State of Illinois Career Fair Nov. 5 at Hegewisch Community Center

CHICAGO, IL — State government is coming to the far Southeast Side. The State of Illinois Career Fair lands at the Hegewisch Community Center on Thursday, November 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with recruiters on hand to talk through current openings across state agencies, plus career advising and help with the state's application process.

One Thursday, one room on Green Bay Avenue, and a direct line to State of Illinois recruiters. Open to all, with online registration.

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

📍 At a Glance

Event	State of Illinois Career Fair with Metropolitan Family Services
Date	Thursday, November 5, 2026
Time	10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Central
Location	Hegewisch Community Center, 13323 Green Bay Ave., Chicago, IL 60633
Format	In person
Registration	Online form
Eligibility	Open to all
Organizers	Illinois Department of Public Health and Metropolitan Family Services

What This State of Illinois Job Fair Offers

This is a public-sector career fair, not a single-employer hiring blitz. The Illinois Department of Employment Security calendar listing lays out three things on the table: learning what Illinois state agencies do and what careers they offer, getting career advising and application tips, and talking directly with recruiters about positions that are open now. The Illinois Department of Revenue posts the same date, time and address on its own events page.

The organizers have not published a list of which agencies will have tables or how many openings they will bring. Go in expecting conversations and application guidance, not a guaranteed on-the-spot offer.

💼 Why a State Job Is Worth the Trip

State work runs on a formal application system, and that is exactly where people get stuck. Every Governor-jurisdiction opening is posted on Work for Illinois, where you build a profile, search by keyword, title, agency or location, and set alerts for new postings. Each posting also carries a required set of job-specific questions, and those have to be answered even when your resume already covers the same ground. Hearing a recruiter explain how that screening works is the main reason to show up in person.

📋 How to Show Up Ready

Register through the online form before the day.
Create your Work for Illinois profile ahead of time so you can ask specific questions about real postings.
Bring printed copies of your resume and a short list of the job titles you want to discuss.
Write down the posting numbers that interest you; recruiters can speak to them more precisely.

Want a head start? Metropolitan Family Services and the Illinois Department of Public Health are also running a workshop on applying for state jobs and tailoring a resume to them on Thursday, October 29, from noon to 2 p.m. at the South Chicago Public Library, 9055 S. Houston Ave., according to the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership calendar. It is listed as open to all.

Different event, different day: if you would rather meet a big room of private employers, the Daley College Fall Career Fair runs the day before, on Wednesday, November 4, on the Southwest Side.

🔎 Start Searching State and Public-Sector Jobs

Hegewisch sits right on the Indiana line, and it is a haul from most of the city, so line up a few applications before you go. These searches cover the public-sector and office roles most likely to come up at a state agency table.

Start here:

FAQ

When and where is the State of Illinois Career Fair in Chicago?

Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hegewisch Community Center, 13323 Green Bay Ave., Chicago, IL 60633.

Who can attend?

The state's listing says it is open to all. You do not need to be a current state employee.

Do I need to register?

Yes, the listing points attendees to an online registration form. Sign up ahead of time.

Which agencies will be there?

No list of agencies has been published. The event is organized by the Illinois Department of Public Health and Metropolitan Family Services, with recruiters for current state openings.

Will I be hired on the spot?

Don't count on it. State hiring runs through formal online applications on Work for Illinois, so treat the fair as your chance to ask questions and get your application right.

Your Next Step Toward a Public-Sector Job

Whether or not you make it to Hegewisch, create your free LocalJobPage profile so Chicago employers can find you, and browse the Career Center for role-by-role guides on pay and requirements.

Employers: hiring in Chicago? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach local job seekers.