SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - More than 500 people in the Mid-South have new job offers. Twice that is expected by the end of 2011.
Thousands turned out for the Governor's Job Fair in Southaven on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Companies had a hard time keeping up with the crowd.
"I turned in resumes to seven companies and got three applications," says Kim Blackburn. "That's ten jobs I've applied for. That's good."
"Once I got here and saw the packed parking lot, it looked like there was a concert out here or something," says Stanley Jones.
The almost 3,000 people at the Desoto Civic Center weren't looking for fun. They wanted work.
Crowds were lined up at the doors when the job fair started at nine. So many people came, businesses ran out of applications not even halfway through the day.
"We brought with us 200 applications," says Minnie Hightower, with A.L.P. Lighting Components. "At 9:45 we were completely out."
Job seekers packed the conference room all morning and afternoon, resumes in hand, going from booth to booth.
"It's been overwhelming," says Hassan Khan with Twin Creek Technologies. "We have just two of us here...haven't had a chance to sit down since we've been here."
Twin Creek Technologies employs 15 people, but in three years, Khan expects a staff of 500. Some will be people he's meeting today.
"There are resumes we've already set aside, knowing that we want to talk to that person in the future," he says.
His company is one of 60 at the event, all are hiring.
"We've already scheduled about 20 interviews for tomorrow," adds Hightower.
Job seekers like Kim Blackburn are hoping to walk away hired.
"I'm hoping I'm one of them," she laughs.
About 500 more people came to this year's job fair than last year's. In total, companies collected almost 8,000 resumes.
