thousands of workers<\/a> in South Florida were suddenly unemployed.<\/p>\n\u201cIn one hour, it was over,\u201d laid-off employee Eric Tirado said.<\/p>\n
Many at the job fair, hosted by CareerSource South Florida, said they still have unanswered questions for their former employer. <\/p>\n
They said they they don\u2019t believe they\u2019ll get their last paycheck and health insurance remains a big question mark.<\/p>\n
Some also had trouble finding the fair, held on the fourth floor of a concourse. Attendees said that flyers mentioned the third floor.<\/p>\n
But they said they\u2019re thankful to see the community come together to support them in their time of need.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you\u2019ve been there for over two, three, four, five years \u2015 that\u2019s it. It becomes a lifestyle. It becomes a daily routine,\u201c laid-off employee Mauricio Valenci said. \u201dTo just change from one day to the next is very difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prospective employers included American Airlines, Miami-Dade County and private aviation companies. A number of educational institutions offering retraining opportunities were also represented, including George T. Baker Aviation Technical College and Miami Dade College.<\/p>\n
MDC representative Marcus Ortega said the institution hopes to help \u201canyone that\u2019s looking to maybe basically upscale their credentials, you know, get a little bit better at what they do, or maybe move into another career or stay within the same career but look for something to polish up their resumes and get ready for this new transition.\u201d<\/p>\n
For many former employees like Tirado, that transition was a sudden, unplanned and unwanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I\u2019m 67 years old. I was already contemplating retiring maybe in three years,\u201d he said. \u201cThey beat me to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tirado said he wants to stay in the aviation industry.<\/p>\n
Organizers of the job fair said they\u2019re hoping it\u2019s a starting point for workers maybe transitioning to a new industry that still fuels the local economy, like tourism, logistics and customer service.<\/p>\n
\u201c(I\u2019m) just thinking that it\u2019s gonna be OK,\u201d Tirado said. \u201cIt\u2019s gonna be OK. But I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rick Beasley, the executive director of CareerSource South Florida, said job-seekers should have an open mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo you may not have that job that you were working the other day, but there are jobs that are available,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Bob Allen, with the company Nomadic Aviation, said he was able to hire some former Spirit Airlines pilots as he tries to meet a 10-day deadline to fly the airline\u2019s fleet out of airports across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did that on purpose,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
He noted that \u201cmost of the airplanes in the world are leased so when the aircraft come off lease somebody has to be there to pick it up from the airline.\u201d<\/p>\n
A CareerSource spokesperson said the organization plans to hold another job fair at MIA, with a date and time yet to be announced.<\/p>\n
\ud83c\udfe0 News From Your Neighborhood<\/p>\n
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