SEEKING WORK 2,500 CHECK OPTIONS AT AREA JOB FAIR.

Byline: Deborah Adamson Daily News Staff Writer

With resume in hand, 48-year-old David Shultz threw a hardball sales pitch Wednesday at a recruiter for Universal Studios Hollywood.

Laid off from three companies, the former senior manager said he was willing to take a job selling tickets, operating rides or assisting in tram tours.

``I'd like to get my foot in the door,'' Shultz told the recruiter. ``I've got 25 years of experience in the business world. I'm smart, I learn quickly, and I love people. Now, you tell me what other qualifications I need.''

Shultz, a chief advisory title officer turned consultant, said he prefers a permanent job and is willing to start low and work his way up again to management.

About 2,500 job seekers, many former senior executives like Shultz, descended upon the Sheraton Universal Hotel for a job fair Wednesday. They lined up to get the attention of 29 companies ranging from Accountemps to the J. Paul Getty Trust.

Grace Rivera, a medical secretary who was looking for a better job, said she was amazed at the crowd of applicants who flowed into the job fair.

``I didn't expect this many people to be here and the parking garage to be almost full,'' she said.

About half of the applicants were unemployed and the rest were looking for higher-paying or more fulfilling jobs, said Fran Rhein, owner of Resumes by Fran in Tarzana, whose free resume critiquing service attracted a long line at the job fair sponsored by the Daily News.

People are looking to switch jobs because they are more confident about the employment picture and want better pay or more satisfaction, Rhein said.

The Los Angeles area was hit hard by the decline of the local aerospace industry - which had provided thousands of high-paying jobs. Economists say the region is rebounding, however, with the rest of California.

Creation of a million jobs is projected in the state in the next three years, according to the UCLA Business Forecasting Project, a closely watched forecasting group.

The group predicted a 3 percent increase in state nonagricultural employment this year, 2.8 percent in 1997 and 1.8 percent in 1998.

California's economy is expected to outpace the nation's in which employment gains are projected at an average of less than 2 percent a year from 1996 to 1998.

Elliott Clawson, an unemployed computer specialist looking for work, said he sees portions of the job market improving.

``There seems to be a lot more opportunities in consulting and temporary work than years ago,'' said the Santa Ana resident, who attended the job fair.

Kelly Services, a temporary agency, had queues all day.

``It's been pretty good lately,'' said staffing specialist Tracy Van Den Berg. ``There are a lot of general-office and high-level secretarial jobs.''

At the job fair, several recruiters said they plan to hire more people this year than last, with the most jobs available in administration, sales, service and computers.

Triad Systems International in Calabasas, a computer-systems support and consulting firm, is doubling its hiring this year in mainly technical jobs.

``We're on an upswing,'' said sales manager Jeff Pickett. ``Last Christmas we had a small layoff, but we're seeking to hire 300 to 500 by Christmas.''

That was small comfort for Dennis Aguinaldo, an affable 40-year-old from Oxnard whose expertise is in human resources.

He lost his job as a health benefits specialist in December 1994 after his employer began outsourcing for human-resources services. Since then, Aguinaldo has been working part time as assistant manager of a retail store. He hasn't been able to find permanent work in his own field.

``The downsizing and outsourcing is still there,'' Aguinaldo said, clutching a folder full of job leads. ``The best way to get a job now is by networking.''

But he remains upbeat: ``As long as I'm healthy, I think that's No. 1.''

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PHOTO (color) Applicants fill out forms during a job fair i n Universal City.

Myung J. Chun/Daily News