald’s. Your answer should show the interviewer you understand the McDonald’s brand and that it is McDonald’s you want to work for. Give an answer specific to McDonald’s, not a generic answer that can apply to any fast-food restaurant. The interviewer wants to know that you think highly of McDonald’s and don’t see this job as just a paycheck at the end of the month. Before the interview, spend some time researching McDonald’s. Go to its website and read about its Values In Action and community efforts so you can give logical reasons why this is the place you want to work. By understanding what McDonald’s values and does for the community, you can show how these align with your values.

Answer:
McDonald’s is a name I have grown up with. The brand is instantly recognizable worldwide. Knowing that a large proportion of franchise owners and restaurant managers started off working behind the counter lets me see that there are many opportunities to grow and progress here. I see this role as an opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment and develop my time management and customer service skills with a company I know and admire. I also admire the work that Ronald McDonald House Charities do and other community efforts like the scholarships for Hispanic students. I feel it is important for me to work for a company that gives back to the community. I would be proud to work here as I think McDonald’s is a brand that represents my own values.

2. What do you think makes excellent customer service?

Customer service is a significant part of working for McDonald’s. Show the interviewer you understand what excellent customer service is and that you have experience in providing that level of customer service. Examples are helpful. If you have had positive feedback about your customer service skills in a previous role, tell the interviewer about that feedback. Share with the interviewer what you did to receive positive feedback. If you don’t have experience in a customer service environment, talk about how you feel you would provide excellent customer service.

Answer:
The first step in excellent customer service comes from body language. Such a large proportion of communication is non-verbal. I’d make sure I was welcoming. I’d smile and use eye contact. I would keep my body language open and friendly. I wouldn’t stand with my arms folded across my chest, for example. Aside from that, I understand that what the customer wants is their order delivered on time. I would do my best to ensure that happened and that the quality of the food was to the right standard. I’d make sure that each customer felt I saw them as a person, not just a number to be served. Customers remember how you make them feel.

3. How would you handle a customer who is upset or angry?

As the role is customer-facing, be prepared to deal with customers who may be upset or angry. A customer’s anger may or may not have anything to do with you, but you will need to deal with that anger anyway. The interviewer wants to know that you can deal with an angry customer calmly and professionally. They also want to know how you would resolve difficulties. Walk the interviewer through your process when dealing with these types of customers. Discuss that you may encounter issues you can’t deal with, and that you would then ask for help from someone senior to you.

Answer:
The first thing I would do is listen to the customer and acknowledge their feelings. I would hope that by listening to them and acknowledging their feelings, not just dismissing them, they would feel they were being heard, and that would help them calm down. I would try to understand what their problem or issue was and how they would like to see it resolved, although I recognize that I may not be able to provide the solution they want. If it wasn’t possible for me to resolve their issue, I would ask someone more senior for help. I recognize that in certain situations, a customer may not be prepared to calm down and may be asked to leave. Unless I was in a senior role, I do not think that would be my place to do, which may be another reason I ask for help.

4. What do you think is your major weakness?

Everyone has weaknesses, so don’t be tempted to tell the interviewer you don’t have any. They will know you are lying. Instead, pick a weakness that is genuine but isn’t a deal-breaker for the role. A good approach to follow is to acknowledge your weakness and show the interviewer you are trying to overcome the weakness by taking appropriate action. Acknowledging a weakness shows that you are aware you have room to grow and learn.

Answer:
I think my greatest weakness is taking on more responsibility than I can handle sometimes. For example, if I see another crew member struggling, I might step in to help them, meaning I might end up taking on too many jobs at once. I am good at multitasking, which makes it easy for me to handle multiple jobs at once, and I like to stay busy. But I need to know my limits. I am trying to find better ways to help others instead of just taking on some of their jobs besides my own. I think learning to say no or step back is a hard skill to master, but I am working on it.

5. If you saw a crew member stealing, how would you handle this?

This is your opportunity to show the interviewer you understand stealing is wrong, regardless of the value of the item, and that you have the maturity and courage to report your coworker. You should show the interviewer you understand the need to follow company policies and procedures and that you are prepared to do so. While it might be tempting to talk about confronting your fellow team member or calling the police, remember that such action should be left to more senior members of the team.

Answer:
I would ensure that I followed company policy on this. Although I am not familiar with the company policy, I would think the right step would be to report it to my supervisor. My supervisor would then deal with the matter. I would not confront the employee about it, but would let the senior member of the team tell me if there was anything else for me to do.

6. Where do you see your career in five years?

It is well-known that many of McDonald’s franchise owners start as a crew member, as do a significant proportion of restaurant managers. This shows that McDonald’s is keen to promote from within. This is your opportunity to mention your professional goals, your vision for your career over the next five years, and how McDonald’s fits into that picture.

Answer:
I know that there are opportunities to grow and develop here at McDonald’s, and in five years, I would want to still be a member of the McDonald’s family. I would hope that during that time, I could take advantage of the growth and development opportunities and work my way up to a general manager. I understand that a large number of restaurant managers start as crew members, as do many franchise owners.

7. Tell me what you think are your greatest strengths.

Use your answer to show the interviewer you understand what skills are useful in this role and that you consider you possess those skills and strengths. Before the interview, read the job description and consider what strengths you possess that are in alignment with the job description. Use your answer to talk about those and show the interviewer you have strengths that are relevant and beneficial to the role.

Answer:
I think my greatest strengths are my communication skills. I can listen well to others and understand their needs. I speak clearly and confidently and in a friendly, professional manner necessary for dealing with customers. I also work well in a fast-paced environment, particularly where I may need to multitask. I think these are all strengths that are well-suited to working here at McDonald’s.

8. Do you work better as part of a team or alone?

Working well as part of a team is an important part of working in McDonald’s. Your answer should express the fact that while you can work alone, you have the skills to work well as part of a team. In a fast-paced environment, you need good teamwork skills to all work together to provide excellent customer service. Show the interviewer you understand that.

Answer:
I work well and efficiently, whether it is part of a team or alone. I think working as part of a team is the most effective way in an environment such as McDonald’s, although I appreciate there will be tasks that I can complete alone. I think that working as a team helps create a friendly work environment and also a better experience for the customer. I think my communication skills and my ability to listen well make it easy to be part of a team, either as someone following directions or as someone giving directions, to ensure we get the job done effectively and efficiently.

9. Tell me how you would deal with a fast-paced environment.

Working in McDonald’s is fast-paced. The interviewer wants to know that you understand that and can thrive in that environment. Use your answer to show that you can meet the challenge of working in a busy setting, all the while maintaining the quality of your work and excellent customer service.

Answer:
I take a lot of satisfaction from working in a fast-paced environment but still being able to provide an excellent level of customer service. While working in that environment can be a challenge, I don’t let the pressures get to me. Instead, I enjoy a busy, fast-paced environment. I think my ability to multitask makes it easy for me to thrive when things are busy.

10. Tell me why I should hire you.

This is your opportunity to convince the interviewer you are the ideal McDonald’s employee and that you have confidence in the value you can offer as an employee and a team member. Talk about the skills you have and how those skills would benefit the role. Show that on a personal level, you would fit in with the culture at the restaurant. While you are answering this and your other questions, don’t forget to smile!

Answer:
I put the customer experience at the heart of what I do, and that aligns with McDonald’s values. I understand that it will be a fast-paced environment, and that is the environment I thrive in. I want to be in a role where there is an opportunity to learn and to be challenged, and I think the environment here is the perfect place for that opportunity. I work best in a team, and working here would allow me to be part of a team where we all work together to ensure that the customer experience is the best it can be. Also, I am a quick learner and pay attention to details to make sure things are done right.

Next 40 Most Asked McDonald’s Interview Questions

• What is your favorite thing on the menu?
• What hours and what days can you work?
• What do you know about McDonald’s and our brand?
• Do you know how to use a “point of sale” system?
• Are you good at math? (They are asking about simple addition and subtraction, not calculus!)
• Do you have a criminal record?
• Can you tell me a little about yourself?
• If a customer complains about their food, what steps would you take to resolve the issue?
• What do you think is the best way to greet a customer?
• Are you looking for full time or part-time work?
• What is your favorite part of working in the fast-food service industry?
• What motivates you in a job?
• What signs would let your coworkers or supervisor know you were upset on the job?
• Tell me about your experience in the fast food service industry.
• Can you explain why you left your last role?
• Why do you think communication is important in the foodservice industry?
• How would your friends describe you?
• Tell me what responsibilities you think this role involves.
• What coping techniques do you use to deal with stressful situations?
• A customer asks you a question which you do not know the answer to. How do you handle the situation?
• If other employees were slow-moving and not completing tasks quickly enough, how would you encourage them to pick up the pace?
• What salary expectations do you have?
• How might you resolve conflict among coworkers?
• Describe a personal or professional challenge you have had to face.
• Tell me about your least favorite part of working in the fast food service industry.
• You come in on your day off and spot a spilled drink. What would you do?
• If your shift was about to end and a coworker hadn’t turned up, what would you do?
• How would you describe your standards of cleanliness?
• How do you prioritize tasks?
• Have you had experience with handling cash?
• How do you handle receiving feedback or constructive criticism?
• What do you think differentiates McDonald’s from its competitors?
• What are your long-term career aspirations?
• Do you think the customer is always right? Why?
• You see a coworker drop food on the floor, pick it up, and prepare to serve it. What do you do?
• What skills do you think an excellent leader is required to have?
• A coworker has failed to turn up for their shift, leaving the team short-staffed. What would you do?
• What challenges do you think you might face in this role?
• A customer asks you to do something which is against our policy. What would you do?
• What do you think are your three best qualities?
• Tell me about a time you made a mistake. What did you do to fix the situation?
• You don’t get along with a coworker. How does that affect you at work?

10 Best Questions to Ask in a McDonald’s Interview

After the interviewer has finished asking their questions, the interviewer should ask you if you have any questions. If your interviewer does not ask you, speak up and ask if there is time for one or two questions. How much time you have left in the interview will determine how many questions you are able to ask, but it is a good idea to at least ask a couple of questions. Asking some of the below questions shows that you are interested in the job and have a sincere interest in doing a very good job if you are hired.

• What is a typical day in this role?
• What do you think excellent customer service means in this position?
• What training can I expect to receive?
• What characteristics do you think make the ideal McDonald’s employee?
• Are there opportunities to progress here at this McDonald’s location or at other locations?
• What aspects of the job do you like most?
• Is there anything you dislike about working at McDonald’s?
• Are there opportunities for me to gain leadership skills in this role?
• Do your top performers have certain characteristics in common? What are they?
• What hours would you require me to work?

Before your interview at McDonald’s, be prepared with answers to the above questions. It is also critical that you arrive to the interview 10 minutes early, so scope out the location the night before. Dress appropriately, such as in dark dress pants and a collared shirt or a nice blouse, and dress shoes. You could also choose a buttoned shirt, khakis or a business casual dress. Bring a clean copy of your resume if you have one. And don’t forget, you prepared for this, so have confidence and smile!