Interview with Iulia Toma, Second Assistant  at McDonald’s Romania

What does a junior job look like when it turns into a professional journey of more than eight years? At Undelucram.ro, we are continuing our series in which we highlight the real experiences of people working in companies and try to discover what happens beyond job ads: what the first day looks like, what you learn, what challenges you face, and what makes you stay.

This time, we are going behind the scenes at McDonald’s through the story of someone who started her first job here and gradually grew from her first days in the restaurant to taking on management responsibilities.

We talked about the pace of a working day, the team behind every order, development opportunities, and some of the things customers never get to see.

1. How did your story at McDonald’s begin? Was it your first job, or did you already have experience?

My story at McDonald’s began more than eight years ago, out of simple curiosity. My brother was already working here, and I was curious to see what the environment where he spent so much of his time was really like. McDonald’s was my first job and the place where I quickly realized that no two days are the same and that you can never be completely prepared for what comes next. It was precisely this unpredictability that motivated me to stay, embrace the challenges, and always look for new opportunities to grow.

2. What did you think about this job before you started, and how much did your perspective change after the first week?

Before working in the restaurant, I had a very simple perspective: I saw McDonald’s only as a place where burgers and fries were prepared. But when I entered a restaurant for the first time as an employee, I discovered a level of complexity I had not expected. I quickly understood that the job was about much more than that. It is not only about the products, but about a truly united team – energetic people from different backgrounds who come together every day to work towards a common goal.

3. What was your first day like? What stayed with you from that experience?

My first day was a mix of emotions, fear of the unknown, and, despite all that, a huge desire to succeed. I had already seen through my brother what it meant to feel motivated to be part of this team, and that encouraged me. One person who stayed in my mind from those very first moments was Mrs. Mariana, the Crew Trainer who would later contribute enormously to my development. After the restaurant tour, Mrs. Mariana came up to me and told me that, over the following period, we would be working “side by side”. Although everything was new to me, my desire to discover how things worked made me stay close to her throughout the day.

What impressed me most at that early stage was the energetic atmosphere and the vitality of my colleagues. Even though the workload was quite high, their positive attitude immediately won me over and made me realize that a fast pace is much easier to manage when you have an involved team by your side.

4. If you were to give us a quick tour of a typical working day, what would it look like?

Today, based on the experience I have gained, I can say that a working day at McDonald’s is as predictable as it is unpredictable. Everything begins in the quiet of the morning, with preparing the restaurant for opening. It is a ritual in itself, involving starting and calibrating the equipment, carefully checking food safety standards, and restocking every station. But the central part of this preparation is organizing the team and positioning people in key areas. As we say in the restaurant, if we have “the aces in the right places”, the whole day is more likely to go according to plan.

The dynamic changes completely during peak hours, when the restaurant fills up and the sounds of the kitchen and screens full of orders signal the start of a race against the clock. In those moments, when every second counts, routine disappears and adaptability takes over. No matter how many plans are made at the beginning of the shift, no two days are ever the same. One extremely important aspect that our customers do not see directly, but which makes a difference every day, is the high level of motivation and the clear communication of objectives within the team.

Putting “the aces in the right places” is not simply about organizing people across workstations. It means knowing each colleague’s strengths, giving them confidence, and making sure everyone is moving in the same direction.

During peak periods, when the restaurant becomes extremely busy, this behind-the-scenes connection is what maintains both pace and quality. Every smile offered to a customer and every order prepared quickly is the result of constant communication and mutual support, elements that turn a challenging day into a shared success.

5. What is one thing customers do not see, but which matters a lot in the way the team works?

One detail customers do not see, but which matters enormously, is the invisible coordination behind every order. From the outside, you only see hot food being served quickly. Behind the scenes, however, during busy periods, what saves us is mutual support: a quick word of encouragement, a colleague who immediately steps in to help when you feel overwhelmed, and quick rotations that help us keep our energy levels high. This invisible support turns the stress of a difficult shift into a team victory!

6. Is there something you learned at McDonald’s that you know will help you wherever you work in the future?

I realize that everything I have learned here represents a set of essential skills that will help me wherever I work in the future. First of all, it is about the ability to face challenges and see them not as obstacles, but as opportunities for development.

This is also where I learned what it means to work efficiently under pressure while maintaining focus during critical moments. Most importantly, this environment has developed in me a strong desire to succeed, regardless of the difficulties that may arise along the way.

7. How have you evolved since you started working at McDonald’s? What new responsibilities have you had the opportunity to take on?

Looking back at this entire journey, I realize that my personal and professional development has been significant, especially in terms of communication and organization. The responsibilities I had the opportunity to take on increased gradually. At the beginning, my main objective was to achieve the individual goals related to my own station, but things changed significantly once I moved into a management position.

This new role brought with it the responsibility of delegating tasks effectively, coordinating the team, and constantly monitoring the overall performance of the restaurant. I learned to look at the bigger picture of the business and understand how every small detail influences the performance of the entire shift.

8. In more than eight years of experience at McDonald’s, what has been the most important skill you have developed and also use in your everyday life?

Without a doubt, the most important skill I have developed during these eight years at McDonald’s is adaptability. In an environment where customer flow can change from one minute to the next and unexpected situations can arise at any time, I have learned to adjust my plans as I go without losing my calm.

Adaptability has meant quickly switching from solving a logistical issue in the kitchen to managing a complex interaction in the lobby, while maintaining the same level of efficiency. Beyond numbers and procedures, I have understood that success is measured through the experiences we create for people.

9. Is there an order or an interaction with a customer that made you smile and that you still remember today?

There is one interaction that has stayed in my mind even after all this time. At that point, I was working as a Guest Experience Leader at the Piața Progresului restaurant. We had a loyal customer, a very kind lady who started every morning with us, having a coffee. At the beginning of March, she came into the restaurant with a huge bouquet of hyacinths and gave it to me, asking me to share it with my female colleagues.

It was her way of thanking us for the good mood we brought her every day and for the positive energy with which she started her mornings. That simple but meaningful gesture showed me that our work in the lobby goes beyond simply serving customers: we create genuine connections with people.

10. What is one myth about working at McDonald’s that you would like to challenge?

One myth I really want to challenge is the idea that working at McDonald’s offers no future prospects. Many people from the outside see it only as a temporary job, but in reality, it is a real school of life and leadership. Managing a busy restaurant means learning how to handle budgets, stock, and, most importantly, how to work with people, adapting to different personalities and learning how to listen to them.

McDonald’s gives young people significant responsibilities from the very beginning, helping them become confident professionals and empathetic leaders who genuinely care about their teams.

11. Is there a benefit or opportunity offered by the company that you think is not talked about enough, but that truly makes a difference for colleagues?

There is one major opportunity that is not talked about nearly enough, even though it brings a great sense of security and peace of mind to our colleagues: genuine schedule flexibility and concrete support for their future. McDonald’s gives young people and students the rare opportunity to build their own work schedule around their university timetable, exam periods, or personal responsibilities.

Whether they need weekend shifts, a schedule of only a few hours per day, or flexible shifts, the restaurant adapts to their needs, allowing them to work without sacrificing their education. In addition to this flexibility, the support for academic performance is real and motivating. The company chooses to invest in people not only through training programs that support their professional development, but also through merit scholarships awarded annually to students with excellent academic and professional results.

This approach shows that McDonald’s does not simply offer you a job and a salary at the end of the month. It becomes a trusted partner and a source of support that helps you build your future step by step, putting your education and development first.

12. What advice would you give someone who is thinking about applying but is still unsure?

If I had to give one piece of advice to someone who wants to apply for a job at McDonald’s but is still unsure about the decision, I would say just one thing: have courage and take the step without hesitation.

Fear of the unknown is completely natural at the beginning, but in the restaurant, you will never be alone. The training system is very well structured, so you receive support and guidance at every step, and the team quickly becomes a real safety net.

Do not look at this job only through the lens of the daily tasks in the kitchen or lobby. Think about the valuable skills you will develop here: organization, effective communication, resilience under pressure, and a strong team spirit.

Whether you want a long-term career within the company or simply an experience that represents one stage in your journey, this place will help you discover your potential and become a stronger, more mature, and more confident version of yourself.

13. What did you discover after joining the McDonald’s team that you think would surprise someone who is considering applying today?

What surprised me most when I joined the team, and what I think would surprise anyone, is the connection between people and technology.

From the outside, you only see hot food being served quickly. From the inside, however, you discover an operation organized down to the second, much like a Formula 1 team. Everything works in sync, and in the kitchen, every colleague knows their station and role very well.

It is a level of professionalism that people on the outside do not expect and one that makes you proud to be able to coordinate such a complex operation.

14. How would you answer, briefly, the question: “What is it like to work at McDonald’s?”

Working at McDonald’s is an intense and highly dynamic experience. No two days are the same, but the fast pace becomes enjoyable thanks to a close-knit team that supports you every step of the way.

It is a place where you learn to be adaptable, work effectively under pressure, and build confidence in yourself, while benefiting from a flexible schedule and real opportunities for promotion, even if you start completely from scratch.

From a first job and those initial emotions to coordinating a team, the story above shows just how much you can learn in a McDonald’s restaurant beyond what a customer sees when picking up an order.

Adaptability, communication, teamwork, responsibility, and confidence are just some of the lessons that can stay with you long after a shift has ended.

If you are thinking about applying and want to find out more about what it is like to work at McDonald’s, explore the company’s employer page on Undelucram.ro, read about the experiences of people working there, and discover the available opportunities. It could be your first job, or it could be the beginning of a professional journey much longer than you imagine