Ah, summer, and the prospect of hours upon hours to do whatever you want, like sleeping late, becoming one with the telly, lazing around the house, more telly...come to think of it, that’ll get boring after a day or two (and you won’t have many stories to impress your friends come autumn). With all that free time on your plate, why not put a few weeks aside to learn something new, make a pile of money, or travel? There are hundreds of things you could do this summer, so let’s not waste any more time…
Volunteering
If sad visions of shaking a can on the high street come to mind, stop right there. As a volunteer, you could be doing all sorts: walking dogs from the RSPCA, playing with children in hospital, assisting in an environmental campaign, or teaching people to play music. There are hundreds of great organisations that could use a helping hand, and as a volunteer you’re more than likely to find one in line with your own hobbies and interests.
Volunteering will get you new skills and experiences that’ll look fantastic on your CV – all good stuff. But it’s also a great way to meet new people who share things in common with you. Volunteer work is done for the love, not the money, so you’ll be sure to meet down-to-earth, passionate and interesting individuals. You may not get paid for volunteering, but you’ll be making the world a better place, which entitles you to feel very good about yourself – and that’s worth loads more than a few quid an hour.
Temporary work
Summer is prime time for earning money. Just think about those thousands of people running off on holiday – they’re leaving behind thousands of jobs that still need doing while they’re off roasting on a beach in Spain. Many companies post one- to three-week vacancies on jobsites or with recruitment agencies to cover these absences. And with all the nice weather (fingers crossed), restaurants and bars need more staff to handle the increased numbers of people going out. Local newspapers and community noticeboards are a great way of finding different jobs available in your area.
Jobs don’t just get you money – they prove that you’re independent, mature and motivated. There are lots of jobs out there, and many ways of getting one. You can check with your local Connexions office, register with a recruitment agency or visit websites dedicated to helping students find work (see the ‘Further reading’ box). After a summer of work and saving, you could find yourself sitting on a nice pile of money – and piles of money tend to come in handy.
Work experience
Doing a work experience placement is like dipping your toe into the waters of a career. You’ll learn how to work with different types of people; gain new skills to strengthen your CV; and get a taste of life in the workplace – all for just two weeks of your time. Work experience is exactly what the name implies – it gives you the experience of what it’s like to work in a certain industry. You could find yourself in the newsroom of a local newspaper, working alongside an account manager in a marketing firm or assisting a chef in a restaurant. If you love it, then you can make steps to pursue a career. And if you hate it, you’ll know to steer clear and find something else.
Work experience placements are unpaid and usually run no longer than two weeks. Companies of all sizes offer them, so there are lots of opportunities. If you’re interested in finding out about available placements, speak to your Careers teacher or visit your local Connexions office. Better yet, go directly to companies and ask if they’re accepting work experience students – they’ll appreciate your motivation and drive. It’s also a good idea to ask around your friends and family members who might have contacts with employers. Plan early, as there can be competition for certain placements, and remember that any experience is good experience, whether it’s what you’d like to do in the future or not.
Internships
Sandwich together the best bits of work experience and temporary work and you get an internship. With internships, you work at a company for an amount of time (anywhere from a month to a year), receive valuable training, and in many cases earn a wage. (Unpaid internships are still an investment in your future, as they look terrific on CVs.) Traditionally, internships have the highest likelihood of turning into a future job or career as many companies choose to hire their interns. Most large businesses offer schemes, so either go to their websites to find out more information, or speak with your Careers teacher or Connexions adviser.
Will travel for food
If you’re going to spend a summer working, why not do it in an exotic new country? Summer is peak season for travel, which means hotels, resorts, clubs and restaurants around the world will need more staff. Your UK passport entitles you to work in EU countries and organisations like BUNAC run work placement programmes in the Americas and Asia, as well as volunteer programmes across the globe. Doing a web search of ‘summer work abroad’ will reveal thousands of opportunities, so who knows where you’ll end up after an afternoon of research. While working and volunteering abroad won’t make you much money – it may even cost you money – it’s an incredible opportunity to see the world and to learn something new.
Further reading
Visit these websites for more information on:
Temporary work: www.e4s.co.uk, www.justjobs4students.co.uk, www.studentgems.com
Internships: www.placement-uk.com
Volunteering: www.do-it.org.uk, www.volunteering.org.uk,
www.timebank.org.uk
Working abroad: www.interexchange.org, www.bunac.org,
www.payaway.co.uk
For general questions: www.connexions-direct.com
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