The iconic Oscar Mayer Wienermobile rolled onto campus Tuesday afternoon looking to recruit students to join its team, Penn State graduate Kevin Jacobson, Class of 2012, said.
Jacobson said he and his co-driver Anggie Pimentel will be around campus giving information and tours of the Wienermobile along with visiting some classrooms through next week looking for graduating seniors interested in the paid job opportunity of driving the Wienermobile. There will be an informational session next Wednesday in the Thomas Building, room 111, from 6 to 7 p.m. for anyone interested.
But spots are hard to come by as only 12 out of 12,000 applicants get picked for the yearlong job, said Jacobson.
Jacobson said he has been a “Hotdogger” since last June and says the experience has been fun.
“I have driven all over America, hitting up 14 states and I met a bunch of cool people,” Jacobson said. “Everywhere you go it’s like you are in a parade.”
Jacobson and Pimentel drive one of six Wienermobiles around the Northeast region and go to promotional and charity events to promote the Oscar Mayer brand.
“We are in a different city every single week, so you can’t beat that,” Pimentel said. Outside of the Palmer Art Museum Tuesday, many people stopped to look and take pictures.
Lucy Song (senior-management dietetics) stopped with her friends to take a look at the iconic Wienermobile.
“I stopped because it looks very fascinating and fun,” Sung said. “Nobody is going to look at the Wienermobile and be sad.”
Although spots are limited for this job, there are different opportunities for students out there, Jeff Garis, senior director for Career Services at Penn State, said.
Garis said that it is important for students to talk to the Career Service Center and the career services in their majors to be aware of opportunities that are out there, such as the “Hotdogger” program.
And even if you are not interested in becoming a “Hotdogger” people can feel free to stop by the Wienermobile and check it out, Pimentel said. Pimentel said it is her job to show off the Wienermobile.
“I love my job and I am a very lucky dog to get it,” said Pimentel.
