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Nov 12, 2008 7:45 pm US/Eastern
Thousands In NYC Line Up For Monster Job Fair
By JOSH LANDIS, CBS 2 HD News
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
While Gov. David Paterson announced plans to slash New York's budget by billions and stocks tumbled once again as investors received grim retail news, perhaps the biggest sign of the times in Manhattan was the massive line draped around the hotel where a job fair was being held on Wednesday afternoon.
If there's one new job requirement in this economy these days, it's patience. That, was at least, the name of the game outside the Radisson Martinique on Broadway Hotel where about 2,000 people stood in line for the Monster.com job fair.
"It's been pretty intense with the lines wrapping around the block," said Karen Cruz, an unemployed single mother of two. Cruz has been going to all the job fairs she can, and believes pounding the pavement will pay off.
"I think right now because Christmas is coming that they are gonna hire, it's just that there's so many people," she told CBS 2.
And the ranks of the job hunters are growing. Last month almost a quarter million jobs disappeared and now unemployment is at a 14-year high.
For the roughly two dozen prospective employers at Wednesday's Monster.com fair, it was definitely an employer's market.
"When we came in we could see everyone lined up around the corner, so I'd have to say it's good," said Regina D'Antonio of Scheduline.
Those looking for jobs admit they're ready to take on whatever comes their way.
"Honestly, I'm willing to take anything right now. I have a 1-year-old son at home, and six months out of work. We've gone through pretty much all our savings," said Sam Cintron.
For some job hunters, the long lines and long odds are discouraging.
"The companies that are here may have one or two positions for a thousand people I saw outside in line. This can be disappointing," one of the attendees told CBS 2.
Still, fair attendees are keeping their heads high. For Cruz, her persistence appears to have gotten results after she got a strong lead at Avon.
"I was getting a little [frustrated], like I might not have any luck here, but I changed that very quickly," she said. "I'm gonna try this out and see how it goes and I'm gonna keep on looking."
And that means braving lines that in this economy are only going to get longer.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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