MT. VERNON — The iconic Oscar Meyer Weinermobile made its way through Southern Illinois over the weekend. But have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Hot Dogger that travels cross country in the iconic hot dog?

It’s safe to say becoming an Oscar Meyer Hot Dogger is a tough gig to get.

That’s Troy D’Souza, one of the two Hot Doggers that brought the iconic Weinermobile through several stops in Southern Illinois over the weekend. The recent University of Missouri graduate’s first adult job is driving cross country in the giant hot dog. He says there were many steps involved to landing the gig.

One requirement to apply for a Hot Dogger position is a Bachelor’s degree. But D’Souza says the best advice he can give you is to be different and stand out.

And if you are one of the lucky 12, you can spend your first several months after college graduation driving around a giant hot dog and as D’Souza says, delivering miles of smiles.