Thousands wait in rain in hopes of a job at Bombardier

When Bombardier announced it was going on a hiring spree earlier this month, there were questions about whether the company would be able to recruit enough people to meet demands.

But at the job fair held in Dorval on Saturday, more than 2,000 people lined up in the rain for a shot at half as many jobs.

"We were hoping for a lot of people to come," said Mark Masluch, Bombardier's director of communications and public affairs.

"I think we were very pleased to even see people lining up as of 6 a.m."

Bombardier is hiring to help put the finishing touches on its Global 7000 business jets, which are sold out until 2021.

The interior of the jets will be finished in the Montreal area, which means a variety of opportunities for Montrealers looking for work.

These are all jobs related to the completion of business jets, said Masluch.

"Engineers who support the design of the final cabins for the customers, as well as production support engineers and supervisors even."

Hopeful candidates flock to fair

Rachel Pachoud told CBC News the opportunity was too good to pass up.

"Bombardier is one of the leaders in the aviation industry and also in the rail industry," she said.

Abdul Raja and Gary Crockett met in line, applying for completely different jobs. Raja is hoping to be hired as an industrial engineer while Crockett is hoping to work in fabrication.

"It's very hard to find a job in the market first of all," said Raja. "So whenever there's an opportunity that presents, we should go for it."

Rocky hiring history

The aerospace giant has gone through layoffs and restructuring in recent years, in an effort to make itself leaner and more competitive.

• Bombardier hands out pink slips, as part of effort to cut 7,000 workers
• Anger over Bombardier executive pay puts leaders in Quebec, Ottawa in tight spot

But while the company may have a rocky history, Bombardier says these latest hires will be long-term.

"Because these jobs are linked to the Global 7000 there's a lot of, to use an aviation term, runway ahead for anyone who will be working on the program," said Masluch.

Inside the Dorval plant, 60 interviewers spent the day meeting with candidates.