Cook County Job Fairs This Week: Hillside Veterans Hiring Event Nov. 4, Calumet City Fall Fest Nov. 6

HILLSIDE, IL — Two suburban Cook County job fairs land back to back this week, and between them they promise close to a hundred employer tables. Wednesday's Red, White & You Veteran Hiring Event fills the Sheet Metal Workers' Local 73 hall on Roosevelt Road in Hillside, and Friday's Fall Fest Job Fair takes over the Sandridge center on Oglesby Avenue in Calumet City. One rewards showing up on the right hour. The other rewards registering before you go.

Two Cook County job fairs, Wednesday, Nov. 4 through Friday, Nov. 6: a veterans-first hiring event in Hillside with 50+ employers, and a public Fall Fest job fair in Calumet City with 45+ employers.

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📅 Table of Contents

November 4 — Red, White & You Veteran Hiring Event, Hillside
November 6 — Fall Fest Job Fair, Calumet City

Red, White & You Veteran Hiring Event — Wednesday, November 4

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Sheet Metal Workers' Local 73 Union Hall, 4550 Roosevelt Rd, Hillside, IL 60162

The state's Illinois workNet event listing counts more than 50 confirmed employers for this one, and it splits the room by the clock. The first hour, 11 a.m. to noon, belongs to active-duty military, veterans and military spouses. Everyone else gets in from noon to 1 p.m. The hall sits on Roosevelt Road a few minutes from the I-290 and Tri-State interchange, so it's an easy drive from Bellwood, Westchester, Broadview or the West Side. The listing does not name the employers or mention an admission fee or a registration step, so bring a stack of resumes and be ready to talk to whoever is behind each table.

Fall Fest Job Fair — Friday, November 6

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Sandridge Community Center, 600 Oglesby Ave, Calumet City, IL 60409

Calumet City's fall job fair is open to the public for the full four hours, and the official listing puts the count at more than 45 employers, with free food and drinks and raffles for $50 Amazon gift cards. The organizers strongly encourage pre-registration through their sign-up form, and registering is how you get the list of participating employers ahead of time. That list is worth having: it turns a lap around the room into a short list of targets. The listing calls the building both the Sandridge Community Center and the Sandridge Fitness Center. It is the same address, so don't let the name throw you. If you want to double-check anything, the center's front desk is 708-868-2530.

⚠️ Read This Before You Drive to Hillside

Hillside is the shorter event, and the timing is the catch. If you are not a veteran, an active-duty service member or a military spouse, you are not in the door until noon, and the whole event wraps at 1 p.m. That leaves non-veterans a single hour. Plan to be parked by 11:45, have your resume in hand, and go straight to the tables that fit your field.

Veterans get the reverse advantage: a full hour with recruiters before the public arrives. Bring your DD-214 information in case an employer asks about veteran preference.

Also This Week in the City

Different events, different neighborhoods, different rules. If neither suburb works for you, two city events fall on the same days:

Wednesday, Nov. 4: the Daley College Fall Career Fair on Pulaski Road on the Southwest Side.
Thursday, Nov. 5: the State of Illinois Career Fair at Hegewisch Community Center, a short drive from Calumet City.

🔎 How to Pick the Right Ones

Veterans and military spouses: Hillside on Wednesday, arriving at 11 a.m. for the priority hour.
South Side and south suburbs: Calumet City on Friday, then the Hegewisch state fair on Thursday if you want a second shot.
West Side and western suburbs: Hillside, timed for the noon public window.
Anyone who likes to prepare: Calumet City. Register early, get the employer list, and research the names before Friday.

What to Bring to Any of Them

Ten or more printed copies of your resume
A notebook and pen to write down recruiter names and contact information
A photo ID and, for veterans, your DD-214 details
Clean, professional clothes and comfortable shoes
A 20-second introduction: who you are, what you do, what you want next

🔎 Search Cook County Jobs Now

Search tonight, apply to a few, and you'll walk into either fair with something specific to ask about.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I go to the Hillside event if I'm not a veteran?

Yes. The first hour, 11 a.m. to noon, is reserved for active-duty military, veterans and their spouses. The event opens to the public from noon to 1 p.m.

Do I need to register for the Calumet City job fair?

The listing strongly encourages pre-registration but does not say it is required. Registering is how you receive the list of participating employers in advance, so it is worth the two minutes.

Which employers will be at these job fairs?

Neither listing names the employers. Hillside reports more than 50 confirmed employers and Calumet City more than 45. Calumet City sends its employer list to people who pre-register.

Do these job fairs cost anything?

Neither listing mentions an admission fee. Calumet City advertises free food and drinks for everyone attending.

Will this guide be updated?

Yes. If times, venues or employer lists change before Wednesday or Friday, we'll update this page.

Get Your Profile Ready Before Wednesday

Recruiters at both events will ask where they can see your work history. Create a free job seeker profile on Chicago LocalJobPage so your resume is ready to share, and browse the Chicago Career Center for role-by-role guides on pay and training.

Employers: Hiring in Chicago or the suburbs? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach local job seekers who are actively looking.