ATLANTA, Ga. -- Kymberlee Thomas had never tried finding work at a job fair. She moved to Atlanta several months ago and never expected to have trouble finding work.

"I thought with 14 years experience and schooling, I would find a job pretty quickly," said Thomas. "But it's been difficult."

Online applications and phone calls to companies haven't worked, so Thomas decided to come to the Georgia World Congress Center for the East Coast Career Fair, sponsored by CBS Atlanta.

"I thought if I could get in and talk to somebody, I might be able to get a job," said Thomas.

Employer India Jackson said people should be encouraged by the number of companies ready to hire. She said the job fair is a chance to make contacts outside of your chosen career.

"You just never know," said Jackson. "There's a lot of opportunity there, and it might not be your first, second or third choice of what you think you want to do, but you just get exposed to so many different companies."

And though it may take time and a lot of effort, Thomas said she won't give up.

"You gotta have hope," said Thomas. "You have nothing else, so you gotta have hope."