Drive-thru lanes have been lifelines for brands like McDonald’s during the pandemic.
Now, the Chicago-based chain is turning to make-shift drive-thru lanes to help them with another challenge: hiring workers.
More than 100 McDonald’s restaurants in Southern California are conducting the brand’s “first ever” regional Drive Up Hiring Day. Dozens of restaurants stretching from Santa Barbara to San Diego are hosting the event from Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. More than 40 restuarants in Los Angeles are participating.
“Interested candidates can simply drive up to select Southern California McDonald’s locations and receive an interview opportunity on the spot. No prior scheduling required,” Southern California operators said.
McDonald's, which continues to offer off-premise ordering at a majority of its U.S. restaurants, said the drive-up interviews will be conducted using proper distancing.
“Applicants can stay in their vehicles or sit in the designated interview areas,” the regional operators said in a statement, adding that they hope to hire thousands of workers.
To kickstart the hiring process, McDonald’s said job seekers can start an application via text or by using Alexa and Google Assistant. Last year, the chain launched McDonald’s Apply Thru, a voice-initiated application process using Google Assistant or Alexa devices.
“Potential applicants will receive a text message shortly thereafter with a link to continue their application process,” the brand said.
McDonald’s said this is the first coordinated drive-up hiring event among its U.S. operators, though some franchisees including one in Louisville have conducted similar types of interviews.
Since states began easing dine-in restrictions, industry jobs have rebounded after experiencing catastrophic lows in April. While the restaurant industry added 133,600 jobs in August, staffing levels remain nearly 2.5 million jobs below the pre-COVID-19 peak in February, according to the Labor Department.
In June, McDonald’s said it wanted to hire 260,000 restaurant workers this summer. It’s unclear if they met that goal.
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