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College freshman Caylon Louden has never had a job, but he is hoping to change that.

"I'm looking for a job like during the holiday times, and even to like help pay for my tuition, help my mother with bills," said Louden.

He was one of more than 1,000 job hunters at a retail and holiday job expo held at Borough of Manhattan Community College on Thursday.

"I just try to make sure I keep a smile on my face and stay positive, because in this economy everybody is real sad and just look like they're really hungry," said job seeker Derrick Stoudymire. "So you just have to try to make sure you be yourself and be real."

"The extra cash can help me because I'm kind of sick and tired of asking my parents for money," said job seeker Cynthia Augustin.

"I need to be able to afford to make my rent payments," said job seeker Ashley McKinney.

The employment fair, now in its second year, was open to BMCC students and alumni only.

"Seasonal jobs are very important to college students because they have very busy schedules," said Melba Olmeda Amaro, the director for the Center for Career Development at BMCC.

"It's hard nowadays to get a job, so this is like a good event to go to lot of opportunities and try to get some calls back," said job seeker Fatima Holder.

Forty-five retailers were on hand, including Apple, Sephora and Walmart, to shake hands with prospective employees to help staff their stores in and outside the city.

"We're looking for obviously diverse talent, educated young people that are looking to join the workforce," said Anthony Lubrano of CVS.

"It all begins here with the students. With students everywhere, they are trying to figure out where is it that they want to head to as far as their career," said Emily Sussino of Sephora.

While students were excited about developing their careers and making that extra cash, they were also looking forward to that employee discount.

"It would be really awesome to get a discount, but I would have to be really careful and not try to spend all my money on the clothes," said McKinney.

"If Victoria's Secret hires me, I can definitely use that for the ladies. So, you know, I'm just trying to get a good job, a nice discount and be happy," said Stoudymire.