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Those seeking jobs 'should fill CVs with new skills'

Including new skills in CVs can help people looking for jobs fill gaps in their employment and stand out from other candidates, an expert has stated.

Peter Panayotou, senior consultant for the Write Stuff - a CV advice service - said that bosses are more likely to take on an applicant who seems proactive over someone who waits for opportunities to come to them.

"Any skills you can add can't do any harm," he said. "Even if it is something completely unconnected, you can fill a gap while also building skills with something such as a first aid course."

The expert's comments follow an article in the Guardian by Patrick Kingsley that claimed UK employers now receive an average of 70 CVs per vacancy.

Another tip Mr Panayotou offered jobseekers was to proofread carefully to check for spelling mistakes - such errors he sees relatively regularly and described as "fatal".