Getting a professional qualification is one of the best ways to find a better job, says Ruth Spellman, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute.

Speaking to Thisismoney.co.uk, she said that it is natural that as the year comes to a close, many are reassessing their careers and looking for better jobs, and Ms Spellman offered some advice to those who are going through this process.

While stressing the increased competition for jobs during the recession, she emphasised the difference having a professional qualification makes to a CV.

"Employers are increasingly looking for individuals who are committed to their professional development – those who have qualifications to prove what they say they know," she told the news provider.

"It could be worth gaining a new professional qualification before you enter the job market."

The recession has made job-hunting more difficult, particularly for candidates in sought-after areas such as banking graduate schemes. It is expected that unemployment could reach a high of 1.75 million in mid-2010, the Guardian reports.

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