Hampton Roads Transit Career Fair Oct. 16: Walk-In Interviews at $23 an Hour

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — Want a hiring event where you walk in, interview and leave with an answer the same afternoon? Hampton Roads Transit has one. The agency's October career fair runs Friday, October 16, at its facility on East 18th Street in Norfolk, and it is recruiting bus operator trainees and mechanics at pay that beats most of what the Oceanfront offered this summer.

Hampton Roads Transit hosts walk-in open interviews Friday, October 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Norfolk, hiring full-time and part-time bus operator trainees at $23.00 an hour and mechanics at $28.04 an hour.

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Event	Hampton Roads Transit October Career Fair
Date	Friday, October 16, 2026
Time	10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location	509 E. 18th St., Building 4, Norfolk, VA 23504 (meet in the front lobby)
Format	In person, on-the-spot interviews
Walk-ins	Welcome; applying ahead of time is encouraged, and computers are available on site
Hiring	Full-time and part-time bus operator trainees, full-time mechanics
Pay posted	$23.00/hr operator trainees; $28.04/hr mechanics

💼 The Jobs and What They Pay

The October listing on the Virginia Works job fair calendar names three openings. Full-time bus operator trainees start at $23.00 an hour. Part-time bus operator trainees earn the same $23.00. Mechanics are posted at $28.04 an hour, the same Mechanic III rate HRT advertised at its September fair.

That is real money for a job that does not require a degree, and it is steady. Buses run whether or not the tourists are here, and HRT has held a career fair nearly every month this year.

✅ What You Need Before You Walk In

The one hard requirement to know is for the part-time operator role: you need a commercial driver's license with the passenger endorsement and air brakes already in hand. If you do not have a CDL, the full-time trainee track is the one for you. HRT runs its own CDL permit preparation course and pays you while you train.

According to HRT, you fill out an application, go through a brief screening, then interview on the spot. You can save time by applying online before you come, but the agency will have computers set up if you have not. HRT also recommends professional attire and asks candidates not to bring children, for safety reasons.

Bring a photo ID, your driver's license, any CDL paperwork and a printed resume with real dates.

💪 Why It's Worth the Drive From the Beach

HRT lists medical, dental and vision coverage, a pension, paid training, room to advance, and childcare reimbursement, and it describes itself as veteran-friendly. For a Navy family in Kempsville, a pension and a predictable schedule go a long way.

Mind the commute. HRT's openings are based in both Norfolk and Hampton, and the Hampton side means the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel every shift. Ask which division you would work from before you say yes. For questions ahead of the day, call HRT at (757) 222-6000 or check the HRT careers page.

Can't Make October 16?

HRT has two more sessions posted for 2026, on Friday, November 13, and Wednesday, December 9, same building, same 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. window. Our fall Virginia Beach area job fairs guide tracks all of them alongside the other Hampton Roads events. If you would rather interview from home, the Hampton Roads virtual job fair on October 21 is a different event with different employers.

🔎 Start Searching Transit and Driving Jobs

A fair is one Friday. These searches cover the same skills HRT is recruiting for, every day of the week.

Start here:

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register for the Hampton Roads Transit career fair?

No registration is required. Walk-ins are welcome between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. HRT encourages applying online ahead of time to save time, but computers will be available at the fair.

Do I need a CDL to apply?

Only for the part-time bus operator trainee role, which requires a CDL with passenger and air brakes endorsements. Full-time trainees can apply without one and go through HRT's paid CDL permit preparation course.

Can I get hired the same day?

You can interview the same day. HRT has said candidates may receive offers on site at its career fairs. Ask the interviewer what screening steps come after the offer so you know your likely start date.

Where exactly do I go?

509 E. 18th St., Building 4, in Norfolk. HRT asks candidates to meet in the front lobby.

Get Ready Before October 16

Create a free LocalJobPage account to save searches and get new Hampton Roads openings sent to you, and browse every current Virginia Beach job listing in the meantime.

Employers: hiring drivers, mechanics or shop techs in Virginia Beach? Post your openings on LocalJobPage and reach local candidates already searching.