Emily Volpini never thought her post-college job would involve driving a 27-foot hot dog.

Oscar Mayer hired Volpini (senior-public relations) for a yearlong gig as a Hotdogger. Her responsibilities will include handing out Wienerwhistles, attending promotional events and driving the Wienermobile around the country.

"I didn't even know about the position until last year," she said. "When I heard about it, I knew I wanted to try out, but I never thought I'd make it."

Volpini said she wasn't really sure what she wanted to do with her degree after graduation.

She and a few friends decided to attend a recruiting and information session for Oscar Mayer in March. After handing in her résumé at the meeting, Volpini said she got a call to come in for an interview on campus the next day.

"The interview was laid-back and more conversational," she said. "They asked me a lot of situational questions."

At that point, 1,000 applicants from across the country were narrowed down to around 30, eight of which were Penn State students, Volpini said. The next callbacks were at Oscar Mayer headquarters in Madison, Wisc.

"I was nervous for the final interview, but the interviewers were very personable and made me feel comfortable," Volpini said. "I really felt like myself, which is probably why I did so well in the interview." She added that she had to sing the Oscar Mayer jingle as part of the interview.

Oscar Mayer looks for candidates with communications, advertising or marketing experience because the Hotdogger position involves dealing with the media, April Lopez, mobile marketing coordinator for the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, said. She also said that it is helpful if an applicant can speak Spanish so he or she can communicate with Hispanic customers in different parts of the country.

"Personality is huge for us," Lopez said. "A Hodogger has to be comfortable answering people's questions and they have to be outgoing and have energy."

Volpini said the company also stressed that trust is also an important characteristic.

"They pretty much hand you a set of keys and have to know that you will get where you have to be," she said.

Lopez said the company usually recruits at about six colleges each year and accepts other applications sent to the company or filled out online. She added that Volpini was one of three Penn State students asked to become Hotdoggers next year out of 12 total hires "that were a cut above the mustard."

"We've always gotten great applicants from Penn State," Lopez said. "They have been very strong, and we have had a lot of success with the school. There has been at least one Hotdogger chosen from Penn State for several years."

Volpini said that those who are selected as Hotdoggers travel in groups -- two per Wienermobile -- and are assigned to a section of the country. After six months, they switch partners and areas.

"We have to travel to certain events and set up promotions," Volpini said.

She added that she does not yet know who her partner will be.

The teams travel an average of 500 miles a week and get official uniforms to wear. They work five days a week, including weekends, when the majority of festivals and fairs occur, Volpini said.

Volpini said she will make $26,000 next year and that Oscar Mayer pays for expenses on the road, such as hotels, food and gas.

"The hours will vary a lot," she said. "Sometimes events get canceled or added to the schedule at the last minute." She added that some of the events the Wienermobile attends are the SuperBowl and Kentucky Derby.

Volpini has never driven a vehicle the size of the Wienermobile but said she is glad she can split the driving time with her partner.

The Wienermobile, which has been around in existence since 1936, has been updated through the decades. The current fleet consists of seven vehicles. Each comes equipped with several seats, a color TV and a large supply of Wienerwhistles.

One thing that the Wienermobile doesn't hold is food, Volpini said.

"I was told a lot of people will stop you and ask you for hot dogs," she said.

When Volpini told her friends about her job next year, she said her friends laughed.

"They all told me they wanted rides in the Wienermobile," she said.

Volpini said her family was proud of her but was also worried about her traveling and being away from home for so long.

But Volpini said she thinks it will be fun.

"I thought the job was really adventurous," she said. "I've only ever traveled around the East Coast, so I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the country."

Besides getting her commercial driver's license, Volpini said she is looking forward to being a Hotdogger because it may lead to a future career.

"The program has a great reputation, and we get training from a PR firm," she said. "As you travel the country, you can network with a lot of people."