Wall Street Pink Slip party in NYC

New York: If misery loves company, a recent soiree in New York was the party of the year. It's exclusive and popular but just don't ask anyone how's work going.

Normally a long line outside a New York bar means a hot party happening inside. But this was a shindig you really didn't want to be on the list for.

"I've been laid off."

"I got laid off a couple of weeks ago. Uh I'd been working at Lehman Brothers."

It was called the Wall Street pink slip party.

"Tonight's event is about putting Wall Streeters who were laid off or looking together with recruiters with HR people who have jobs while we raise money for the Ronald McDonald House of New York," party organizer Rachel Pine said.

It was all good for the charity but some of the newly unemployed may have to start eating more at McDonalds.

Business recruiters who attended say it's tough out there.

"Anybody who's involved in the New York bond market knows that this is a 100 year storm,” Peter Humphrey, who’s a recruiter, said.

As recruiters mingled with jobseekers, 'what's your sign' was replaced by 'how's my resume?'

"There's a lot more people out of work and I think people have to reinvent themselves," Janine Kelly, another recruiter, said.

Striking out in a bar can be doubly tough in this economy.

"I don't expect finding a real job here or you know. I just put my name out, get my face in front of people because that's the hardest thing you know," a recently laid-off professional Wendell Berry said.

The only person getting good job tips was the bartender.

"I've gotten a tip on I think every drink so far, so I can't really complain," he said.

Some people get desperate at parties and some were desperate even before they arrived. Mike Najarian has a wife and two children.

"If I don't find something by the end of 08, there's a good chance that I will have to pack up my family and sell the homestead and move on. That's the economic downfall and I'm close to that point,” Najarian said.

For one evening at least, those hit by the financial crisis felt they weren't in it alone.

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