McDonald’s highly publicized hiring push Tuesday brought job-seekers to the chain’s restaurants throughout Colorado, including dozens who visited the location at East Colfax Avenue and Pennsylvania Street.
They were all ages — some younger, some older, even retired. But they had one goal — to work.
Darius Daniels, 23, a former cashier at the McDonald’s at Denver International Airport, has three children to support. He has been unemployed for two years.
“There is nothing I can’t do or won’t do,” said Daniels, who added that he is outgoing and would fit nicely in the high-volume Colfax location. “I’m pretty much a people person. You show them common courtesy.”
Applicants at the Colfax McDonald’s were vying for up to 1,000 part-time jobs the company said it planned to fill in Colorado. The chain, which last year added 700 Colorado employees as part of a divisional hiring event, plans to hire up to 50,000 nationwide.
James Henderson, 67, retired last year as a front-desk employee of the Colburn Hotel. He said he was applying for the job “mostly because I get bored and need to stay active.” But, he added, the money would supplement his Social Security and his individual retirement account.
Charles Harris Jr., 49, has a part-time janitorial job and over the years has worked as a stagehand, general laborer, asbestos-removal supervisor and installer.
“I’m looking to get back into full-time employment. It’s been tough, really tough,” said Harris, who has not worked full time in about five months.
Zena Nerl, 45, was looking for a break. She has a record — conspiracy to commit robbery. But the recent graduate of the Women’s Bean Project said she believes “there is someone who is going to give me a second chance.”
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
