Four-wheeled frankfurter

The Oscar Mayer Weinrmobile stops in Harrisonburg to rest its buns and spread hope for obtaining your dream job

by Rachana Dixit, news editor

Two recent college graduates are following their dreams by driving around in a hot dog-shaped vehicle and spitting out phrases like “franktastic,” “frank you very much” and “that’s just the way the bologna bounces.” They are excited about cold cuts and cookouts, and teaching others how to live out their dreams, regardless of its relation to meat.

Katie “Cold Cuts” Schroeder and Shaun “Sauerkraut” Hanna, current Oscar Mayer Hotdoggers, spoke to an organizational communications class on Wednesday afternoon about, as they say, “cutting the mustard” in finding their dream job.

Becoming an Oscar Mayer Hotdogger is quite an arduous process, which Hanna and Schroeder both pointed out during their presentation. Over 1,000 people apply for the 12 positions available each year. Hotdoggers are meant to be goodwill ambassadors for their company, often attending many charity events together and holding their own promotional events. “You have to be able to work together a lot,” Schroeder said.

Both Hanna and Schroeder’s dream jobs were to become Hotdoggers. Schroeder, who is originally from Arma, Kan., found out about the Hotdogger position through research for a public relations class, and decided it was the job for her.

Hanna had a similar experience, discovering Oscar Mayer’s developed public relations department through a principles of marketing class. After hearing about it, Hanna decided “that it would be such a cool job,” and he pursued it from there.
Both Hotdoggers gave valuable advice for obtaining a dream job, since they both had to be very persistent to receive the job offer. “If you want to do it, go for it,” Schroeder said. They both added that it is important in any job situation to let people know they are appreciated, and that they want to be listened to as well. “Everybody has a good story, but they want their story heard too,” Schroeder said.

Ultimately, the Hotdoggers said it is most important to do what you want, and not necessarily for how much it pays or what status it gives. “Don’t take life too seriously, you may just end up driving a giant hot dog for a living,” Hanna said.

The visit to Harrisonburg is part of a goodwill tour that Hotdoggers participate in for a year, traveling around the country in the infamous Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. “The Weinermobile has really become an American icon,” Hanna said.

Currently there are six Weinermobiles around the country, each in a different region. While Oscar Mayer started in 1883, the Weinermobile has been gracing America’s highways since 1936, and has been updated as recently as 2004.  This Chevrolet boasts a four-speed V8 engine that “makes the smiles to miles ratio on this Weinermobile outstanding,” according to KraftFoods.com

Hanna and Schroeder are assigned to the East Coast for their year in the Weinermobile. Their next stop is Williamsburg, where they will award the winner of the “The Ride of your Life” contest with $5,000 and a chance to take their dream ride in the Weinermobile.