Job opportunities for 1,200 people do not come every day in downtown Schenectady.

On Saturday, hundreds of applicants wagered their time and resumes at a hiring fair to land jobs at the future Rivers Casino & Resort on the Mohawk River, expected to open in early 2017.

Pop music resounded outside the Social Enterprise and Training Center on State Street, where a festive atmosphere welcomed job applicants seeking employment in fields ranging from food service to finance.

"You should never miss out on an opportunity," said Margot Jones of Menands, who wanted to possibly expand her natural products business or find work in gaming or hospitality.

Diane Dorrough of Schenectady, who has worked in child care, said she wants to work in hospitality and find "something exciting. Something new."

"The casino seems like it is going to be a real exciting opportunity," she said. "I'm tired of the job I'm in."

Danny Brockdorf, the casino's vice president of marketing, said 1,200 jobs are available at the $330 million gaming and entertainment center. Some 400 applicants had already arrived by 11:30 a.m., he said. An informational session last year drew roughly 1,100 people.

Brockdorf expected Saturday's numbers to be similar.

"The response has been great so far," he said.

The casino, which has been training would-be dealers in a school, is looking to fill jobs in the areas of food and beverages, security and surveillance, human resources, administration, culinary, marketing, valet, table games, poker, information technology and more.

"It seems like a great opportunity for a lot of people and I'm looking for a good, solid part-time job to add to what I already have," said Michael Flynn, 53, of Albany, who was looking for a job in marketing or customer service.

"I need a job because I'm unemployed and it's been difficult. I'm getting a little discouraged trying to find something," said Lynne Rice, 55, of Duanesburg, who was interested in a job in bookkeeping and did not mind being near the end of the long line.

Asked if it was worth the wait she said, "I don't know, but what else am I going to do on a Saturday morning?"

Luke Ciccarelli, 25, of Guilderland, a Schenectady County Community College student studying restaurant, hotel and tourism, said he was interested in "anything they have to offer."

He was joined by his father, John Ciccarelli, who brought his resume, too.

"I've spent an entire career in public service and would like to see what positions they have available," he said.

Not everybody came looking for work. Courtney Ortiz came representing the Career and Employment Network in Amsterdam, where she said she supports people with varying levels of disabilities seeking employment. She said she hoped to get the people with whom she works jobs at the casino. Ortiz' husband, Cesar, and seven-month-old daughter, Miesha, were along for the trip.

Eric Jensen, 23, a native of Corinth, is already employed as a dealer at the Turning Stone casino in Verona but would like to move closer to home — and perhaps move up to be a floor supervisor.

Louis Joseph, 59, of Glenville said he came to the hiring event for the opportunity to get off disability and get a job in either hospitality or security at the casino.

"I've got a lot of restaurant experience and I have got security experience — I was a correction officer for New York state for 10 years — so I have got a lot of things in those areas," he said. "I enjoy the public. It would be a nice thing to be there."

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