PHOTOS: Hometown U.S.A.: Philadelphia
Rob McCabe stands in line before the doors open at a job fair at the Wachovia Center. The public relations major was one of almost 6,400 who attended the event. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Attendees file in, hoping to find a job at the five-hour event, where business cards and other company handouts ran dry within two hours. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
The fair got so crowded that it was nearly impossible to push past the people clamoring to reach most of the booths. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
A stack of resumes grows throughout the day at a table for Lockheed Martin. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
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An attendee grabs a recruiter’s business card. The turnout was twice what organizers had expected. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Mark Gardiner, center, joins others as they crowd to find out information on job leads. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Some wait in line to record a free 30-second video resume by the local Fox News affiliate. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Sally Marsh and Chris Parnell, who’s employed, pass the time together while Marsh waits in line to have a free headshot taken by Philadelphia photographer Michael Albany. His was one of the longest lines. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
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Linda Lovett gets lint removed by makeup artist Susan Schroeder before having her headshot taken by Albany. The portraits can be used for online job profiles and resumes. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Photographer Michael Albany prepares Anthony Glover for his headshot. Albany shot more than 170 portraits at the job fair, without taking a break. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
“I don’t know anything else I can do for people,” Albany said. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Clad in a red suit, a job seeker gets ready to have her headshot taken. Albany tried to coax confident smiles from his subjects, whose insecurities were on full display. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
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James Jackson waits in the photo line. Others balked at the notion: “It’s hard enough looking for a husband,” one job seeker said, rattling off the dating websites on which she has posted profile pictures. “I’m not going to do it for a job too.” (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Before her headshot, Hong Jiang has lipstick applied by makeup artist Susan Schroeder. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
Albany snaps shots of Joveline Pettus. Albany’s line was so long that an assistant, Theresa Rivers, was deployed to start taking pictures of people. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)
A man who identified himself only as Robert says he often encounters age discrimination in interviews. “I get these young honeys looking at me and they say, ‘Aren’t you ready to retire?’ ” he said bitterly. (Scott Lewis / For The Times)