It’s one of the most recognisable brands in the world.
And with almost two million Australians having worked at McDonald’s (that’s 1 in 12 Aussies), it’s no surprise that some of the country’s most famous faces have, at one point, worked underneath the Golden Arches.
Even Prime Minister Anthony Albanese got his start at the legendary burger restaurant.
He mentioned the challenges of his job making burgers when he faced the press as Opposition leader in February 2021.
‘I used to work at Maccas, I know what it’s like to have a bit of food or drink during your break,’ he said.
‘And you need to do it, particularly as I used to work out the back – it was hot, hard work.’
And with almost two million Australians having worked at McDonald’s (that’s 1 in 12 Aussies), it’s no surprise that some of the country’s most famous faces have, at one time working underneath the Golden Arches
The nation’s top politician is not the only famous face that has graced the counter at McDonald’s.
Today Extra host Sylvia Jeffreys once donned the famous uniform, as did former Project star Sarah Harris.
She might be a dab hand at renovation these days, but The Block star Shelly Craft also got her start constructing Big Macs and Quarter Pounders.
Gold medal Paralympic wheelchair basketballer Tristan Knowles can also claim a stint at McDonald’s on his résumé, as well as Brittany Saunders.
The influencer-turned-entrepreneur, who established fashion label Fayt in 2017, told Pedestrian in February, that it all started for her at the local Macca’s.
‘My first official job was at McDonald’s when I was 14,’ she said.
‘From 14 to 21, I had over 20 jobs in fast-food restaurants, bar work, coffee shops, and retail. I worked at a school camp as a sports instructor for kids.’
Brad McMullen, Chief Restaurant Officer for McDonald’s Australia, said that a gig at Macca’s was a great launchpad.
‘We know that for many young Australians, Macca’s will be their first experience in the workforce – and the skills they gain stay with them for life,’ he said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed, in 2021, that he got his start at the legendary burger restaurant
‘I used to work at Maccas, I know what it’s like to have a bit of food or drink during your break,’ he said during a press conference. ‘And you need to do it, particularly as I used to work out the back – it was hot, hard work’
Today Extra host Sylvia Jeffreys (pictured) once donned the instantly recognisable uniform, as did former Project star Sarah Harris.
She might be a dab hand at renovation these days, but Block star Shelly Craft also got her start constructing Big Macs and Quarter Pounders
‘The McDonald’s restaurant is an incredible training ground, and we invest more than $60 million every year into providing world-class learning and development.
‘From day one, you’re learning new skills and gaining experience in everything from problem-solving to communication, teamwork and leadership.’
Sydney-based comedian and content creator Mitchell Coombs kicked off his working life at Forbes McDonald’s in the Central West of New South Wales when he was 14.
Ten years after he left the Golden Arches, Mitchell returned to his old stomping ground to see if he still had what it takes.
He took to Instagram to document his shift in a video that has since gone viral, with many followers revealing their own experiences working at the fast food chain.
Journalist Melissa Hoyer commented: ‘I’ve still got my uniform somewhere.
‘Wonder if they still have one person assigned to ‘clean up’ – where you basically take apart the entire kitchen and hose it down with that industrial strength boiling hot hose! (still can’t get enough apple turnovers!)’
For Mitchell, clocking on again after a decade took him right back to being an enthusiastic 14-year-old.
Influencer-turned-entrepreneur, Brittany Saunders, who established fashion label Fayt in 2017, told Pedestrian in February, that it all started for her at the local Macca’s
Sydney-based comedian and content creator Mitchell Coombs kicked off his working life at Forbes McDonald’s in the Central West of New South Wales when he was 14. Ten years after he left the Golden Arches, Mitchell returned to his old stomping ground to see if he still had what it takes
‘Oh my God, I just went like back in time to when I was 14. I had the same nerves all over again,’ he told Daily Mail.
Mitchell added that he quickly got back into the swing of things adding that stepping behind the counter again was ‘like riding a bike.’
There were, however, some surprises.
‘The uniform is completely different. In fact, it’s much better now,’ he said.
‘I thought I looked quite dapper in the new uniform. The old one was sort of like… back in my day, it was like a nylon shirt – the sort of thing you’d wear as a P.E. uniform.’
So successful was Mitchell’s prodigal return, that after he finished filming he stuck around to assist staff with the afternoon rush.
‘At the end of that video that I shot with them, my cameras were off, and I could see that they were having a bit of an after-school rush, because a lot of people flooded through at once,’ he explained.
‘I said to them: “In all seriousness, do you need a hand?” and they were like: “yes, please.” I was doing the fries station and they were like: “Can I get another large, Mitch?’ and I was like: “Yep, on it.”‘
‘Oh my God, I just went like back in time to when I was 14. I had the same nerves all over again,’ he told Daily Mail
‘The uniform is completely different. In fact, it’s much better now,’ he said. ‘I thought I looked quite dapper in the new uniform. The old one was sort of like… back in my day, it was like a nylon shirt – the sort of thing you’d wear as a P.E uniform’
Mitchell, who had dreams of a career in radio and podcasting, said his McDonald’s job proved to be the perfect starting point – one station in particular.
‘Definitely the drive-thru,’ he said.
‘This is so tragic, but I had aspirations that one day, I’d like to end up behind a microphone in the context of hosting a podcast because I went off to radio school after I left Macca’s.
‘I would just sort of pretend that I was on air when I was in the drive-thru, which is so lame, I know,’ Mitchell laughed.
He added that working in such a role did help him overcome childhood shyness.
‘I was a shy kid as well, and so, being in like a front-facing job like that where you’ve got to deal with customers really helped me overcome that as well
‘I was too scared to talk to people, but after having to talk to hundreds of people in the space of a few hours, after a while I was like: “that’s easy.”
However, Mitchell was quick to assure future McDonald’s employees that it was in no way an easy gig.
‘It’s not a bludge job,’ he said.
‘You can tell that there’s some particular teenagers that would turn up thinking that it was going to be a bludge job, and then they wouldn’t last long.
‘That’s why I’m never a Karen. If I’m going through drive-thru and I can see that they’re a young person there. I’m like: “take your time chook, your fine,” but you certainly learn on the go to deal with that high pressure.’
