Carowinds spokeswoman Dani Swords says the number of applicants is far more than last year. And this year, they're also more than qualified. She says, "It's a higher caliber of applicants. It's much more professional, a higher quality. A lot more people have degrees, have experience. You know, even managerial experience." Swords says because of the poor economy these candidates understand the value of having a job. She says they're coming to interviews prepared and dressed in business clothes. They're vying for jobs that pay $6.50 an hour at the low end to $10 an hour at the high end. Carowinds has received 1,400 applications so far and has 2,100. Positions are across the board, including management, security and food service. So far 200 positions have been filled, many of them in management.