STATESBORO, GA (WTOC) -
The line of job hopefuls stretched from one corner of Ogeechee Tech's campus to another...to another. Some were waiting at Ogeechee Technical College as early as 4 a.m., looking to work at the new Great Dane plant.
"I'm trying to better myself, looking for a better job than the one I'm holding right now," explained Darrell Hester of Oliver, as he waited in line.
Hester was not alone. Folks of all backgrounds and experiences came out to apply for jobs ranging from manufacturing to management.
"We'll have salaried positions in marketing as well as engineering, as well as hourly construction positions," plant manager Kevin Black noted. "We want to be at 400 jobs as quick as possible but we won't sacrifice quality or safety in making that happen."
Black said the turnout showed how good a company Great Dane is. Others think it showed how tough the job market is as well.
"The normal job fair has several employers. Today, we've got one employer and 3,000 people standing in line to turn in an application," stated Mel Wages of the Georgia Department of Labor. The GDOL assisted in processing the applications and explaining the hiring timetable to groups of applicants.
The plant will produce refrigerated transport trailers. Black stated Great Dane hoped to begin calling the first of the applicants by the end of next week. But it could take longer to get through to everyone they contact. Others might hear from them in weeks and months to come.
"They may get a call 6 months from now depending on where they are in the process," he explained.
Black said he hopes to begin moving into the new Statesboro plant later this month and begin getting the building ready for production.
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