Columbus Resource and Employment Fair October 29: Free at St. John Center

Published: September 27, 2026 | By LocalJobPage Team

COLUMBUS, OH — The fall's most practical hiring room in Columbus isn't in a hotel ballroom off the Outerbelt. On Thursday, October 29, the St. John Learning Center and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners open the All Hands on Deck Resource and Employment Fair at the St. John Community Center on South Ohio Avenue, a free four-hour event that puts employers and the services that keep a job search going under one roof.

Thursday, October 29, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at 640 S. Ohio Ave. Free admission, no registration required, and help with housing, health care and social services on the same floor as the job tables.

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📍 At a Glance

Event	All Hands on Deck Resource and Employment Fair
Date	Thursday, October 29, 2026
Time	10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location	St. John Community Center, 640 S. Ohio Ave., Columbus, OH 43205
Cost	Free
Format	In person
Registration	Not required; optional sign-up offered by the organizer
Parking	Lot and entrance at the rear of the building
Organizers	St. John Learning Center and Franklin County Board of Commissioners

A Job Fair Built for People Starting Over

This is the St. John Learning Center's fall fair. The center runs two a year: a job and career fair in the spring, and this resource and employment fair in the fall. A typical hotel fair assumes you have a car that starts, a stable address and a clean resume. This one assumes some people walking in need help with one of those first, and puts that help in the same room.

The organizer says to expect information on housing, employment, health care, social services and more. The county's co-sponsorship runs through its Justice Policy and Programs office, which tells you who the day is meant to reach: people rebuilding after a gap, a move, a layoff or time away.

The learning center, on the top floor of the St. John Community Center, teaches GED and ESL classes along with employment skills and small-business workshops. The same address runs a weekly food pantry, a community kitchen and a free weekly health clinic. If you leave the fair still needing a diploma before the job you want will take you, the classroom is upstairs.

⚠️ Read This Before You Go

No employer list has been published yet. The learning center says participating organizations will be posted, and the roster was promised by the end of September, but as of this writing no company names are on the organizer's page. Nobody can promise you a particular employer will have a table. Check the St. John Learning Center job fairs page the week of the event, or call (614) 547-2171.

Expect service agencies alongside employers. That's the design. Work both sides of the room, and come early.

📋 How to Show Up Ready

Printed resumes, or a written work history if your resume isn't current
A photo ID and any documents a housing or benefits table may ask for
Certification or license numbers written down
Your real availability, including nights and weekends
A pen and something to write names on, so you can follow up within 48 hours

🔎 Start Searching Before October 29

A few applications filed before October 29 turn a handshake into a follow-up conversation.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the All Hands on Deck fair free?

Yes. The St. John Learning Center lists admission as free.

Do I have to register?

No. Registration is optional. The organizer offers a sign-up, but you can walk in any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Which employers will be there?

No list has been published yet. The organizer says participating organizations will be posted before the fair. Call (614) 547-2171 if one specific employer is the reason you'd make the trip.

Where do I park?

Parking and the entrance are behind the St. John Community Center at 640 S. Ohio Ave.

Is this only for people with a record?

No eligibility limits are listed. The fair is aimed at anyone who could use resources alongside a job lead, and anyone looking for work is welcome to attend.

What if I can't make October 29?

Choice Career Fairs holds a free walk-in career fair on Thursday, October 15 at the Hilton Garden Inn Columbus Easton on Morse Road. Different event, different crowd, no resource tables.

Keep Your Search Moving After the Fair

One Thursday on South Ohio Avenue is a start, not the whole search. Create a free LocalJobPage account so new openings reach you between events, and browse every open job in Columbus as postings land.

Employers: hiring people ready for a fresh start? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach Columbus job seekers every day, not just on fair day.