San Diego Career Fair October 8: Recruiter Meetings at the Handlery Hotel

SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego career fair lands in Hotel Circle next Thursday. City Career Fair brings its Community Employment Day to the Handlery Hotel in Mission Valley on October 8, with four hours of in-person meetings between job seekers and recruiters, booked ahead of time through the organizer's registration page.

Thursday, October 8, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Handlery Hotel, 950 Hotel Circle North. Register first, then walk in with a plan.

Ready to search? Skip straight to the San Diego job links and start applying →

📍 At a Glance

Event	San Diego Community Employment Day Career Fair
Date	Thursday, October 8, 2026
Time	11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location	Handlery Hotel San Diego, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108
Format	In person, with recruiter meetings scheduled in advance
Registration	Register and schedule recruiter meetings
Organizer	City Career Fair, (562) 291-2956

How the Hotel Circle Career Fair Works

This is not an afternoon of wandering past folding tables. The organizer builds the day around scheduled sit-downs with recruiters, and its listing asks job seekers to register and book those meetings in advance.

It is also not a pop-up. The organizer bills this as San Diego's 26th annual Community Employment Day, and the same format has been touring California this fall, with editions in Oakland and Long Beach on either side of this one.

🔥 Who's Recruiting

The organizer's San Diego page showcases a wide spread of employers it has worked with: Rady Children's Hospital–San Diego, Turner Construction, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Air Marshal Service, Continental Maritime of San Diego, The Pasha Group, Enterprise Mobility, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels, the Handlery itself, Airgas, Orkin, the SDSU Research Foundation, Southwestern College, Entravision and iHeartMedia.

That is the county's economy in one list: hospital work, ship repair and port logistics on the bayfront, federal law enforcement at the border, and hotel jobs from Mission Valley to the Gaslamp.

⚠️ Read This Before You Go

The organizer has not said which of those employers are confirmed for October 8. Treat the list as a signal of who this fair draws, not a roster. If one company is the only reason you would go, call (562) 291-2956 before you plan your Thursday around it.

No admission price is posted on the organizer's page or its ticket listing, and neither says whether walk-ins are admitted. Register in advance and read your confirmation rather than assuming the door is open and free.

Two More San Diego Job Fairs in October

Different events, different days, different rules. If the 8th does not fit, San Diego has two more chances close by:

Wednesday, October 7: Jobtoberfest at the Balboa Park Club, free with no registration, built for job seekers with disabilities and open to everyone.
Thursday, October 15: a separate job fair at the DoubleTree in Mission Valley, a few minutes east of the Handlery.

Getting to the Handlery

The Handlery sits on Hotel Circle North just off Interstate 8, close to the SR-163 interchange and a short trip from Fashion Valley. An easy drive from Linda Vista, Clairemont or downtown.

Bring plenty of printed resumes, a photo ID and a thirty-second answer to "what are you looking for." Dress for an interview, because some of these meetings will be one.

🔎 Where to Aim in San Diego Right Now

A career fair is one afternoon. The postings are there every day. Apply before October 8 and you walk in as a name the recruiter can pull up.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is the San Diego career fair?

Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Handlery Hotel San Diego, 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108.

Do I need to register in advance?

Yes. Recruiter meetings are scheduled through the organizer's registration page. The walk-in policy is not stated, so do not count on it.

Is the fair free?

No admission price is published on the organizer's page or ticket listing. Check your registration before you go rather than assuming.

Which employers will be there?

No confirmed October 8 roster has been published. Call (562) 291-2956 if you are going for one company.

Book the Meetings, Then Follow Up

Create your free LocalJobPage account so recruiters can find you after the fair, then browse every open job in San Diego while October 8 is still a few days out.

Employers: hiring in San Diego this fall? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach local candidates who are already searching.