Hundreds Apply For Jobs At New Brickell Hotel
BRICKELL (CBS4)- In Miami's Brickell section Friday, a line of job-seekers snaked out the door and down the block at the soon to open Hampton Inn. The hotel was looking to hire fewer than 40 employees. In the first hour of the the job fair, nearly 400 people showed up.
The Hampton Inn & Suites Miami Brickell, located at 50 SW 12th Street, held the fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Nestor Rivero, wearing a dress shirt and tie, brought impressive credentials to the task.
"I have a bachelor of science degree," he said. "I've been looking for work for nine months. It's been hard."
Hampton's regional manager, Howard Wolfson, beamed as he considered the labor pool he had to choose from.
"We're really happy with the number of people that have come out and the quality of people that have come out," Wolfson said.
The jobs being offered - bartenders, breakfast attendants, guest service representatives, housekeeping supervisors, house persons, laundry attendants, maintenance workers, night auditors and room attendants - will pay $8 to $12 an hour.
The relatively low pay was not a concern to Jaime Suero, wearing a business suit and shiny dress shoes.
"I'll take what ever comes through right now, just to make ends meet," Suero said.
Family man Javier Oitana said he would welcome a job, and benefits like health insurance, which the Hampton offers.
"We've got to try to find something in order to survive," Oitana said.
Cindy Ospino filled out an application in hopes of getting a better job. She currently works in an ice cream plant, making minimum wage.
"I'm looking for a better opportunity for me and my family, and I'm working at it very hard," Ospino said.
The Hampton jobs fair came the day after President Barack Obama laid out a broad plan designed to create jobs, and lectured a grid-locked congress to act.
The Hampton's owner and developer, Bernie Wolfson, surveyed the vast pool of potential employees Friday and said he felt their pain.
"I'm not a Republican or a Democrat, I'm an American and I want what's best for America," Wolfson said. "I wish the people in Washington would get their acts together and do what's good for us.
Those applying for jobs at the Hampton filled out applications and left resumes. A fortunate few will be called back for interviews.
