By Karen Perkins

For YourNewsColumbus

Posted 10-13-09

Approximately 4,000 people waited in line at Veterans Memorial today for a chance to go to work right now.

Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation’s JOBLeaders initiative offers assistance to job seekers by reinforcing their job readiness skills with training, help with resume preparation, interviewing skills reinforcement, and job search assistance. Employers partnering with JOBLeaders benefit as well by gaining access to a pool of well trained job seekers who are ready to hit the ground running.

JOBLeaders initial goal was to host today’s job fair for approximately 2,500 job seekers needing immediate work, and 75 employers with immediate openings. JOBLeaders far exceeded their objectives with approximately 4,000 job seekers and more than 90 employers.

"We don’t have an official count yet, but we hit about 2,500 job seekers at about 11 a.m., and businesses are thrilled to be here," said Suzanne Coleman-Tolbert, president and chief executive officer of COWIC JOBLeaders.

Sentiments expressed throughout the job fair were the same, "An hour is not a long time to stand in line for a better opportunity." Among the crowd were young college graduates who were job hunting for the first time, displaced workers due to layoffs and plant closings, and seniors looking for opportunities with benefits to help with health care costs.

"I waited well over an hour because I wanted a chance at immediate employment," said Eshay Stanley, a young veteran who recently returned home after a three-year tour in Korea. "This is one of the best organized job fairs that I’ve been to."

COWIC JOBLeaders works in association with Franklin County Job and Family Services, Ohio Job and Family Services, and the city.