More than 100 unemployed people from the Hudson Valley turned out for a job fair at the Rockland Community College in Suffern Tuesday.
While most job seekers go out of their way to market themselves to prospective employers, Karen Evora, of Nyack, says she expects the employers to sell themselves to her as well. Evora worked for 15 years at a publishing house before she was laid off. Her first reaction to the news was laughter.
"When one door opens another closes, so I'm up for the next journey," Evora says.
Hyla Leidner, of Hempstead, N.Y., spent the past 28 years working for IBM and expected the next phase of her life to be retirement. Instead, she got the pink slip and was forced to go on the job fair circuit.
"You go through the standard anger, denial, and you start building the positive from that and realizing this is a great opportunity," Leidner says.
Many of the people who attended Tuesday's job fair echoed Leidner's words, saying they are trying to stay positive and use the time they have to take their life in a different direction.
For more on job fair at Rockland County Community College, go to your digital cable box and select iO Extra, Ch. 612.