British modesty is holding back jobseekers, according to a survey from Gumtree.com.

A study shows that 92% of jobseekers aren’t confident talking about themselves in an interview; while employers claim that nearly half (42%) of job candidates undersell themselves throughout the interview process.

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British modesty and our natural reserved could be making life worse for job hunters, suggest the website who conducted the research among jobseekers and recruiters to help understand the difficulties facing those looking for employment today.

  • 92% of UK jobseekers aren’t confident talking about themselves in a job interview
  • 20% of jobseekers keep their unemployment a secret
  • Under 25s most likely to play down their skills during a job interview

According to employers, a third of job seekers (28%) regularly downplay their skills and capabilities in interviews, and the most common reasons from candidates for not describing their strengths and qualities positively are shyness (%), modesty (12%), or being too reserved (11%).

Younger generations of jobseekers are the age group most likely to play down their skills during a job interview.

Gumtree has created a new careers hub on the website with help and advice ranging from writing a CV to handling tough questions in interviews which can all be found at www.gumtree.com/careers.

Industries where jobseekers are most likely to undersell themselves in an interview are:
1 - Public sector (53%)
2 - Media (52%)
3 - Health worker (51%)
4 - Retail (46%)
5 - Education (45%)
6 - IT workers (42%)
7 - Marketing (41%)
8 - HR (35%)
9 - Finance and accounting (32%)
10 - Hairdresser/beautician (25%)

LinkedIn has created this list of tips for Huffpost Lifestyle to help you get that dream job or show your boss you are the perfect person for that promotion.

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  • Build your network:

    Building and maintaining relationships is a major component of a successful career.

  • Relationships

    Maintain relationships by recommending and congratulating others in their careers - everyone enjoys being recognized

  • Recommendations

    Request recommendations from your networks as credibility is critical

  • Achievements

    Document achievements and wins on <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/home" target="_hplink">LinkedIn</a> to stay current and relevant

  • Status

    Update your status every day and make sure your profile and photos are current

  • Leadership

    Expand on your thought leadership; lead a forum or <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/home" target="_hplink">LinkedIn </a>group

  • Pictures

    Use the power of video and create a video bio of yourself for your <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/home" target="_hplink">Linkedin</a> profile.

  • Source staff - one of a manager's hardest jobs. If you build your brand community, you'll create fans who want to work for you.

  • Research. Make an effort to get to know more about your clients or partners and competitors - <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/home" target="_hplink">LinkedIn</a> is a great place to start

  • Blog

    Publish an article; start a blog or speak publicly.