They converged on Independence from across Northeast Ohio.
JOB SEEKER: "I'm looking for some work. Just graduated from Valley Rock College"
Some job seekers stood in a driving rainstorm for hours.... just to get to the lines 'inside' the Holiday Inn. Once there, they dripped dry in other lines - additional hours in some cases - all to make it to a jammed conference room where five dozen or so companies offered applications, interviews; and hope.
JOB SEEKER: "I'm looking for employment NOW."
JOB SEEKER: "In the Cleveland market, things are struggling, so I'm really trying to see who's out here trying to recruit."
Steve Cronin represents a Janitorial Service - and were offering jobs starting immediately. His booth ....was packed.
STEVE CRONIN: "It is a grand mix of anybody from minimum wage up to six figures. They've got to get to work, they really do. They're willing to take less than what they're used to - willing to change their careers, look at different positions."
The potential employers were as diverse as the applicants, from the U.S. Army, to call centers, to AVON and Tupperware sales… even a truck driving school, looking to recruit trainers.
TRUCK SCHOOL RECRUITER: "Orientation time is spent at the company's home office... and you'll go thru rodeo and yard tests there...then you'll go out with a driver-trainer..."
Job hunter Kathy Humphrey was excited to find companies that were actually hiring, but felt that at least one company wasn’t being entirely up front.
KATHY HUMPHREY: "They say Now Hiring, and they just accepting applications but not really hiring, they just want somebody so if someone quit they can just call someone."
But there `were' firms looking to hire right now. Dena Insley needs people for the expanding Teletech call center in Amherst.
DENA INSLEY: "We're looking for 300 customer service jobs to fill."
The stack of applications at Insley's table was so large; they began spilling to the floor.
At another table, Roxanne Pryor said the chance to start over - was worth the day's effort.
ROXANNE PRYOR: "I'm glad I came out here, I found something that fits me, that's in my category, and I believe this is going to be the start of a new career for me!"
Other job fairs are being planned throughout the region, through the company employment guide-dot-com.
