Job Fair Leaves Some Applicants Frustrated

Thousands line up for fair, many leave disappointed

A City of Chicago job fair at Kennedy King College Friday may have proved too popular for its own good.

Thousands of job-seekers lined up around the block for a chance to apply for hundreds of available jobs with entities such as the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Public Schools, City Colleges of Chicago, Chicago Park District and Chicago Housing Authority.

But many left in frustration after finding less job booths application computers than they expected. Others were disappointed by the amount of available positions.

"I didn't come here for a brochure, I came for a job," Rodney Booker said.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel endorsed the event, calling it the first city government-wide fair.

Emanuel toured the job fair during the morning and addressed the disappointment shown by some of the applicants.

"I knew there was going to be some frustration. But there's frustration not finding a job, and we are making sure people know in one place all of the job opportunities that exist today, and job opportunities that exist tomorrow," Emanuel said.

Help was also available for creating and improving your resume at the job fair. The first person in line said he arrived at 3 a.m.

The job fair closed down at 1:45 p.m., 45 minutes after it had been scheduled to end. Just over  3,000 people attended the fair.

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