We visited Amazon's massive jobs fair at a warehouse in New Jersey, where people lined up around the block hoping to score a job
Lindsey added: "We're looking for people with a great attitude first and foremost, who are obsessed with customers — that is the most important thing to Amazon — and who are looking forward to being a part of the team."
"We're a growing company," Amazon spokesperson Nina Lindsey told Business Insider. "So there's lots of opportunity here at Amazon to move up with the company, to find something that you're passionate about."
Amazon said that some applicants would receive job offers on the spot during the day.
Afterward, candidates could take a tour of the warehouse to get a better sense of what Amazon's work environment looks like.
... and attended an information session about working for Amazon.
...where they then filled out an online interview ...
Next, the candidates headed into the building's recruitment office.
Applicants submitted information like their preferred Amazon fulfillment center location and whether they wanted to apply for a full-time or a part-time job.
Once candidates made their way to the front of the line, they entered a large, white tent, where they checked in and filled out job applications.
To keep candidates cool on the muggy morning, Amazon handed out free shaved ice treats and bottled water.
Katie Street, who had been waiting in line for an hour when we met her, first learned about the job fair from her mother. She was also excited about the company's prospects. "I love Amazon," she told Business Insider. "I have an account. I feel like they're expanding everywhere."
She cited Amazon's benefits as a major draw, including its tuition assistance and 401(k) plan. "Why not invest in my future?" Rodriguez asked. "If they help with tuition, who's to say I can't move up in the company?"
On our walk, we met Yami Rodriguez. She's looking to move from North Carolina back to her home state of New Jersey and is applying for a fulfillment associate job at Amazon's Robbinsville warehouse. "Why not explore the options?" she told Business Insider. "It's a good company, so I've heard, and it's expanding."
By the time we got outside, the line had already stretched out of sight. We walked down the line and found that it almost reached the end of the 1.2-million-square-foot warehouse.
After speaking with Olsen, we left the warehouse to check on the line. We headed out to the exit, past employees filling a number of yellow bins with Amazon purchases.
"Especially if you're someone who's maybe out of work right now, or looking for a better job, the prospect of having full health insurance and a 401(k), Amazon stock, and bonuses all starting from day one is very exciting," Lindsey said.
Part-time employees get the same set of benefits, but receive healthcare after 90 days.
From day one, full-time Amazon employees receive healthcare, a 401(k), restricted stock options, and access to a career choice program that pre-pays or reimburses 95% of textbook costs, tuition, and fees for certificates and associate degrees.
Olsen cited Amazon's benefits package as a major draw. "I think it's an opportunity for people to have a good, excellent job but also have an opportunity for a future," he told Business Insider.
When we stopped by to speak to John Olsen, Amazon's vice president of human resources, he said he wasn't surprised by the massive turnout.
But Amazon Jobs Day is the tech giant's biggest job fair so far.
It's not Amazon's first big hiring event. The company has previously hired hundreds of people at locations like Hillsboro, Oregon, Fall River, Massachusetts, and Everett, Washington.
Source: KPTV, The Herald News, KIRO 7
Amazon has stated that it plans to hire 50,000 full-time and part-time fulfillment center positions throughout the day for its 10 warehouses across the US.
We headed into the fulfillment center, which has been open since 2014. The place was huge.
When we arrived at the warehouse a little after the 8 a.m start time, the line was already getting long.
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