What global restaurant corporation can boast that 3 out of 4 senior and mid-level managers started out as crew? Or that 40 percent of its owner/operators are women and minorities? What all-American company has made more millionaires, especially black and Hispanic millionaires, than any other company, and is voted, year after year, one of the best places to work?

It’s McDonald’s, of course. A new book by insider Paul Facella, a former McDonald’s executive, tells the behind-the-scenes story of the world’s most successful restaurant organization, drawing from his decades of personal experience in the company—starting as a grill man at age 16—and colorful interviews with McDonald’s executives, franchisees, managers, and vendors, including late company founder Ray Kroc.

In Everything I Know about Business I Learned at McDonald’s (McGraw-Hill, Nov. 2008), readers learn how this monumental organization has one of the highest employee retention rates of any company and an enviable brand that represents consistency, quality, and value—whether you’re eating a Big Mac in Beijing or Boise.

Facella embroiders this fast-paced read with quirky stories of McDonald’s business culture—such as the fact that an employee can still phone the CEO and get a call back within 24 hours, or that bun supplier East Balt Bakery, which struck a handshake deal with Ray Kroc back in 1955, still operates without a written contract.

Facella co-wrote the book with award-winning journalist Adina Genn, who in 2007 was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Small Business Journalist of the Year in New York.

If you want to work for McDonalds in the USA, they now have a really neat online application process.

Simply visit http://www.mcstate.com/careers/ select the state you want to work in from the drop down box, and then choose the role you want apply for i.e. Crew, Management, Support or Any (the latter being any job role).

It will the ask you to choose a town or city in the state you want to work in and you can fill out their online form for the job you want to apply for. Really nice and easy!

If you want to work for McDonalds in the UK, there is a similar online application form here: http://www.mcdcareers.co.uk/html/apply.htm

Of course you don't have to apply online in either case - personally I find it easier, but you can just show up at the restaurant you want to work in, fill out an application form there and then and be on your way to a sparkling new career.

Recently I have had quite a few emails from people asking various questions about McDonalds, the company, as opposed to about their specific monopoly competition.

As a result I've added this McDonalds Information section with the aim of addressing these questions and hopefully helping direct users to the right area