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May 24--Cathy Perkins dropped her two children off at a large Transportation Security Administration job fair before heading to church early Sunday morning.
A few hours later, Perkins was back from church and waiting next to her 19- and 21-year-old in a line that stretched into a blur behind her.
She had decided to apply for a job with the agency in charge of screening passengers and baggage at airports, along with thousands of other job seekers who arrived at the Proud Bird Restaurant in Westchester near Los Angeles International Airport. The event was so popular that traffic backed up for blocks in several directions as applicants swarmed the area when the fair began at 4:30p.m.
The three-day hiring event drew about 5,000 applicants for an estimated 450 part-time TSA jobs, according to TSA Federal Security Director Vera Adams. There was one session on Friday and Saturday, and two sessions on Sunday.
It is unusual for TSA to have such a large hiring quota at one time, but they are doing so to fill an expected rise in airline passengers and need for more security screeners, Adams said.
"People showed up way early (for the interviews) and stood here in the wind and the dust," Adams said. "So that shows the level of interest."
The jobs promise full-time federal government benefits and a $15.55 starting hourly wage, along with paid holidays, vacation time and other perks.
Perkins and her children finally finished their
initial interviews at about 5:30 p.m., and she said she felt good about their chances -- despite tough competition and a long day of waiting.
"It's been very hard for them to find jobs," Perkins said of her children. "They didn't bring folding chairs but they're still standing."
Though air travel is expected to surge because of a rebounding economy, the unemployment rate in the Los Angeles metropolitan area was about 12 percent in April, according to the state's Employment Development Department.
Transportation Security Officer Randy Thomas said that figure hit home for him as he interviewed job candidates over the weekend.
"The amount of people here is just outrageous," Thomas said. "It makes me realize how bad the economy is. We've had doctors and lawyers out of work. And a lot of people with four-year degrees. It blows me away."
Jeff Oden, a 40-year-old Torrance school teacher, stood in a packed room during the orientation, which guided job seekers through the TSA's complicated application process. He said he was seeking a summertime position to earn extra money.
"Teachers don't make a ton of money and I have a family," Oden said.
Applicants were told to apply for the jobs online and warned that the work is stressful, fast-paced, loud, involves lifting heavy baggage and a lot of standing and walking. The shifts start before dawn and require dealing with long lines of rushed, frustrated travelers, TSA officials told the applicants.
"You're going to open up a bag and you're going to see something you are not going to expect," one officer said in a video screened for the applicants. "There are a lot of surprises."
Applicants were also told that there is a lot of pressure, as the stakes in the job are very high because Transportation Security Officers must constantly look for possible terrorists.
The TSA was created by Congress in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. It is responsible for screening and catching dangerous travelers and items.
Once those interested in the job submit an application, they are given a test and are screened for credit problems and any past crimes. A thorough medical examination and another screening also is done before a job offer is considered.
The elaborate application process intimidated 55-year-old Carolyn Jones of Los Angeles. Jones is a retired school bus driver but has been looking for a job to earn more money, she said.
"Compared to people here, the chances are slim for me," she said. "If I don't get this one, I'll keep looking."
