The statistics are bad enough -- 651,000 people lost their jobs in February, pushing the unemployment rate to 25-year high of 8.1%.

But numbers never tell the whole story -- as was evident at Monster.com (MWW) career fair in New York City on Thursday. Hours before the fair was slated to begin, hundreds of job seekers had already started lining up.

Over the course of the day, 3,700 attended, hoping to get a shot at one of the 1,000 available jobs.

Job Seekers: In Their Own Words

SmartMoney.com spoke with dozens of job seekers at the fair --from 30-year industry veterans to fresh faces straight out of school -- and one sentiment prevailed: As the pool of applicants continues to grow larger, their prospects grow bleaker.

I hear from employers every day that it s overwhelming to have so many candidates to choose from," says Eric Winegardner, a vice president at Monster.com, who helped organize the event. PNC Bank (PNC) says it received about 1,500 resumes for 60 positions. Montreal-based drug company, Pharmascience Laboratories, has received close to 1,500 resumes for just two openings in the Tri-State area.

While each of these unemployed workers face similar challenges, they all have their own story to tell.

1. Angela Corso, 56

Former job: Legal secretary at a small litigation firm

Unemployed since: August 2008

Two decades of experience, and still no luck.

I ve been in this field for almost 20 years, I m very good at what I do and I m looking to stay. [My job search] has been frustrating at times. I get a couple calls for interviews, they say we ll let you know and that s it, then I m left hanging. Being unemployed, my priority is rent and bills. It s very hard to try to put some money aside for [things like] retirement.

2. Slinger James, 27

: Human resources consultant at an HR consulting and outsourcing company

Former job

Unemployed since: August 2007 (with the exception of some part-time jobs)

Racing against time and his dwindling savings:

My primary focus is to get a full-time job so I can pay my bills... I m coasting on [the money I saved from my last job] right now so I m really hoping that something happens soon because I don t want the funds to run out. I can communicate well with people and I m customer-service oriented. I m hoping that I can find something here now in that field.

3. Donna Link, 62

: Worked in marketing for a real estate company

Former job

Unemployed since: September 2008

Seeks to bolster nest egg for her and her now laid-off husband:

My spouse was laid off at the same time that I was, but he decided to retire. We re tapping into our savings and even though we lived in our house for 20 years, there s still 10 years left on the mortgage. We re not behind on our payments, but the money will run out eventually. I am open to any sector but the competition is so tough right now.

4. Michael Bendik, 21

: Intern at a marketing firm and a senior at the University at Buffalo

Current job

Unemployed since: n/a

Worries about bleak employment prospects post-graduation:

I ve been going to career fairs meeting [people] at alumni dinners. Everybody has just been saying the same thing: That there s not going to be any jobs until the economy turns around. And it s very frustrating because I might have to do a job that I did back in high school and it just kind of makes you think: Where did all the money and the hard effort go?

5. Annette Oliva, 52

: Vice president of sourcing at an apparel company in Hong Kong

Former job

Unemployed since: May 2008

Watches as industry cuts back and moves jobs to China:

I became unemployed when the company restructured it was a mass layoff where they were moving people from Hong Kong to other parts of the world, primarily northern China. It s been very difficult especially in the apparel industry because both retailers and wholesalers are cutting back due to the bad economy. I have over 30 years experience, so I would definitely be interested in staying in the same field, but I m open to other things if [they re] applicable to my experience.

6. Anthony Agiato, 47

: Business analyst and project manager at a technology consulting firm

Former job

Unemployed since: Late 2007

Sold cars and worked part-time jobs to provide for his family:

[Employers] want people who can do two or three jobs at the same time. They want a business analyst who can also do programming. Historically those are separate things...I m open to any job in any industry. Over the course of the past year and a half, I ve sold cars, worked at Macy's, worked at UPS as a holiday helper, anything that I could do to get the extra income that I need for my family. Luckily I haven t had to touch my retirement savings, not that there is much left with how [the market] is going, and savings for my son s college [education] is on hold.

7. Kevin Dunn, 28

: Paralegal for a small law firm

Former job

Unemployed since: September 2008

Financially-troubled former boss still owes him money:

He couldn t afford to employ me anymore. I took a leave and he still owes me $1,000. I sent out a lot of resumes through my former school, Brooklyn College and Monster.com and asking every single person I know but I haven t heard much back. I was considering paralegal jobs because I m considering going to law school in 2010, [but] I have to broaden my search and pretty much consider anything. I m at the point where I m getting pretty low on money. I m going to have to take pretty much whatever I can get.

8. Mark Frillici, 44

: Underwriter at a commercial lending firm on Wall Street

Former job

Unemployed since: January 2009

Laid off after former employer, a commercial lender, underwent a restructuring:

It s been tougher than I thought it would be. I ve been sending applications and I haven t been getting any replies, which has been pretty frustrating. Ideally, I d like to remain in commercial lending but I m open to other opportunities as well - anything to fill the void, including consulting....[It] up seeds your family and all those items you ve built all this time.

9. Donna D Ambrosio, 32

: Statistical analyst at an advertising agency

Former job

Unemployed since: July 2008

Fears falling short of employers' now-lofty expectations:

It s been frustrating at times. You keep applying and unfortunately if you don t have everything that they re looking for they kind of pass you off. I was told that if they re looking for 10 things, five or six years ago they would say OK, if you know five or six we ll teach you the rest. Now, because they re so many eligible candidates they re expecting eight, nine or 10 of those things.

10. Deanna Lopez Torres, 25

: Publicist at public relations firm

Former job

Unemployed since: Last week

Hopes networking will keep her time unemployed brief:

I ve been emailing and calling everyone I know in public relations [including] my old bosses and [going to] job fairs. I would like to be in public relations but at this point you can t be picky.