HUNDREDS of people have made their way down to Southampton's Novotel in the hope of finding their dream job.

More than 500 job seekers from across Hampshire have gone down to the West Quay Road hotel for the Daily Echo Jobs Fair.

Firms from a range of industries from both the private and public sectors are exhibiting in the hope of matching the right candidate for the right job.

Companies including health firms Bupa, Rose Road Association, Kare Plus, Autism Hampshire, Agincare, NHS, and Carewatch, along with Hays Recruitment and Lucketts Travel are among those exhibiting today.

Speakers will also be imparting words of wisdom for job seekers and for those looking for a change of career.

Today's Jobs Fair runs from 10am to 3pm giving job seekers the chance to climb the job ladder.

Adrian Dedman, 54, from Southampton has been unemployed through illness.

He has come to the jobs fair in the hope of finding a new job.

He said: "I'm going to establish if there's any engineering employers here today and that's my priority. I will be approaching them first."

Daily Echo:

Daily Echo recruitment manager Natalie Sprake said: “Nearly all of the exhibitors at today’s fair have vacancies available and even if your career path doesn’t open up to you, there are plenty of talks and seminars giving you the chance to find out more.

“It may be tough to get a job out there, but today’s jobs fair is here to help you stand out from the rest while finding just what opportunities are there for the taking.”

More than 750 jobseekers attended the last Daily Echo Jobs Fair in September.

A free bus service will operate taking people to the Jobs Fair from the job centre in Bernard Street and the Red Funnel offices at Town Quay at half-hour intervals from 10am to 2pm.