McDonald's Serves Up Job Applications

McDonald's cashiers smiled while greeting customers at the front counter, used headphones to take drive-thru orders, flipped burgers and cooked batches of fries late Tuesday morning. Job applicants filled out forms and engaged in interviews at tables and booths of the Monroe Turnpike restaurant in hopes of joining their ranks.

Thompson Mitchell, the assistant manager, stood by a small table covered with job applications and brochures set in front of a balloons and a banner that said: "We believe you can do great things here."

"It's National Hiring Day," Mitchell said of McDonald's country-wide event, before adding, "We accept applications every day."

Mitchell interviewed those who applied in person and online during National Hiring Day, which ran from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. He said McDonald's is looking for "customer-oriented, friendly employees."

Marti Majersky of Trumbull brought her 16-year-old son Nico to the fast food restaurant to apply for his first job.

"We heard about it through a friend of the family, who works here — so here we are," she said.

At another booth, Angela Lombardi, also of Trumbull, filled out an application. Unlike Nico, who's trying to land a part-time job, Lombardi wants full-time employment with medical benefits.

"I've been looking for a while," she said. "Everything has been part-time and no benefits or per diem. Another job offer was full-time with no benefits."

Lombardi, who has been out of work since leaving the Goodwill Store in Monroe last December, said she was applying to McDonald's to "see what it's all about."

Mitchell said workers are needed to be cashiers, greeting customers at the front counter; to help out in the kitchen — grilling and making French fries — and to clean.

"We make sure they understand food safety first," he said of new hires.

Positions include being part of the crew, shift manager, department manager, general manager, operations supervisor and a franchise owner. In one of the brochures, McDonald's talks about its "aggressive career path," adding many corporate staff and franchisees started their careers working in the restaurants.

In fact, it says more than 50 percent of the franchisees started off behind the counter, as did more than 75 percent  of its restaurant managers.

Jerica Ramos of Bridgeport said she started working at the Monroe McDonald's three weeks ago. She likes doing the drive-thru most.

Joel Delgado of Bridgeport, who has been with McDonald's for the past year, worked beside Ramos Tuesday.

"It's good. I like it," he said of his job, adding with a smile, "I'm lovin' it."