February 10, 2012

By Taylor Fox

The famed Oscar Mayer Wienermobile traveled to MU’s campus this week to recruit its next class of Hotdoggers.

Hotdoggers travel the country in the Wienermobile, marketing for the Oscar Mayer company at car shows and many other events.

“I think it’s an awesome opportunity,” said Barbara Willis, assistant director of career services for the School of Journalism. “It is a full year of marketing experience, and they get to travel a lot. Alumni that have done it have reported that it was one of the most wonderful things they have done in their life.”

The 27-foot-long hot dog, one of six that have been famously traveling the country for 75 years only recruits on seven college campuses and has recruited at MU every year since its beginning.

“There are Mizzou students every year that make it,” Oscar Mayer hotdog ambassador Lauren Oliver said. “(The recruiters) love Mizzou and Mizzou students.”

Oliver, who graduated from MU in 2010, has been traveling with the Wienermobile since June 2011 and will continue until June 2012.

“My experience has been unbelievable,” Oliver said. “I have been to 20 states with it, all the way from North Dakota and South Dakota to Florida. We live at hotels, we live out of a suitcase, but it’s the traveling that’s so exciting.”

While traveling close to home, Oliver had the chance to inform MU students of this rare opportunity. Oscar Mayer Mobile Marketing Manager Ed Roland then interviewed chosen students for a spot on the Hotdogger team for the 2012-13 year.

“The recruiter was just really in awe of how prepared the students were, how professional they were in approaching the interview and how prepared they are to go out in the world and actually do something,” Willis said.

Every year, the Oscar Mayer Hotdogger program receives more than 15,000 applications and only 12 are chosen.

Hotdog ambassadors drive the Wienermobiles in pairs to different events promoting not only a brand, but also a popular icon that has been around for generations.

“You are working with customers 24/7, and you are representing a multibillion dollar brand,” Oliver said. “It is an American icon. It’s been around for 75 years, so we’re on a tour to spread miles of smiles. We always hear grandparents say, ‘Oh, I remember when,’ so we’re passing it along to the next generation. It’s experience marketing.”

Although a strong journalism or marketing background is suggested, it is not required. All ambassadors must be college graduates.

“They look at whether you have a marketing or journalism background,” Oliver said. “Also, somebody who’s willing to travel and who is able to work with people because you’re talking to the media every day and customers every day.”