Student who interviewed McDonald’s boss as part of her coursework tells how she scooped a ready-made job under the golden arches
Not many people can say they accidently interviewed their way into a job.
But that’s exactly what happened to North Belfast woman Ciara McGuire.
The then teenager was interviewing the Business Manager at McDonald’s Donegall Place as part of her leisure and tourism studies when he offered her a job unexpectedly.
Ciara accepted and, eight weeks later, she left school.
“I told the principal the course wasn’t for me and said I preferred working to studying,” she said.
Ciara began working as a part-time Crew Member at the Donegall Place restaurant in September 1999.
She was Floor Manager and Shift Manager before becoming Assistant Manager when Victoria Square opened in 2008, later assuming the role of First Assistant.
“I’ve basically done every role at McDonald’s since I started out,” she said.
Now aged 43, she’s a People Manager across four restaurants - Boucher Road, Ballygomartin, Connswater and Donegall Place - and her days are varied.
Her work focuses on HR, including performance management, employee relations, engagement, events and wellbeing.
“I’m the point of contact for employees with any issues, visiting sites to make sure everything’s okay,” she said.
When she was seconded into the People Department as a Training Manager in February 2014, it changed everything.
She completed CIPD Level 3 and Level 5 qualifications and now mentors restaurant People Managers working towards those qualifications themselves.
Her career has run alongside family life and, at times, depended on flexibility.
In her early 20s, when she was raising three children - Ciaran (24), Daniel (21) and Ashleigh (19) - she said McDonald’s was flexible with her hours so that she could attend school events and appointments and avoid weekend work.
Franchisee Paul Connan also gave her set shifts - Tuesdays to Fridays, 6am to lunchtime - to help her juggle her commitments.
“It worked really well for me back then because my husband worked evenings and I could pick up the children from school and creche,” she said.
McDonald’s has also been something of a family affair.
Her children all worked part-time during their studies, while her younger sister, Nicola McLarnon, who spent a decade as a manager, was nominated to carry the Olympic torch on behalf of McDonald’s during the 2012 London Games.
Ciara, who’s now invested in giving back, has undertaken fundraising challenges for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RHMC) , including the Lap of the Lough and Seven Peaks.
“Seven Peaks was crazy – it took 13 hours and was one of the toughest physical things I’ve ever done,” she said of the 19-mile trail that summits the seven highest peaks in the Mourne Mountains, including Slieve Donard.
She’s now training for the Belfast Marathon as part of a £10,000 RMHC Ireland target by June 2026 and they’ve already reached the halfway point.
In 2025, the four restaurants raised over £17,000 for RMHC.
After nearly three decades at McDonald’s, Ciara said the people make the job worthwhile.
That includes the manager she worked for when she was 16, who’s now her best friend and was bridesmaid at her wedding.
“Our employees always say the friendships you make at McDonald’s are for life,” she said.
“It’s a people-first business.”
Franchisee Paul Connan described Ciara as both “dedicated” and “a role model”.
“She’s a real inspiration to everyone she works with,” he said.
“Ciara is a team player who always gives 100%.
“We’re very lucky to have her as part of the team.”