“I needed a job that would take on a young person and Maccas was the first place I thought of… I had no idea I was going to become a people person going in,” says 31-year-old restaurant manager of McDonald’s Charnwood, Kirsten Neilsen.

At 16 years of age, Kirsten left her small town of Forbes NSW to come to the national capital for love. “I had met my partner, who lives in Canberra, and moved to be with him.”

As a shy teenager in a new city, she needed to find work fast, which found her at the front of the formerly named Medina Canberra hotel in 2008, for her Maccas orientation.

“The first restaurant I ever worked at was the McDonald’s in the lower ground food court at the Canberra Centre.

“Started on the classic fries, as everyone does,” she smiles.

“In the food court, it can die down at certain hours of the day, so there was time to learn bits and pieces throughout your shift.”

Kirsten spent those hours teaching herself all the stations of the restaurant, and within four months, she was invited to Luna Park in Sydney for a crew trainer convention.

“It was 2009, the start of Year 12, and I was promoted to crew trainer.

“Then, while I was still in college, I was promoted again into management. I remember being really excited that I would already have that career option available to me after I graduated in November,” says Kirsten.

“In early 2010, I was sent off to what we call the ‘Hamburger University’, also known as the Charlie Bell School of Management in Sydney.”

Just two years after leaving home as a teen, Kirsten was attaining qualifications that would carry her into adulthood and, most importantly, enable her to come into her own as a leader.

“I had always been a shy person; I still am today. I enjoy people and being around them… but it takes a while to get me out of my shell,” she says.

“But working at Maccas, my people skills became my strongest suit, which was totally unexpected.

“In this job you have to learn to communicate with people from all different backgrounds, ages, cultures, and in all kinds of situations,” says Kirsten.

“One of the hardest parts was being an 18-year-old in charge of 30-year-olds, but those guys were the ones that became my friends outside of work.

“The great thing about working at Maccas is that no matter which restaurant you go to, you’re going to be a part of that big Maccas family,” she says.

“I formed close work relationships, where, if I ever need anything, I know I can rely on them to help.

“Today, my management skills are definitely the best skill I’ve developed.

“I’m still a shy person outside of work, but I can shine when I’m doing my job!”

This year, Kirsten will finish her Bachelor of Accounting and mark 14 years since she first arrived in Canberra.

She has led the newly refurbished McDonald’s Charnwood for the past six months and has plans to take it to the next level.

“We’re excited to develop the store and team to the level we know it can be,” she says.

Like with any job, her career path has weathered its highs and lows.

“I’m most proud of sticking with it and seeing what McDonald’s has to offer,” says Kirsten, who made her first overseas trip in 2019, to attend a restaurant managers convention in Dubai.

“Another moment I’m proud of is watching the development of all the people I’ve hired. A lot of them are now managers themselves.

“The little 14- and 15-year-olds who grow right in front of your eyes,” she smiles.

Throughout her career, Kirsten has guided many teens, not unlike herself back in 2008, through the Certificate program. 

“The training and qualifications we offer give everyone a chance at a long- or short-term pathway, no matter where you come from.

“Even if you don’t pursue a lifelong career at Maccas, you come away with a lot of skills and certifications that you can take anywhere.”

To find out more about career opportunities at McDonald’s, visit careers.mcdonalds.com.au

For more information on sponsored partnerships, click here.