As Brooklyn braces for the opening of the new Barclay's Arena in September, Forest City Ratner and its partners are getting the center ready for operation, which includes hiring 2,000 bartenders, security guards and other staffers to run the place.

Forest City partnered with the Department of Small Business Services, including Workforce1, and the City Housing Authority (NYCHA), to pre-screen candidates for employment.

The process will prioritize hiring graduates from BUILD, residents of Brooklyn Community Boards 2, 3, 6, and 8, and those residing in NYCHA.

The partners established a Web site for applicants to file for the prescreening process. Those who pass it will be invited to prescreening events. Applicants who pass the prescreening process will then be scheduled interviews with hiring managers.

Applicants should be professionally dressed, and are asked to bring a copy of their resume and a photo ID with them through all the stages of the hiring process.

Training will be in August and employees will start working in September.

Ashley Cotton, a Forest City representative, said the center is focused on hiring locally because of the pride in Brooklyn residents and the benefit of walk-to-work employees.

“The pledge of this company and the developer is that we want our neighbors to benefit from the arena that is coming to Brooklyn,” Cotton said.

Employees will enjoy the benefits of the center, in addition to flexible hours, training and the ability to keep their jobs for years, even decades, to come, she added.

“The pride of Brooklyn is going to be in this building,” Cotton said. “We're looking for people who want to be part of that excitement. The whole world is watching.”