More than 1,500 jobseekers flocked to an event revealing some of the career opportunities still available in the recession.

City Futures, which was held at the Brighton Centre and organised by Brighton and Hove City Council, in partnership with JobCentre Plus, featured more than 30 exhibitors who pledged to offer about 2,000 jobs in the forthcoming months.

Careers available included roles with public-sector employers such as the city council, the fire service and the NHS, non profit-making organisations including Brighton and Hove Federation of Disabled People and private-sector companies such as American Express, Brighton Pier and Domestic & General. There were also workshops held for people to improve their interview technique and CV presentation.

Lynnette Hadley, 25, of Laburnum Avenue, Hove, visited City Futures because she has been out of work since she was made redundant by Woolworths at the beginning of the year.

She said: “The workshops were very useful as it has been a long time since I have had an interview. They showed us how to prepare and present ourselves as well as writing a good CV.

“The stall with information about the care sector was also really interesting.

I am involved with the Salvation Army and help at their luncheon club so working with the elderly is something I enjoy doing.”

Anthony Paul, 30, is in his first year of a business management degree at the University of Brighton and was looking for careers in administration or HR.

He said: “The fair was really good, with lots of useful information.

There were more opportunities than I thought there would be.

“Some of the possibilities were interesting so I am more confident about finding something after I graduate.”

Marina Kulikova, a recruitment specialist at Domestic & General’s Inkfish call centre in Brighton, said she hoped to take on many more staff as a result of the fair.

She added: “We ran workshops to address the negative perceptions that people can have about working in a contact centre.

“We knew we had been successful when almost everyone who attended came up to our stand afterwards to express an interest in a career with us.”

The fair was opened by Councillor Ayas Fallon-Khan, a deputy leader of the city council, and Pete Searle from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Coun Fallon-Khan said: “This jobs fair has offered real opportunities both through potential employment and from professional advisers.

“We are committed to helping residents find work and to helping our local businesses thrive, through positive actions and I am delighted to confirm that, following the fair’s success, we’re already looking at what we can do for next year.”