Number of jobless falls to 2.48m

Unemployment figures out today (13 April) show there's been a slight drop in the number of people looking for work, with 2.48 million people now jobless.

For 16 to 24s the number has gone up since the last quarter but down in the last month, with 963,000 under 25s now looking for work.

Wendy is the operations manager of a recruitment agency in London.

She said: "Currently in our Oxford Circus branch we have about 55 to 57 live permanent vacancies. That's really about average.

"At the end of the day we have to look for the right people with the right skills and the right outlook.

It took Mo six months to find his job as a cleaner in a school

"There has been a very slight change in the market, we're starting to see people who already have jobs looking for another role. They are looking for an increased salary, lots of people haven't had pay rises for a while.

"If you're looking for a job my advice would say get some experience, if you don't have much experience then try temping so you can increase your skills.

"Also sell yourself correctly on your CV, and shout about any skills you have."

Abdul Mozid (Mo) is 20 and he says it took him six months to find a job as a cleaner in a school.

'Pays the bills'

"It's a good job, lots of banter, I like it. Before I got this job I was going from shop to shop handing out CVs and my mate told me there was a job at the school. I had a little interview and they accepted me.

"It's a start, and right now it pays the bills and I get to know people. Hopefully I can get a better job in a few years.

"I want to be an accountant, I'm doing a course in business accountancy at the moment and hopefully will go to uni or do an apprenticeship.

"Loads of people are on benefits and I just thought, 'I want to get my own job and work my own money.' I see loads of people without jobs, handing out CVs then five or six months later they get a job. Some people get lucky and some people don't."

Michaella works part-time and says it's really hard getting that first job

Mo's not the only one who's found it hard to get a job. Michaella is 17 and she's still doing her A-Levels but has a part time job as a waitress in a football stadium.

"It took me about a year to get the job, I've had it for six months now and really like working there. You meet good people there, I've met a few famous people too, Defoe, Gallas, Ian Wright, Pixie Lott.

"Getting that first job is really hard. It's good here, you get good contacts to find other jobs. The only problem is it's not regular, it's just whenever there's football matches.

"It makes loads of difference to me, I want to save up for driving lessons and a car so it's good. Not many of my friends have jobs, they are all looking. They're moaning at me because I do have a job! They just keep looking."