Applicants Overwhelm Howard Co. Job Fair

CLARKSVILLE, Md. - Traffic in the vicinity of Clarksville, Maryland was gridlocked for hours in the middle of the day, Friday. It wasn't an accident. It was a job fair.

Thousands of applicants tried to crowd into a rented ballroom for a job fair organized by the Columbia Workforce Center. About two dozen federal agencies (and companies that have federal contracts) had set up booths. Recruiters were stunned by the size of the turnout.

Ian Grayson, an electrical engineer and IT manager, spent much of the day trying to get into the job fair. "I left for the event at 9:45 a.m.," said Grayson, "And I didn't get here until about 12:00, based off the traffic, alone."

Most of the job seekers waited out the traffic and the long line to get into the ballroom in order to speak to recruiters about agencies and companies that are hiring. But the interviews were brief. "Like three minutes," estimated IT specialist Nicole Bell.

Chris Pugh, a recruiter for the National Institutes of Health estimated he collected "a couple of thousand resumes" in the course of the day.

Social Security Administration manager Donna Jones was impressed at the high proportion of college graduates who were available for immediate employment. Will her agency be hiring some of the applicants? "Yes, yes," replied Jones without hesitation. Looking at the lines, Jones also said she feels grateful to already have a job.