“American Idol” auditions might be easier than landing a position at the new Sewon America plant in LaGrange.

A total of 3,050 people filled out job applications at West Georgia Technical College during a three-day hiring blitz that ended Wednesday. But only an estimated 25 to 30 applicants will be offered jobs, according to Sean McMillan, director of western operations for Georgia’s Quick Start training program.

Quick Start, which will train Sewon’s employees, allowed the company and state Department of Labor to use its space at West Georgia Tech for the hiring event. Applicants will now go to the Labor Department’s offices on Longley Place in the LaGrange Industrial Park.

Sewon, which is completing a $170 million plant in the Callaway South Industrial Park, plans to hire about 300 people this year and start production in November, supplying parts for Kia Motors plant in West Point.

About 1,300 job-seekers turned out Monday at West Georgia Tech, about 1,000 the on the second day and 750 on the third. About 100 people camped out at the school Sunday night, including a woman who drove from Ohio and slept in her car. Other applicants came from South Carolina and all over Georgia and Alabama.

What does that say about the economy?

“I think it’s very clear we’re in some very difficult times,” McMilllan said. But it also “says a lot about their initiative to work.”

McMillan said he expects Sewon and the Labor Department to narrow the field of applicants to 80 to 100, who will have up to four days of pre-hire training starting Wednesday. Those who survive will go through some “pretty rigorous interviews,” McMillan said, and probably 25 to 30 will be offered jobs and receive advanced manufacturing training.

“The training will continue as long as the company wants to recruit people,” McMillan said.

Employees for Kia Motors and about 10 of its suppliers are being trained under the Quick Start program, and “there will be more,” he said.

McMillan praised Troup County sheriff’s and LaGrange police personnel for managing the traffic and the crowd this week.

“This was huge,” McMillan said. “It could have been a very different situation for all of us. The city and county leadership did a super job taking responsibility.”