Chicago's Fall Citywide Career Fair Brings 37 Employers to Kennedy-King September 30

Published: September 26, 2026 | By LocalJobPage Team

CHICAGO, IL — One of the biggest free hiring rooms on the South Side this fall opens Wednesday. The Office of the City Clerk brings its 2026 Fall Citywide Career Fair to Kennedy-King College in Englewood on September 30, and the exhibitor list has grown to 70 organizations: 37 hiring employers and 33 training and resource partners, all under one roof on 63rd Street.

Wednesday, September 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kennedy-King College, U-Building. Free, walk-ins welcome, and pre-registration strongly encouraged.

Ready to search? Skip to the Chicago job links for the employers in the room →

📍 At a Glance

Event	2026 Fall Citywide Career Fair
Date	Wednesday, September 30, 2026
Time	10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location	Kennedy-King College, U-Building, 740 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL 60621
Cost	Free
Format	In person
Registration	Pre-registration strongly encouraged through the City Clerk's career fair page
Walk-ins	Welcome
Eligibility	No age or residency restrictions posted
Host	Office of the City Clerk, (312) 742-5375

🔥 Who's Hiring at Kennedy-King

The roster leans hard toward public-sector and transit work, the kind of jobs that tend to come with posted pay grades and benefits. The Chicago Transit Authority is sending two tables, one for general hiring and one for its Second Chance Program, which recruits job seekers who face barriers to employment. Pace, the Illinois Tollway and IDOT are on the list too.

Government employers fill much of the room: the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library, Chicago Public Schools nutrition services, the city's Department of Human Resources and Department of Procurement Services, Cook County Government, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois Central Management Services and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

On the private side, look for Northwestern Medicine and Saint Anthony Hospital in health care, BMO Bank, UPS, Old Dominion Freight Line, First Student and Cintas, plus manufacturers and contractors including S&C Electric, Donson Machine, Corrugated Supplies, Walsh Vinci and SYSTRA-EXP. Operating Engineers Local 150 will be there for anyone eyeing heavy equipment.

More Than a Job Table

The other 33 tables are worth a lap. Chicago Women in Trades, the Mid-America Carpenter Training Center, HIRE360, Cara Collective, Goodwill, National Able Network and the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership all hold seats. So does the CTA's Red Line Extension project.

The Clerk's office is also running CityKey services on site. Appointments for the city's free municipal ID are booked separately at getcitykey.com.

📋 How to Show Up Ready

Register ahead on the City Clerk's page. Walk-ins are allowed, but pre-registering speeds up the door.
Print more resumes than you think you need.
Bring photo ID and any license or certification you hold: CDL, forklift, CNA, food handler.
Get free resume help before Wednesday at an American Job Center; the state's IDES event listing points to LevelUpAJC.org.
Take transit. Kennedy-King sits at 63rd and Halsted, by the Green Line's Halsted stop, and the 63rd Street bus runs past the door.

Can't make Wednesday? The State of Illinois brings its own job fair to Northbrook two days later, on Friday, October 2. Different host, different employers; our Northbrook job fair guide has the details.

🔎 Where to Aim Before Wednesday

Recruiters remember the candidate who already applied. Check what these employers have posted, apply online, then walk in and say so.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fall Citywide Career Fair free?

Yes. The City Clerk lists admission as free for job seekers.

Do I need to register in advance?

No, walk-ins are welcome. The Clerk's office strongly encourages pre-registration through the form on its career fair page, which makes check-in faster.

Which employers will be there?

The Clerk's page names 37 hiring employers, from the CTA and Northwestern Medicine to UPS and Cook County, plus 33 training partners.

Where exactly is it?

The U-Building at Kennedy-King College, 740 W. 63rd St., in Englewood near 63rd and Halsted.

Do I have to live in Chicago to attend?

The Clerk's page posts no age or residency restrictions. Individual employers set their own requirements, so read each posting, especially for police and other public-safety jobs.

Walk Out With More Than a Tote Bag

The fair runs four hours; the follow-up takes longer. Create your free LocalJobPage profile so Chicago employers can find you after Wednesday, and use the Career Center to see what these jobs require and pay.

Employers: didn't get a table at Kennedy-King? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach Chicago job seekers every day of the season.