McDonald’s Canada launches innovative campaign to hire friends together

McDonald’s Canada and Cossette have launched “Friends Wanted”, a 360° campaign that leverages the insight that youth are more likely to apply for jobs if it means working with friends. Interested friends are encouraged to apply together, get hired together and work together.

“One of the key benefits of working at a McDonald’s restaurant is the camaraderie among crew members,” says Antoinette Benoit, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s Canada. “With this campaign, we are celebrating the spirit of friendship while continuing to build on and express our ongoing belief in Canadian youth.”

The campaign aims to differentiate McDonald’s in a crowded youth employment market, drive applications and boost McDonald’s reputation for being a fun, accessible place to work.

Following the March 27th Snapplications one-day virtual hiring activation, “Friends Wanted” is a continuing strategy for McDonald's to engage with young workers as a modern and progressive employer. The ‘Friends Wanted’ campaign is a recruitment first in that it includes an online application form that allows potential staff to apply with a friend. Additional assets that will be piloted as part of the program are an updated Owner-Operator hiring toolkit including digital and print ads, tray liners and crew stickers. 

“It's a simple, but powerful shift that has the potential to not just double the number of potential applications, but makes the idea of working with friends real,” says Jordan Hamer, Associate Creative Director at Cossette. “McDonald’s has always been a big employer of youth and this strategy is a direct response to how today’s young workers want to engage with employers.”