Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

On my way to a business meeting yesterday I was listening to `talk live` radio and the subject of `McJob` was being discussed.

Basically a new word `McJob` has been established and it is `slang` for a low-paying, low-prestige job that requires few skills and offers very little chance of intracompany advancement`.

I disagree with the definition.

A professor had completed a piece of work to see if the definition was accurate. His findings showed individuals with McJobs were:

• on the first rung of the career ladder
• enjoying their role (mostly)
• happier being employed rather than not

When I was 16 I had 3 McJopbs:

1. Petrol Pump Attendant (in those days there was no self service!!)
   
2. collecting Littlewoods Pools Coupons - commission based
3. working in a DIY store
   

I loved the jobs (and the money of course!). I was dealing with the public, having responsibility and built long-term relationships. In fact, through my relationships, I was offered another role as a gardener for one of my regular petrol buyers. My McJobs were the start of my successful career. Building relationships and dealing with people is a skills we all must have if we want to be successful in our careers.

Tesco`s chief executive Sir Terry Leahy, started stacking shelves in his local branch of the supermarket chain, during the summer holidays, when he was 15. What a career he has had starting with a McJob!

Any of you started with a McJob? How was it? Did it provide some fundamental basic skills?

Interesting post! It speaks to how we can use words and expressions to denigrate meaningful values, traditions, and culture. When the word catches on, it casually wipes out whole bodies of important information.

I was reading about a book---the name escapes me---that explores how modern-day spin doctors come into politics to do just this thing. They create catchy expressions that can be marketed, quickly turned into slogans, and so forth. The purpose is to either build up or destroy a movement across the culture.

So "right to life" is a common substitution for an extremely complex problem linking abortion issues with euthanasia, retirement plans, Social Security, and care for the aged. It "appears" to have meaning, but it doesn`t.

A "McJob" is a wonderful way to propose that society breaks down into those people who naturally will fail at anything, and those people who will eventually contribute tax money to the society. After we introduce the term and it becomes commonly accepted, we can then use it during elections to show that minimum wage MUST be increased, taxes for welfare MUST go up, and so forth.

I started with a McJob, on the line at a fast food restaurant at the age of 16.
Although my feet hurt SO much at the end of the day, I loved it - It was cool working in the public, and seeing my friends when they would come in (I worked near my high school). It also got me used to dealing with children and adults alike, which was a great skill for my current career as a teacher,

Not to mention that I loved getting my first ever Paychecks!!!!!

It taught me responsibility and pride in my work that I hadn`t really had before that. I loved my McJob!

Hi Copeland,

I loved getting my first paychecks as well!!!

I remember having to be really `flexible` as well. When the boss rang to ask me to cover for someone or work a few extra hours - I nearly always did. That way the boss always rang me first.

Thanks for commenting

Andrew