Are you short of summer plans? No, we didn’t think most of you were! But remember to make the most of long summers like these between school or university years because you are unlikely to get holidays like it again once you are in a job! After a chaotic academic year and probably countless exams, a lazy few summer months will no doubt seem very appealing!

And don’t get us wrong, we are also big fans of lying in the sun doing not much at all…we just think it’s best to strike a good balance between this and gaining some more, shall we say, active experiences that might impress prospective employers! After all, all those music festivals, days out with friends and cinema trips have to be paid for somehow.

Volunteering is a great idea for summer holidays while you have the opportunity to give some of your time. Why not have a look at our volunteering section for some ideas that will not only be great experience but great fun too! Besides volunteering, gaining some paid work experience isn’t a bad idea – even if you’re not working full-time all summer, it looks great on your CV to show you made good use of your time off…and the money all helps! Perhaps contact your school or university to ask if they know of any summer positions either with them or with local businesses. Let’s be honest, the sunshine probably won’t last long so you won’t be missing out on a tan!

We don’t want to be accused of being boring and spoiling your fun, so why not combine working with something more exciting…like travelling! Depending on your time and financial restraints, take a trip to Europe or maybe even down under in Aus and work while you go. A few shifts in a beach bar sound a lot more appealing than office work in England, don’t they?! Phrased in the right way, employers can be impressed by students who have travelled the world while working to pay their way. Whatever you do, have fun and stay safe!