If you noticed that the line at your local McDonald's was longer than usual last Tuesday, it was because there were lots of customers waiting to be served work.
In what has to be one of the most inspired PR moves of the year to date, and an act that put an exclamation point on news of an improving job market, the iconic fast-food chain took applications for 50,000 brand new positions in one day - Tuesday, April 19, which the company dubbed National Hiring Day. The jobs offered were of all types and levels: local and corporate, crew and management, full- and part-time.
McDonald's made the move in response to improving business and a growing number of locations operating round the clock. The new jobs will increase the company's U.S. workforce by seven percent, to 750,000.
Besides being good PR, McDonald's hiring spree should be especially good news for African Americans, especially African American teens, among whom the unemployment rate is a whopping 42 percent. The company has a history of aggressively recruiting and promoting African American talent; many McDonald's store managers and franchise owners got their start taking orders behind the counter or working the grill.
Which brings us to another good point about this development. Contrary to popular stereotypes, McJobs are actually one of the best tickets out of poverty for millions, as they come with clear and easily achievable paths to advancement. We can only hope that Tuesday's mass hiring is just the first shot in a spring jobs offensive that brings other employers, large and small, back into the hiring game.
Don't forget that restaurants like McDonald's are part of the retail universe too, and you will find jobs both there and at other restaurant chains at RetailGigs.com.
Sandy Smith is a veteran freelance writer, editor and public relations professional who lives in Philadelphia. Besides blogging for RetailGigs.com, he has written for numerous publications and websites, would be happy to do your resume, and is himself actively seeking career opportunities on Nexxt. Check out his LinkedIn profile and read his other posts on RetailGigsBlog.com.
Become a member to take advantage of more features, like commenting and voting.
Register or sign in today!