Chicago Veterans Job Fair Comes to Soldier Field on October 15

CHICAGO, IL — Chicago veterans get a hiring floor with a lake view on Thursday, October 15, when the Chicago Veterans Job Fair sets up inside Soldier Field's United Club. DAV and RecruitMilitary run the four-hour event for veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses, and employers are already signed up to interview on site.

One afternoon, one stadium club level, and a room full of recruiters who came specifically to hire people with military experience.

Ready to search? Skip straight to the job links and begin searching now →

📍 At a Glance

Event	DAV \| RecruitMilitary Chicago Veterans Job Fair
Date	Thursday, October 15, 2026
Time	11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Central
Location	Soldier Field, 1st Floor United Club, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago, IL 60605
Format	In person
Registration	Pre-register on the official RecruitMilitary event page
Parking	Complimentary in the North Garage with a validation ticket from the RecruitMilitary help desk
Eligibility	Veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses

🔥 Who's Recruiting at Soldier Field

The organizer's event page showed 32 registered exhibitors as of this week and notes that its fairs typically average more than 50, with the list not final until the morning of the event. The full roster has not been published, so expect the mix to keep growing.

One name is confirmed. Military Sealift Command, the Navy's civilian-crewed fleet, lists the Chicago fair on its own recruiting calendar and is hiring civil service mariners across deck, engine, culinary, communications, logistics and medical departments, plus entry-level and shoreside roles. If you spent your service on a ship, in a galley or in a supply chain, that table is worth a long conversation.

DAV, the Disabled American Veterans organization, co-hosts the event as part of its national job fair series with RecruitMilitary. The DAV job fairs page lists the Chicago date alongside the rest of its fall schedule.

⚠️ Read This Before You Drive to the Lakefront

This is not a general public job fair. Military Sealift Command's listing describes it as an event for veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses, and asks candidates to pre-register through RecruitMilitary. If you have no military connection, the Fall Workforce Hiring Event at the Powerhouse on 103rd Street runs the same day, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and is open to everyone. Different event, different crowd, different requirements. Details are in our October Chicago hiring events guide.

The organizer has not published an admission price on the event page, so confirm when you register.

📋 How to Show Up Ready

Register first. Pre-registration gets you a QR code, and the organizer's own tip is to share it with every table you visit.
Translate your MOS. Recruiters skim. Rewrite job codes and military titles in civilian terms before you print, so "motor transport operator" reads as "commercial truck driver."
Bring paper anyway. Ten resumes, a pen, and your DD-214 or proof of service if you have it handy.
Charge your phone and practice a 30-second pitch out loud.
Get there early. Head for the North Garage, then pick up your parking validation at the help desk.

No car? The Roosevelt station on the Red, Green and Orange lines is the closest L stop, and the #146 bus runs down to the Museum Campus.

🔎 Start Searching Veteran-Friendly Jobs

Employers at a veterans fair usually have postings live before the doors open. Apply to a few now so your name is already in their system when you hand over a resume on the 15th.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the Chicago Veterans Job Fair?

Thursday, October 15, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Central, in the 1st Floor United Club at Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus Drive.

Who can attend?

The event is built for veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses. Confirm your eligibility when you pre-register.

Is parking free?

Yes. The organizer says complimentary parking is available in the North Garage. Stop at the RecruitMilitary help desk for your validation ticket.

Which employers will be there?

Military Sealift Command has confirmed. The organizer listed 32 registered exhibitors this week and says the final list is not set until event day.

Do I need to register?

Yes, pre-registration through the official RecruitMilitary event page is expected, and it generates the QR code employers scan.

Your Next Mission: Get Found

Create your free LocalJobPage profile so Chicago employers can find you before and after fair day, then browse the Career Center for role guides and pay ranges.

Employers: Want to reach Chicago veterans every day, not just one Thursday? Post your openings on LocalJobPage.