Did you know that there are more than 1,270 McDonald’s restaurants in Britain? It might be hyperbolic to say that you “can’t walk down the street without seeing the yellow arches,” but it certainly feels that way. That means that there are plenty of jobs there, too.
If you’re ready to join the 120,000-strong fast food workforce, you need to write a captivating McDonald's cover letter. Wowing the hiring manager means crafting an application letter that shows your passion for making and serving tasty food. So, how do you get started?
Here at Resume.io, we have everything you need to succeed including 180+ free cover letter examples and writing guides. In the following writing guide—along with the McDonald’s cover letter example—we will be touching upon these key points:
- How to choose the right format for your McDonald’s cover letter
- The various cover letter sections and what you should write in them
- How to make sure that your writing is impactful and engaging
- Advice on what to write in your cover letter if you have no experience
Looking for a different job? If you’re on the hunt for other hospitality or customer services roles, don’t panic. Take a quick look at our other cover letter examples and guides below:
Best format for a McDonald’s cover letter
Creating a cover letter that engages the reader doesn’t have to be a mystery. Before anything else, you need to start with the right format. That is, the structure that you will use when writing your application letter. You need to include the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
If you’re an experienced fast food worker, this is your chance to show off your skills and experience. Using the above format means that you can easily share your story with the hiring manager. Rather than rambling on without a clear purpose, you will complete the sections of the cover letter with sheer finesse. Later, we will show you what to write in each.
Never written a cover letter before? We hear you. Don’t worry, everyone has to start somewhere. You can get the basics down by reading our full cover letter guide here. The writing guide will give you an in-depth understanding of what you need to include and why.
Before you start writing your McDonald’s cover letter, you may be looking for some inspiration. Check out our cover letter example below now:
Dear Alex Taylor,
I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the vacancy at the McDonald's Sheffield location, as advertised on the company's careers webpage. Leveraging my experience in fast-paced customer service environments, coupled with my keen interest to join the renowned McDonald's family, I am eager to bring my diligent work ethic and strong communication skills to your team.
During my time studying Business Management at The University of Sheffield, I took part in various part-time roles in the retail and hospitality sector, which equipped me with the skills to efficiently manage customer demands, handle transactions, and maintain a clean and organised work environment. Through this experience, I cultivated a strong understanding of the importance of teamwork and clear communication in a fast-paced setting.
I have always admired McDonald's commitment to community engagement, and I am particularly impressed with the initiatives undertaken by your location in Sheffield to reduce environmental impact through sustainable practices. I am eager to contribute to this vision by ensuring adherence to waste management protocols and promoting recycling within the premises.
In addition to my practical skills, I bring a genuine enthusiasm for providing excellent service. I understand that working at McDonald's involves wearing many hats, from ensuring customers receive a warm welcome, to maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene. I am prepared to undertake each responsibility with a commitment to the established standards of quality and service that McDonald's is known for globally.
I am confident that my customer service background and willingness to learn and grow would make me a valuable addition to the McDonald's Sheffield team. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute positively to the customer experience and to uphold the reputation of McDonald's as a provider of fast and friendly service.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of bringing my dedication and hardworking nature to the McDonald's Sheffield team, where I am eager to contribute to the warm and welcoming atmosphere that the restaurant is known for.
Yours sincerely, Jordan Smith
Cover letter header
A great cover letter header does what it says on the tin. This small section includes your information such as your name, location, phone number, and email address. You need to place all of this front and centre. When the hiring manager reads your cover letter, they may want to invite you for an interview. In that case, they will need your contact details pronto.
Cover letter greeting
Before you can get into the main part of your cover letter, you need to greet the reader. Now, you may have learnt to use “To Whom it May Concern” here. That approach is outdated and will make you sound out of touch. For that reason, you need to find an alternative approach.
If you know the name of the hiring manager, it’s time to use that information to your advantage. Start your McDonald’s cover letter with “Dear Mr. Pearson,” for example. This shows that you have done your homework and know exactly who you are addressing.
Of course, the job advert may not list the name of the hiring manager. If you don’t have that information to hand, you’re going to need to improvise. In that case, you can write “Dear hiring team” or “Dear Mcdonald’s team,” for instance. Always keep it friendly and formal.
Cover letter introduction
You’ve greeted the hiring manager. Now you need to win them over. Start out with your strongest selling point. What skill or experience do you have that sets you apart from the crowd? You might find that it’s helpful to write down a few options before you get started. Consider what will impress the hiring manager the most before you lead with it.
If you’re not certain how to perfect your cover letter introduction, take a look at our example:
Dear Alex Taylor,
I am writing to express my enthusiasm for the vacancy at the McDonald's Sheffield location, as advertised on the company's careers webpage. Leveraging my experience in fast-paced customer service environments, coupled with my keen interest to join the renowned McDonald's family, I am eager to bring my diligent work ethic and strong communication skills to your team.
Cover letter middle part (body)
The middle paragraphs of cover letters give you the space to elaborate on the hospitality experience you have. You don’t want to bore the socks off the reader. Rather than merely listing the tasks you previously completed, give them some colour. In each paragraph, you can share an anecdote about your professional history and what you learned from it.
Quantify your experiences!
When you’re speaking about one of your past experiences, it’s smart to add some evidence. For example, don’t simply say that you “served customers each day”. It’s far more powerful to state that you “served 150+ customers each day”.
Make it make sense. When it comes to the structure of the paragraphs, the order matters more than you think. Each paragraph should lead seamlessly to the next. You can add a final sentence to each paragraph that teases the upcoming subject matter. This approach means that the cover letter flows naturally and is easy for the hiring manager to read.
During my time studying Business Management at The University of Sheffield, I took part in various part-time roles in the retail and hospitality sector, which equipped me with the skills to efficiently manage customer demands, handle transactions, and maintain a clean and organised work environment. Through this experience, I cultivated a strong understanding of the importance of teamwork and clear communication in a fast-paced setting.
I have always admired McDonald's commitment to community engagement, and I am particularly impressed with the initiatives undertaken by your location in Sheffield to reduce environmental impact through sustainable practices. I am eager to contribute to this vision by ensuring adherence to waste management protocols and promoting recycling within the premises.
In addition to my practical skills, I bring a genuine enthusiasm for providing excellent service. I understand that working at McDonald's involves wearing many hats, from ensuring customers receive a warm welcome, to maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene. I am prepared to undertake each responsibility with a commitment to the established standards of quality and service that McDonald's is known for globally.
I am confident that my customer service background and willingness to learn and grow would make me a valuable addition to the McDonald's Sheffield team. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute positively to the customer experience and to uphold the reputation of McDonald's as a provider of fast and friendly service.
How to close a McDonald’s cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
When you’re happy with the main part of your cover letter, you need to end with a strong conclusion. Don’t lose momentum when you get to this point. Instead, you should give the hiring manager a reason to pick up the phone and call you. You could end by reaffirming your passion for the McDonald’s brand and why you want to join the team. Alternatively, you could sign off using a call to action encouraging the reader to interview you.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of bringing my dedication and hardworking nature to the McDonald's Sheffield team, where I am eager to contribute to the warm and welcoming atmosphere that the restaurant is known for.
Yours sincerely, Jordan Smith
Writing psychology: how to win over the hiring manager
Words have power. So make sure that yours count. One psychological trick you can use is to sprinkle in extra information. A traditional marketing principle is that generic messaging is less effective than messaging that includes specific details. Use that to your advantage here.
You should also ensure that your tone hits the mark. Use positive and persuasive language to keep the hiring manager interested. For example, you could include a selection of the best action verbs in your cover letter when describing your experiences.
McDonald’s cover letter with no experience
Looking to land your first job? Fast food roles are an obvious choice for young people. These casual jobs offer flexibility and training. Since you don’t have any formal experience, you can’t write about it in your cover letter. Instead, you can focus on the following points:
- Your skills. Okay, you might not have actual work experience, but you definitely have skills. You may want to highlight your talents here. For example, if you have good time management or great organisational skills, you can write about them now.
- Voluntary work. Have you ever volunteered? If you have voluntary work under your belt, don’t be afraid to shout about it. Demonstrate how the tasks you undertook in that role overlap with the job you are hoping to land at McDonald’s.
- Your schedule. If you have a highly flexible schedule, that is certain to be attractive to the hiring manager. Many McDonald’s workers do shift-work. Let the reader know what your schedule looks like and why you are the ideal person for the job.
Key takeaways
- McDonald’s is a massive franchise with 1,270 restaurants nationwide. If you’re looking for a casual job, it may be worth applying to this company.
- Find out who the hiring manager is and address them directly. If you can’t do that, use a generic but formal greeting here.
- Add detail to your cover letter. Where possible, it’s smart to quantify your experiences and include some evidence, too.
- Make applying for a job at McDonald’s easier than ever! Use one of our field-tested cover letter templates and take all of the hassle out of the process now.
