Carson Job Fair Connects People

Hoosier job seekers are polishing up their résumés and shaking hands with potential employers in hopes of landing a new job. 

Angela Cervantez-Gardner was one of 1,200 people looking for a job at the 5th annual Central Indiana Job Fair at Ivy Tech Community College in downtown Indianapolis Wednesday. 

She’s been unemployed for about a year, after her previous employer closed unexpectedly. She says the job-hunting process has been tough.

"It's really hard, but I did get a lot of great leads and I'm really hopefull. It's just you get angry after a while that there are so many people who are without jobs," says Cervantez-Gardner.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statics the unemployment rate for the Indianapolis-Carmel area was 5.6 percent in June, up slightly from 5.3 percent in May. 

U.S. Representative Andre Carson hosts the job event.  He says he understands searching for a new job is frustrating.

"There often comes a stigma with being unemployed," says Carson. "We're here to say you don't have to carry that burden on your shoulders.  There are employers who want to help, Ivy Tech is here to offer classes with job training, resume writing, how to present yourself properly."

Seventy-eight employers were represented at the fair offering over 2,000 jobs. 

The event also provides a chance to learn about Indiana’s newly updated Second Chance Law that gives ex-offenders the opportunity to wipe their records clean.