"It's been quite some time, quite some time," Henry Brushard said.

Brushard said it's been months since he last held a job. So he's hoping his trip to the Capital Area Michigan Works job fair will be positive.

"I see a lot of positions I'm interested in," Brushard said. "Hopefully I get hired by one of them."

About 1,500 people joined Brushard Tuesday at the Lansing Center... all with different backgrounds ... all with one goal.

"I'm looking for a job actually," Lisa Mandeville said. "I was with a company, retail, for 21 years."

"I worked at Electronic Data Systems for 22 years," Larry Ciolek said. "I recently was part of a work force reduction."

Michigan has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, but vendors at the expo said that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities.

"We have software development, we have product support positions," Lori Seger of Sircon said.

"I'm looking for an IT administrator and I"m looking for an IT programmer," Rob Rodriguez of Livonia Tool and Laser said.

So with so many people right here in Michigan looking for a job, what can you do to set yourself apart and stand out from the crowd?

Douglas Stites, CEO of Michigan works said:

First, dress appropriately for interviews. That means no jeans and no tennis shoes.

Secondly, tailor your resume to the job your seeking. Don't send a generic resume to all employers.

Thirdly, do some research on the company before you go and have questions ready.

"You ought to have 2-3 questions to ask the employer," Stites said. "It shows you're interested, shows you spent some time, and shows your a well rounded candidate."

It's all about putting your best foot forward Stites said and being patient.

"I'm pretty positive there will be something for me," Ciolek said.