How Ella Turned Her Macca's Job into a Fully-Fledged Career

“I can’t imagine myself doing anything different.”

This article is presented in partnership with McDonald’s Queensland.

There’s nothing more exciting than applying for your first job.

The thought of making some sweet cash in your spare time, treating yourself to a spend-up, shouting a mate lunch… it’s an amazing feeling.

How many people could say their first job has led them down a career path?

19 year old uni student and McDonald’s Cairns City assistant restaurant manager Ella Monk can.

We sat down with Ella to chat about her Macca's career, and how it influenced her to start a degree in business.

Ella recalls being incredibly eager to get her first job, applying for work on her 14^th birthday.

She remembers the first few weeks at Macca's being "very nerve-wracking" but remembers her crew trainer being incredibly helpful through her training shifts.

One of the things that made working at Macca's easy was getting to work alongside other young people, Ella explained.

“All of these people in my grade already worked there! Like, I already know people, so it was kind of less intimidating coming in. So when I was like really, really shy that was basically what I was looking for.”

Her first responsibilities at Macca's included wiping down tables, cleaning windows before working her way up to take on different tasks and areas within the store.

One of her scariest moments? Learning the register.

“I’m not a math girly,” jokes Ella. “Luckily [at the register] they had a counter that just enters it so you don’t have to work out anything.”

Working in a regional store, Ella says that it’s a great experience because she knows the people she’s worked with over the years so well.

“There’s very much a community within the McDonald’s,” she says.

Working at a regional store, Ella says that you have more opportunities to learn a variety of different responsibilities, compared to working in larger cities.

Ella’s enthusiasm to learn more at work continued to grow, tackling different areas of the store until she felt confident in everything she learned.

She enjoyed teaching other people and valued the support she had from her own trainers, so when the opportunity came up to apply as a crew coach, she had to take it.

Before long, Ella was stepping into a more senior position with the management team as a restaurant workplace supervisor, managing the traineeships within the store.

Ella is now an assistant restaurant manager, and has just begun her first year of uni. She says that while it was initially a challenge finding a balance at first, she’s had fantastic support from her manager while studying.

Her passion for her work at Macca's has inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Business and looking at majoring in management.

“I originally was going to do nursing and then the more roles I took on [at Macca's], the more I was like ‘I can’t, I can’t give it up.’ I enjoy doing what I’ve done so much. I can’t imagine myself doing anything different.”

Ella’s advice for anyone looking for a job at Macca's is to take every opportunity you can get.

“You never know where it’s going to take you. I never pictured myself at 14 still working here, and in the position I’m in, but I absolutely love it.”

“Take those opportunities. Don’t be afraid – it can lead to somewhere good.”