By Dianne Anderson

Anyone looking for some extra money over the holidays or possibly beyond, several employers are coming out to offer full-time, part-time, seasonal and career-track work, and all under one roof.

The community is invited out to meet face to face with recruiters and go after a better job with hundreds of current job openings.

On site, the free Long Beach Career Fair usually features 20 to 30 participating major employers, representing job opportunities across healthcare, government, education, transportation, logistics, hospitality, retail, property management, to name a few.

“Our participating employer list continues to develop as we get closer to October 15, so additional employers will be announced as their participation is confirmed,” said Neal Morrison, Community Outreach Director at City Career Fair. “The goal is to give job seekers an opportunity to meet multiple employers in one location and explore full-time, part-time, seasonal and career-track opportunities.”

So far,  many familiar names are participating. Confirmed employers include Enterprise Mobility, Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services, Entravision, Job Corps and the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

On Thursday, October 15, the 26th Annual Community Employment Day Career Fair will be held at The Grand, located at 4101 E. Willow St., in Long Beach. The event, free for job seekers, runs from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Advance registration is encouraged.

Not every job seeker walking through the door will have a four-year degree or years of experience. He said the career fair is designed to connect people with employers hiring at different experience and education levels.

He said those newly entering the workforce, changing careers, returning to work or looking for a second job are also welcome to come out and check out the offerings.

“Employers will be available to explain their individual qualifications, training requirements and potential career paths. This can be particularly valuable for people entering the workforce, changing careers, looking for a second job, returning to work, or seeking a position offering greater stability and advancement,” he said.

Depending on the employer’s needs and an individual’s performance, some seasonal work may transition to permanent employment.

“We encourage candidates to speak directly with recruiters about starting pay, hours, benefits, advancement opportunities and whether seasonal positions can lead to permanent employment,” he said.

Job seekers have a lot of ways to move up. He said that a number of employers offer training, apprenticeships, tuition assistance and career-development opportunities.

“One of the advantages of attending an in-person career fair is that candidates can have a direct conversation with recruiters and learn about opportunities, qualifications and career paths that may not be obvious from a traditional online job posting,” he said.

Hiring processes vary by employer, but job seekers should come prepared with multiple copies of a resume, and ready to talk about their experience, qualifications and availability. Expect recruiters to have on the spot interviews, initial screenings, skills assessments or other steps toward employment. Opportunities for former federal employees looking to get back to work quickly are also highlighted.

“The event is designed to be more than simply walking around and collecting business cards. Candidates have the opportunity to meet employers face-to-face, ask questions, learn about available positions and get a better understanding of what individual employers are looking for,” he said.

For more than 25 years, he said the City Career Fair has been bringing employers and job seekers together through its Community Employment Day Career Fairs. Organizers say the program has connected more than 300,000 job seekers with employers and organizations over the years.

The October 15 event offers a chance to meet many employers in one place, to check out current and longer-term career options.

“Rather than relying exclusively on people to discover a job fair on their own, we actively identify, target and personally invite candidates who may be a match for the types of positions participating employers are seeking to fill,” he said.

Beyond the Oct. 15 Community Employment Day Career Fair, residents can check out the City of Long Beach openings through the city’s employment portal, which includes clerical, technical, professional and public-health positions.

Through the city’s Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network, residents can access career services, training and supportive resources. Long Beach City College also offers job training connected to local employers, hands-on work experience and placement referrals for people entering or returning to the workforce.

While the City of Long Beach is not involved in the Oct. 15 Community Employment Day Career Fair, they are offering free year round skills development.

Coming up Tuesday, September 29, the city of Long Beach hosts an interactive session exploring the role that personal identity plays in professional success.

Chelsea Magallon, public affairs officer for the city’s Department of Economic Development & Opportunity, said the event is designed for youth and young adults navigating early career paths.

She said the workshop helps job seekers define their personal brand, build workplace confidence, and understand how their unique values shape their career journey.

The Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network regularly hosts workshops at two locations, including the LBWIN Adult Career Services Center at 4811 Airport Plaza Dr. and the LBWIN Youth Career Services Center at 508 W. Willow St.

Residents may schedule an in-person orientation through the LBWIN Adult Career Services Center to learn about individualized career services, training programs and supportive services.

“Earlier this month, the city hosted its Second Chance Job & Resource Fair, which drew more than 100 attendees and 19 employers,” Magallon said. “The network also has job-skills-development workshops planned this month for adults and young people.”

For more information, see:

LB City Workforce Resources,

https://longbeach.gov/edo/talent-workforce

To Register & Schedule in Person Meetings with Recruiters at the Career Fair,

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/long-beach-in-person-ip-community-employment-day-career-fair-10152026-tickets-1720974223229?aff=oddtdtcreator