Students Jay Teckers and Sophie Bowen were at the jobs fair both looking for jobs
Business leaders in Wales say a jobs fair offering more than 500 call centre posts may be a sign a "corner has been turned" in recruitment.
Tesco, insurance group Admiral and call centre firm Conduit are among six large employers at the Cardiff event.
CBI Wales director David Rosser said it was not a sign of strong job creation, but one that "cities like Cardiff are going to be leading the way."
Jobcentre Plus said 2,500 vacancies were registered in Cardiff alone.
Other firms looking to recruit staff at the fair at Cardiff Central Library are British Gas, Scottish & Southern Energy and AA Insurances/Driving School Call Centre.
The jobs include managerial and admin posts as well as call centre workers.
Chris Hodge, of call centre outsource firm Conduit, which has two centres in Cardiff and another in Swansea, said the recruitment agencies he dealt with had reported an increase in job vacancies.
"It's not at the point it was two years ago, however, we are very hopeful for 2011 than we were for 2010.
"Companies seem to be less cautious already during the first month of this year than they have been for quite a while."
Admiral said the fair was part of its ongoing recruitment of 300 people which would add about 10% to its staff in south Wales.
People services manager Ceri Assiratti said: "Against the background of the economic climate where many companies are downsizing, the positive for us as a company is that we are continuing to grow and we expect to continue to grow in 2011 at the same rate as the previous years."
Mr Rosser said the jobs fair was not an indication of "strong hiring intentions" among big businesses in south Wales but it did reflect an increase in optimism among CBI members, who employ 40% of the private sector workforce in Wales.
Jyothi Ganesh (left) was looking for part-time job while Jade Rhian Burton wanted her first job
He said: "In the last three-to-six months really that the number of companies I've talked to who are more optimistic has increased.
"I would not say that this very welcome development is a sign that we are into strong job creation but it is sign that a corner has been turned."
Professor James Foreman-Peck of Cardiff Business School said the recruitment drive had to be taken in the context of 20,000 registered unemployed in the Cardiff travel-to-work area.
"It seems to indicate that there is certainly an upturn in the labour market and it's to be hoped that they're not all relatively low-paid jobs.
"The chances are if it is perking up for the big firms, then it could well be perking up for lots of smaller businesses that don't register on the radar," he added.
More than 350 people attended the jobs fair in the first hour.
Craig Carter (left) has not worked for two years while Dan McInerney is seeking his first job
Jyothi Ganesh, 30, from Cardiff Bay, said she was wanted a part-time job to allow her to look after her son.
She said: "That's why I have come here, the working hours are more flexible, so that would suit me.
A level student Jade Rhian Burton, 17, from Cardiff, said: "I'm looking for a job because I want to leave college. I want to get a job and work my way up.
"Call centre work is all about communication and IT skills, which I have."
Father-of-two Craig Carter, 32, from Abergavenny, has been out of work for two years.
"Last year I started to re-train. I want a career as an IT professional so I have been looking around for possibilities.," he said.
'Get skills up'
"Call centres might have need of technicians. I'll take my start wherever I can."
Dan McInterney, 17, from Newport, has been looking for work since leaving school last summer.
He said he did not mind what job he gets.
"I went for a job an apprenticeship, and jobs in supermarkets, stuff like that.
"They are more likely to hire some of the older people because they will have much more experience."
Student Sophie Bowen, 17, from Cardiff, said: "I was looking because I could not find much so I went on a course in business administration to get my skills up. I'm still doing it.
"Call centre work sounds fun."
Fellow student Jay Teckers, 16, also from Cardiff, said: "I need a job. Soon I'll be living on my own and a can't live off my £50 training allowance."
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