Hundreds of applicants showed up ready to fill out job applications at ROC the Block job fair

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Inquiries turned into interviews inside East High over the weekend.

Roc the Block hosted over 50 businesses, recruiters and other agencies. Event organizers say there were just over 100 open positions that were ready to be filled. This was the fifth event for the organization and from the people News10NBC spoke to, the fair was a success. Hundreds of people had pens to paper, filling out applications in person.

Jackie Graham, from Rochester, says events like this can help eliminate some stress that can come with an application process.

"This way you can ask ahead of time because it might be something you don’t want to do, and I’ve run across that. This way, you can ask in advance before you go through the trouble of putting in an application, Graham said.

Businesses from across Monroe County, like Harvest Table Culinary Group, says they are trying to get creative in ways to reel in and retain employees – especially now during a nationwide staffing shortage.

"How we can be creative with scheduling, maybe for those who have too many other obligations, or how we can make accommodations for those who maybe this wasn’t their traditional thought on where they wanted to work,” said Stacey Bortle from Harvest Table.

Organizers created the event over the past summer. In order to help folks get the gig they wanted was made sure a variety of different employers were available.

"Manufacturing work, retail, food industry…Wegmans is here. Insta Cart. There is a variety of types of employers,” said Rochester City Councilmember Miguel Melendez.

Organizers say for now this is the last job fair they had on the books with winter around the corner, but they are always planning ahead for future events.