5 Mekdi Employees Share What It's Like Building A Career With The Quick Service Restaurant
From homemakers to civil engineering graduates, Mekdi has been a career growth platform for many Malaysians.
By Jeremy Ng — 24 Sep 2024, 11:12 AM
When it comes to building and growing a career, not many would think of starting out at a quick service brand like McDonald's, a.k.a. Mekdi
However, beyond dishing out our favourites like McChicken and Prosperity Burger, McDonald's Malaysia has served as an important career development platform for many Malaysians.
For over 42 years, the fast food chain has nurtured local talent in the food industry — from entry-level crew members to senior management — resulting in many inspiring stories of growth.More than just a popular nickname, Mekdi is a symbol of McDonald's Malaysia's commitment to advancing socio-economic development in the country.
In fact, the company now employs 16,000 employees, all Malaysians, according to Dato' Haji Azmir Jaafar, Managing Director and Local Operating Partner of McDonald's Malaysia. This includes a commitment to providing employment opportunities for the elderly and persons with disabilities (OKU).
Dato' Haji Azmir Jaafar's own journey began as a management trainee at McDonald's, where his dedication and hard work saw him rise to the position of Managing Director after 13 years. His personal story reflects McDonald's commitment to nurturing talent and providing growth opportunities for all employees.
McDonald's Malaysia has also developed various career training programmes for its employees. An example is the McDonald's Vocational Apprenticeship Programme, which provides youths with career advancement opportunities through an 18-month diploma programme.
Furthermore, employees looking to advance their skills can do so at Hamburger U, McDonald's training institution — there are only nine in the world, and one of them is right here in Malaysia!
1. For Mohd Faizul, he never expected his career journey with McDonald's to reach such heights after shifting interests
Originally a civil engineering graduate, Faizul decided to join McDonald's after being inspired by the stories of his seniors who worked part-time during uni. After almost 20 years, he now manages the largest McDonald's market (Klang Valley) in Malaysia.
"At McDonald's, we offer broad opportunities to everyone, regardless of background. The company provides various programmes to help employees advance in their careers and enhance their skills," said 38-year-old Faizul, who won McDonald’s President's Award in 2023, a global accolade recognising the top 1% of McDonald's employees worldwide.
2. Aaron Raj explored many different industries before realising his true satisfaction came from seeing customers enjoy their meals
Aaron, 33, chose to join McDonald's Malaysia in 2022, after nearly a decade away from the food service industry. Despite coming in as a marketing manager, he underwent training at McDonald's outlets to gain a deeper understanding of business operations.
"McDonald's Malaysia is serious about ensuring every employee, regardless of position, has high skills and knowledge. This experience opened my eyes to the excellence of the crew and managers who ensure our meals meet high standards," said Aaron.
While still new to the McDonald's ecosystem, Aaron is motivated to create something meaningful by offering delicious feel-good moments to customers through food and ambiance.
3. Starting as a cashier and server, Wong Xinru overcame challenges to become a key figure at the outlet she now manages
Xinru is now a Restaurant Manager at McDonald's Bandar Utama, but she never imagined her career journey would unfold this way.
During the early years, she found interacting with customers challenging, but the training and guidance from other experienced staff helped her overcome these hurdles.
"With the experience of handling customers, I gradually took on responsibilities managing staff and the restaurant. This shows that McDonald's Malaysia offers opportunities for all employees to enhance their skills. Being promoted from a counter staff to a restaurant manager was unexpected but highly valued," said the 27-year-old.
4. If you ever visit McDonald's Caltex Jalan Tengah in Penang, you may happen to catch this jovial mother-and-son team working together to prepare your meal
Ahmad Danial Zakwan Zainal Fithri, 19, was inspired to work at McDonald's Malaysia after hearing his mother, Norlela Din, 43, talk about her interesting experiences and opportunities at the fast food chain.
"After finishing my SPM, I wanted a part-time job while waiting for university admission results. One day, my mother mentioned McDonald's vocational programme, so I was interested in trying it out. It turned out to be a great experience working with friendly and caring staff," said Zakwan.
Norlela, a former homemaker, now works at McDonald's to support her family and is pleased to work alongside her son at McDonald's Caltex Jalan Tengah, Penang.
Zakwan, on the other hand, is currently pursuing a Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 2 through the McDonald's Vocational Apprenticeship Programme. He is determined to leverage all the opportunities provided by McDonald's Malaysia to build a career and enhance his skills in the food service industry.
5. As a person with disabilities, Teo Jia Jun feels grateful towards McDonald's Malaysia for providing OKU staff with special training to help them adapt well in the working world
Jia Jun began working at McDonald's Mutiara Damansara in 2023, after being encouraged by a friend to try it out. Since then, he's been there for over a year.
"McDonald's is the first company where I've worked full-time. Previously, I worked part-time in other sectors. I enjoy working here because they value people like me.
"The staff here are very friendly and supportive. They have taught me to be a good crew member and patient in serving customers in any situation. This makes McDonald's feel like the best workplace I have ever experienced," said the 29-year-old.
All in all, McDonald's Malaysia is more than just an F&B business, but a company that values its workforce.
As a locally-owned company, Mekdi's focus on talent development and skill enhancement allows employees to thrive in their careers and grow with the business.
Find out more about McDonald's Malaysia's career opportunities on their website.
