Fast food isn’t just about the burgers and fries anymore.
If you’re on the hunt for career advice to boost your workplace performance, take a page from the McDonald’s CEO’s playbook.
In a recent viral video shared on his Instagram, Chris Kempczinski, the head of the fast-food giant, offered some straightforward career advice for anyone looking to progress in their field.
His insights come after joining McDonald’s in 2015 and ascending to the CEO position in November 2019, having previously served as president of McDonald’s USA.
Before his tenure with the famous golden arches, Kempczinski worked with notable consumer companies like PepsiCo and Kraft Foods.
Besides offering tough career advice, he often discusses significant work topics such as imposter syndrome, unconventional career paths, and personal branding. But today, it’s all about the career tips, and he began with: “The advice I would give is: remember, nobody cares about your career as much as you do.”
With over 300,000 views, the video continues: “So this idea that there’s somebody out there who’s looking out for you, who’s going to make sure that you get that opportunity, who puts you in the right thing — great if it happens — but at the end of the day, nobody cares more about your career than you do.”
Kempczinski emphasized that individuals must take ownership of their choices and drive their own progress.
The CEO has amassed more than 50,000 Instagram followers, many of whom value his career insights and work guidance.
One viewer noted, “No employer will ever give you a two-week notice before firing you,” adding, “So do what’s best for you and your career.”
“He is right,” agreed another. “No one is coming to save you. It’s your life, folks.”
“Thank you for re-affirming this,” commented a third viewer. “I struggled with this question recently for a role that opened up in the organization. Glad I listened to my gut feeling and told myself your words exactly.”
Outside of work discussions, other videos capture the CEO sampling some of McDonald’s top items, such as the popular McCrispy Strips, which made a comeback as a permanent menu feature in April 2025.
The chicken strips were initially removed in 2020 to streamline the menu during the COVID-19 crisis, and for years, fans have been eager for their return to McDonald’s offerings.