McDonalds in recruitment drive as credit crunch Britons turn to cheap burgers

McDonald's has launched a recruitment drive to fill 4,000 'McJobs' to help it serve an extra two million customers a month.

The fast food giant has defied plunging High Street sales to increase takings in Britain by ten per cent in the first half of this year.

It said better menus, longer opening hours, refurbished restaurants and free wi-fi had driven growth, with up to ten new restaurants planned for this year.

Experts say it is more 'recession resistant' than most food outlets because of its cheap food. Hard-up families are spurning dearer alternatives to buy its burgers.

The company says it served an extra two million customers a month compared with last year, defying the high street downturn.

The fast food giant claims the new My McJob campaign will encourage a 'reappraisal' among potential employees of the career benefits and opportunities available at McDonald's.

It will see McDonald's 'celebrate rather than defend the term McJob' for the first time.

In 2006, the company launched the Not Bad for a McJob campaign, and last year began a public petition to change the dictionary definition of McJob.

The company's UK senior vice-president, David Fairhurst, said: 'In 2006 we reclaimed the term McJob with our Not Bad for a McJob campaign, and over the past two years we have received considerable support from our employees, our customers and business leaders.

'We feel the time is now right to take another step forward and start celebrating the McJobs we offer.

Revamped: The restaurant has changed focus to attract recruits including introducing new uniforms designed by Bruce Oldfield

'This campaign is an important milestone in the evolution of McDonald's recruitment advertising, signalling a more confident and assertive attitude towards the McJob term.'

McDonald's UK chief executive Steve Easterbrook said: 'Creating 4,000 new jobs is great news for our business and our franchises, particularly in these tougher trading times.

'The UK may be entering choppy economic waters, but as a company that is more recession resistant than many we can continue offering people a job with excellent career progression, training and development opportunities and flexibility.'