The weather is heating up and so is the job market. Hundreds of unemployed people stood in line for over an hour outside the Clarion Hotel Conference Center for Modesto’s HIREvent on Tuesday for the opportunity to find employment with companies looking to hire.
With the Stanislaus County unemployment rate reaching 17 percent, many residents are looking for any job that is available.
“I’ve been unemployed for two years. It’s been extremely difficult finding a job given the amount of experience I have. I was an event coordinator for Sacred Heart Church for over 10 years until I got laid off,” said Ramona Larsen, who was in line outside the job fair.
HIREvents provided over 300 job opportunities from dozens of attending companies looking to hire. The event also included professional resume evaluations, free employment seminars, military opportunities, and educational programs for those who are planning to go back to school.
“I am a single mom with four kids. I got laid off of work over a year ago and I have been unsuccessful in finding a job. It’s hard to get your foot in the door without any experience. That is why I’ve decided to come to the job fair and find out the necessary information to go back to school,” said Regina Sanchez on Tuesday.
There are no boundaries when it comes to unemployment, reaching all age groups, ethnicities, and levels of experiences. The open jobs at Tuesday’s event ranged from industrial to professional.
“Our company is looking for salespeople who are self-motivators and enthusiastic. We want employees who want to build a career and are in it for the long run with our company,” said an Aflac Insurance representative.
Other job seekers were less optimistic about their odds of finding employment at the job fair.
“I didn’t think a lot of people would show up to the fair. My chances of finding a job are slim to none. This state is so highly populated and competitive,” said Jeff Moran, who has been unemployed for over a year.
The majority of job seekers decided to take their chances and hand in resumes with the hopes of a better opportunity on the horizon.
