Job seekers try to stay optimistic/The Record

By Kevin Parrish
Record Staff Writer
February 01, 2012 12:00 AMSTOCKTON - Hundreds of job seekers walked through the sliding glass doors Tuesday, hopeful that one of the 15 booths inside the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel had a position just right for them.

Armed with paperwork and optimism, they asked questions, made connections and left contact information with potential employers at the annual Stockton HIREvent.

"I'm checking every booth - all of them to see what they have," said 50-year-old Sandra Jemison, a Stockton resident who said family and friends have helped her since she lost her job two years ago.

"I'm trying to stay optimistic. If I miss even one booth, it might be the one that has a job for me."

Jemison had media organizations, financial advisory groups and Yosemite National Park booths to visit.

For four hours, she and hundreds of other job seekers of all ages and backgrounds waited outside, then inside and finally wandered through the lineup of exhibitors.

Many were unemployed, some were underemployed.

The event was sponsored by the city of Stockton, KTXL Fox 40 television station from Sacramento, Cumulus Media, Telemundo TV and the Job Journal. Each of the organizers had a booth, and they said hundreds of job openings were available.

Such job fairs are vital, Stockton City Councilwoman Susan Eggman said in opening remarks. San Joaquin County's unemployment - well above state and national averages - was 15.9 percent in December.

Lodi's Jamie Culver heard about the event from a friend and came hoping to supplement her income. It's hard to make ends meet, she and boyfriend Moises Urbina agreed. Both are 20 years old.

"I'm looking for a second job," said Culver. "I only work on weekends. I'm looking for anything, basically. I'm attending Delta College. Ultimately, I want to be an ultrasound technician."

Stockton's Teri Salaices, a registered nurse, was hoping Stockton HIREvent would provide her with career options. Her son Kyle was with her.

"Sometimes it feels like nothing will work out," said 20-year-old Kyle Salaices, a Lincoln High School graduate.

Modesto's Jerry Barlow didn't find what he was looking for but said he was upbeat about future possibilities in the wine industry. "It's a great industry and looking to grow," said Barlow, who once managed a Stockton warehouse.

Some of those looking for work realized within minutes that the booth options weren't what they were looking for. Others lingered for nearly an hour.

From noon until 4, the University Plaza's glass doors opened and closed and opened again.

Contact assistant managing editor Kevin Parrish at (209) 546-8264 or kparrish@recordnet.com.