7/30/2019 Chicago Job Fair Leaves Many Frustrated

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First Ever City Job Fair Leaves Many

Frustrated With Hiring Process November 9, 2012 6:47 AM

Updated 11/09/12  – 4:15 p.m. 

CHICAGO (CBS) – About 3,000 people lined up

for the city’s first-ever jobs fair on Friday – some

LOCAL

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Job seekers wait in line outside Kennedy-King College, where

the city of Chicago and its sister agencies were hosting a job

fair on Nov. 9, 2012. (Credit: CBS)

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of them waiting in line for up to six hours – 

hoping to apply for work with the city, but many

left frustrated after learning the only way to

apply for a job was to go online.

WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports

Mayor Rahm Emanuel stopped by the job fair,

expecting a warm welcome from job seekers, but

instead ran into lots of ticked-off people.

More than 3,000 people showed up for the 55 posted job openings,

but city hiring rules require all applications be filed online, so many of 

those who attended left frustrated at having to stand in line for hours,

without being able to actually apply for a job.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio ’ s Bernie Tafoya Reports  

Download: mp3_bc__carts_job-fair-report2-nov9.mp3 

 Anthony Rodgers was the first person in line at Kennedy-King College

on Friday, showing up at 3 a.m. for a job fair that didn ’t open until 9

a.m. By the time it started, a line of people hoping to land a job with

the city, or one of its sister agencies, had snaked around the block.

“I need a job. I need a job, that’s the bottom line. … The best way to

get a job? Be there before your employer ’s there,” Rodgers said.

His goal was the same as everyone else in line – to get a job. But

many said the job fair wasn’t what they were expecting – a chance to

sit down and apply for or interview for a job, not simply meet a few city

officials and be told they had to apply online.

• Apply for City of Chicago job opportunities 

• Find information on city job opportunities, personnel rules

and employment policies, and other available job programs. 

CBS 2’s Susanna Song reports the event was more about networking

and learning about available positions with the city and its sister 

agencies.

City officials were not conducting job interviews, or hiring anyone on

the spot. Officials said all job applications for city jobs must be done

online, because of city hiring rules and the federal Shakman decree

that bans political-based hiring for most city jobs.

However, city representatives did offer assistance in applying for jobs

online using computers provided by the city, and also informed jobseekers about workshops on résumé writing and job interview skills. 

CBS 2’s Suzanne Le Mignot reports the event left many of those job

seekers wondering why someone didn’t tell them from the start to use

their computers to apply for a city job, rather than stand in line for 

hours in the cold.

Cherrie Moore said, “They just got fliers of resources, things we could

have got on the Internet, things we probably already know about.” 

Rodney Booker said, “I stood in line for four hours. They better give

me a Wal-Mart gift card, or something.” 

Job seeker Keyonya Mills was frustrated by the miscommunication.

“They could have said, go online, fill out the application. If you do not

know how to fill out a application, come to Kennedy-King College and

we’ll train you. They have people wrapped around this entire building

thinking this is a job fair and this is not a job fair ”, Mills said.

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Michael Williams compared

the job fair to standing in a

soup line, only to find out

there’s no soup.

“This isn’t really a job fair,

it’s just a meet-and-greet,”

he said. “It’s nothing,

they’re just telling you

what’s going on with their 

business, but they’re not

really receiving anyapplications, or any

résumés. It’s nothing.” 

Williams had even dressed

in a suit and tie to make a

good impression, hoping

for at least a preliminary

 job interview, but said all

the effort simply went to

waste.

“I tried to dress for the part, you know, just to make a good

impression, but you don’t have to make an impression in there.

They’re just telling you mumbo jumbo.” 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel made an unannounced visit to the job fair, and

was approached by some frustrated job hunters.

“Excuse me Mr. Mayor, I have a question. I came down here, I stood in

line for four hours, expecting to get a job interview, or fill out an

application. And I stood in line for four hours to get a flyer telling me

to go online,” one woman in line complained.

The mayor later addressed reporters about the situation.

“The reason there’s frustration is not for the two to three hours here,

it’s for the two to three years they’ve been waiting [for a job],” he said.

“My goal was to get us organized … our job is to help people find a

 job. Even if we don’t have it, to get them organized.” 

The mayor also said he spoke to some people in line who appreciated

the help they did get at the job fair.

Kenneth Williams said it gave him an opportunity to get more

information about the city jobs that are available, find out what kinds

of jobs he personally qualifies for, and give some people his résumé.

“It’s worth a shot. You know, it’s better than sitting at home, waiting for 

someone to knock on the door and say, ‘Hey, you got a job,’” he said.

“I hope that this pans out for me, and for a lot of people, because as

you can see, it’s a lot of people that need it.” 

Bobby Jefferson said, even though people won ’t be hired on the spot,

the event was worth the long lines.

“Of course; I’m one step closer,” he said.

Some of those in line already have jobs, but are barely making

enough money to stay afloat, so they’re looking for more work.

Marie Cunningham said she’s “a single mom trying to get more

income right now, because part-time is just not enough. It’s not

meeting all my needs, so now I need to try to get something else.” 

She said she’s hoping to get a job with the CTA or the Chicago Park

District.

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Obama ’ s Second Term Look?  – Page 12 

[...] [...]

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City Job Fair Upset There ’ s No Hiring On The Spot « CBS Chicago  – FxGz | FxGz 

[...] Added by on November 9, 2012.Saved under Hot Pages Some In Line For City Job Fair Upset There’s No Hiring On The

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[...] Oh yeah, long lines at the job fair in Chicago: [...]

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Chicago: Some In Line For City Job Fair Upset There ’ s No Hiring On The Spot » Slippery Politician 

[...] Go to minute 1:55 on video Read full story: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/09/city-to-hold-job-fair-today-at-kennedy-

king-college/ [...]

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Job Fair Upset There ’ s No Hiring On The Spot | Michiana Voice 

[...] via Some In Line For City Job Fair Upset There’s No Hiring On The Spot « CBS Chicago. [...]

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Nashville? A Conservative's Blog 

[...] next four years if our government continues to institute policies like those of the last four. A closing quote from a guy at a

Chicago job fair (who unquestionably voted for [...]

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Gallon For Morons Voters « Tarpon's Swamp 

[...] LOL, how can people be so stupid … Can I have my Walmart card now? They Better Give Me A Walmart Gift Card Or 

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[...] [...]

l http://lonelyconservative.com/2012/11/good-news-job-seekers-you-can-join-the-obama-administrations-jobs-clubs/ Good News,

Job Seekers! You Can Join The Obama Administration ’ s Jobs Clubs! | The Lonely Conservative 

The city of Chicago and its sister agencies are hiring for positions

ranging from seasonal jobs to full-time employment. The jobs range

from police officers to bus drivers to working for the city ’s inspector 

general.

The salaries for available city jobs featured at the job fair range from

$30,000 to $110,000 a year.

City human resources officials apologized for not being clearer from

the start that people attending the job fair wouldn’t get interviews, or a

chance to be hired right away.

Despite the complaints, the mayor ’s office said the job fair was a

success, and another would be held next year.

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[...] CHICAGO (CBS) – About 3,000 people lined up for the city’s first-ever jobs fair on Friday  – some of them waiting in line for 

up to six hours – hoping to apply for work with the city, but many left frustrated after learning the only way to apply for a job was

to go online. [...]

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CHICAGOLAND: Thousands Line Up For Job Fair … ‘ They Better Give Me A Walmart Gift Card Or Something ’… « Star Talk 

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[...] [...]

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[...] (Read more HERE) [...]

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| Freedom Report 

[...] (First column, 3rd story, link) [...]

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[...] Chicago area job fair: attendee entitled to “Walmart gift card or something” [...]

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