More than two fifths of jobseekers (44%) would take a drop in salary in order to land a job and 28% are prepared to change career altogether.

A report from interview skills training website Interviewgold.com shows 85% of jobseekers would take a job they are over-qualified for just to get back into employment.

The research comes in response to a news story in the Telegraph regarding a job advertisement posted by Havant Borough Council for a bin man with a salary of £14,000, which attracted 238 applications.

Joe McDermott, CEO of Interviewgold.com, said: "These statistics illustrate just how difficult the job market is at present. Despairing jobseekers seem to be willing to go to any length just to get a foot in the door,

"Many people see this as an easy way to get work but it is actually more difficult for over-qualified candidates to find a job. Employers are reluctant to employ over-qualified applicants as they fear they will leave as soon as something better comes up or they will get bored."