WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Thousands of eager job seekers lined up outside United Palace Cathedral Wednesday for a chance to meet with potential employers at the second annual Upper Manhattan Job Fair.
Learning from last year’s experience, when hundreds of applicants were turned away by the NYPD due to overcrowding and safety concerns, many stood in the cold from as early as 5 a.m. to make sure they had a chance to talk with recruiters when the job fair opened at 10:30 a.m.
Marianosa Moron, 53, said she waited for hours to have a spot in the front.
“I came here from [the] Dominican Republic early this year. I hope to have a job as a home care person,” Moron said through an interpreter.
Another candidate, 22-year-old biology graduate Madeline Gomez, came to the fair with the hope of getting a research job. “I’m from Yonkers and I had to stay overnight at my aunt’s place to come here early,” she said.
One of the organizers, Sara Farimani, Director of Workforce Development of the local nonprofit Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC), said between 40 and 45 employers from a diverse range of industries including retail, healthcare and maintenance were represented at the fair. Employers this year included Coca-Cola, Columbia University and Modell's Sporting Goods.
“If you look at the line, [it] started earlier and it’s longer,” said Farimani, comparing it to last year. “Unemployment has hit the community hard.”
“The official rate is 14 percent,” she said, “but the unofficial rate is always much higher than that.”
The fair this year was extended by an hour to 3 p.m. Farimani said she expected 2,000 job applicants this year, up from approximately 1,200 last year.
“Jobs are hard to find,” said Mary Rivera, 48, who is looking for work in maintenance or as a driver.
Rivera has been out of work for two years but was happy with the results of the job fair. “It’s pretty good. I have about four offers,” she said.
