Despite Wintery Weather in Chicago,

Hundreds of Job Seekers Participated in McDonald's First National Hiring Day

by Dan Perkins

April 19th marked McDonald's first National Hiring Day; and Chicagoland McDonald's Restaurants supported the initiative with activities designed to attract new and diverse talents to the company.  Despite the bright prospects associated with the event, the weather in Chicago did little to set an optimistic mood.

Bone-chilling rain and blustery winds swept down on several hundred job-seekers as they made their way to the McDonald's restaurant located on the corner of 65th and Stony Island, near the University of Chicago (shown above).  Bright red, white and yellow balloons danced fitfully  along the restaurant's railings as the winds blew and signaled something special occurring inside.  Even without the balloons, the restaurant's earthy brick facade and yellow awnings beckoned to passersby to come inside and find relief from the dower skies.  Inside, a warm, clean, cozy environment awaited.   

On the north side of the restaurant, a welcoming station greeted job-seekers who were directed to an attractive seating area complete with a built-in fireplace.  The designated area offered a comfortable oasis for applicants to complete their paperwork inside the busy restaurant.  Applications were received from ten in the morning until four in the afternoon; and at one point, organizers had to scramble as the number of job-seekers exceeded the number of applications on hand. 

The Stony Island McDonald's restaurant where all this was happening is owned by a man named Keith Allen.  He is a member of the Black McDonald's Operators Association, whose motto is Empowering Minds - Building Leaders. 

Allen's joy in being a part of McDonald's first National Hiring Day was evident in the smiles and ready handshakes he extended  to customers, job-seekers and visiting McDonald's executives as he moved about his store.

More than thirty years earlier, Allen had started out as a crew member in the first black-owned McDonald's franchise, which once stood on the same site as Allen's current Stony Island store. 

Today, Allen owns five McDonald's restaurants in Chicago. 

diversityinbusiness.com was invited to sit with Allen and learn of his amazing career.  It is a career that dramatically illustrates just how far hard work and determination can take an individual. 

In addition to a tenacious spirit, Allen is blessed with a positive, calculating mind.  "I didn't bounce around from job to job," said Allen after a former employee greeted him and expressed interest in a third-go-around with the restaurant.  Allen didn't discouraged the youth, but said he has lessens to learn. 

Allen admitted to learning a great many lessons himself along the way;  and through it all, he remains confident not only in his own potential to succeed, but in the potential of his employees and in the company that has enabled him to accomplish so much.  Allen's confidence comes from beating the odds, including overcoming a recent bout with cancer.  Today, Allen shuttles between his restaurants giving hope to a new generation of McDonald's employees, and living up to the moniker friends and customers have bestowed upon him:

"Prince of the Southside."