Want a Summer Job? Then start thinking about it now....

As well as being downright good fun, a summer job is a good way of putting some extra cash in your piggy bank as well as providing some useful experience for later job applications.

Do It Now!

Winter, with its floods and gails plus ice and snow probably still to come, may not feel like the right time to start thinking about it.  But as soon as the beach ads start to appear, it's a sign that the holiday job market is about to take off.  Many companies and websites will be advertising summer vacancies with deadlines from February onwards so it is not too soon to start working out what sort of things might interest you.

And if you're thinking of seeking foreign climes, the formalities of passport, visa applications and innoculations all take time, so it really is case of the earlier the better for getting the bureaucracy out of the way.  Don't wait until passport offices and consulates are knee-deep in applications and all the flights are booked up.

Some Points To Think About...

Picking a summer job is a bit like a career decision in miniature, so it is worth thinking what you hope to gain from it apart from a suntan - as well as the fun and cash element.

Without sounding too boring, it's a great opportunity to find out more about what you like and dislike in a workplace and to enhance those vital CV skills.  Just getting there will need some organisation and communication skills.  If you're looking to enhance your customer service experience, there are loads of opportunities to do this.

You may be looking to enhance a particular area of your skills e.g. by coaching sport or working with disadvantaged people with future applications in mind.  And if you are set on a graduate traineeship in areas like law or business, a summer internship may be what you need - even if you end up seeing more of the water cooler than the swimming pool.

What's Available?

An incredible amount... but if we do try and generalise, some of the obvious niches for summer and holiday jobs both home and abroad are:

• Hotel, catering and bar work
• Shop jobs
• Temporary office jobs
• Holiday reps, tour guides
• Summer camps, playschemes and adventure schemes
• Teaching English as a Foreign Language (especially in China and other Asian counrties)
• Working in farms and gardens e.g. fruit picking and harvesting
• Festivals, events and exhibitions

One slight 'buyer beware' message is however to watch out for providers who charge money for a foreign job or working holiday experience. A small amount to cover expenses may be reasonable enough but you should not need to spend £2000 for the privelege unless you are looking for something very exotic.  On the whole, you should be able to find paid opportunities if you stick with it.

Finding Out More

Many summer jobs are advertised on the University of Cumbria Jobshop and you can also follow up useful links we have gathered at http://delicious.com/skillzone/summer  or, if heading abroad is your plan http://delicious.com/skillzone/abroad

There is also a good number of books to help you research your ideal summer job and you should be able to find a selection of them in University or public libraries.

Have You Ever Thought About Teaching Internationally?

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Why not? Discover a world of exciting career prospects through the Council of International Schools (CIS)! As a not-for-profit, membership organisation, CIS provides teacher recruitment and accreditation services for 660 schools located all over the world. At a CIS-organised recruitment fair, a selection of international school representatives interview qualified teacher candidates for positions within their schools.

For those with a sense of adventure, a career in international education can be a uniquely rewarding experience, both professionally and personally. Broaden your horizon and become immersed in a different culture and environment. You will no doubt make many new friends and forge life-lasting ties as you join an engaged global community of educators. International schools, by mission and by model, promote international awareness, knowledge, understanding and inclusion. You can keep up-to-date with current educational practices by participating in rich and varied professional development programs which are integral benefits of working at an international school as are modern teaching resources and technology. International schools offer a comprehensive salary and benefits package that may provide higher remuneration than that offered by national or state schools.

The CIS London recruitment fair is a well-established, respected and successful event that has been running for over thirty years, attracting a diverse mix of schools and teachers. Only schools meeting our rigorous membership criteria and standards may utilise our recruitment services so you can be confident of engaging with quality, reputable schools.

In order to register and participate in a recruitment fair, you will need to create an account on our website and complete an application form. A professional file must then be established and approved. For details on the criteria and application documentation, please view the teacher recruitment pages of our website. We can only consider applicants once they have had 1-2 years of current teaching experience so, please bear CIS in mind for the future.

We have a dedicated and friendly team of professionals available to answer your questions and advise; send us an email at teacherrecruitment@cois.org

Where will you go? Paris? Stockholm? Moscow? Dubai? Shanghai? Phuket? New York City? Cairo? Nassau? Don’t decide in advance; be open to opportunities as they present themselves. You could have the experience of a lifetime!

FAQ - How Can I Get Information on Working and Studying Abroad?

As with many careers faqs, a really good starting point on information about careers and courses in the rest of the world is the Graduate Prospects website, where you can find a dedicated section on the subject.  Here you can find plenty of help to think through your decision, profiles on working and studying in over fifty different countries, plus information on gap years and Teaching English as a Foreign Language plus a search facility to find international job opportunities.

Working abroad is one of the subjects on which books are still being published, so a visit to the main University library or public lending library may be worthwhile.  Titles covered include everything from finding holiday jobs and backpackers' guides to information for people who are considering long-term relocation to develop their career.

Some key tips from our own Careers Advisers on the subject of working and studying abroad are:

• If you're considering a gap year, how will it fit in with your future career plans?  Not all employers will be impressed by your improved surfing skills gained on Bondai Beach.
• There is a current vogue for 'overseas internships' but check these out carefully as many require you to pay large sums of money to participate.  Ask about the career destinations of past participants and check that there are no similar paid or cost-free opportunities.
• As with many things, planning is the key to success.  Start thinking about your plans well in advance.  Next year may be better than right now.

For some extra links on opportunities try http://delicious.com/skillzone/abroad or http://delicious.com/skillzone/gap_year  

International Teacher Recruitment Fair in Glasgow

International Education Recruitment agency Worldteachers are holding their inaugural Teacher Recruitment Fair in the Grand Central Hotel, Glasgow - UK on 13th and 14th February 2012.

A number of International schools will be attending from various countries, to interview and offer jobs to teachers at various levels in different subjects.

Opportunities range from graduate Primary and Kindergarten teachers through to senior Secondary teachers, as well as TEFL and ESL language teachers.

If you want to attend you will need to register in advance at http://www.worldteachers.net/_microsites/teacherrecruitmentfairs/getintouch

I understand Worldteachers will also be offering  interviews to applicants from  6th February 2012.

Spend a week at the EU Parliament!

This is an extract from a letter sent by Philomena Taylor, Head of UK Country Liaison Officers for MEU 2011:

Model European Union 2011 is a project taking place inside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, bringing together 180 skilled Europeans. For one week participants have the opportunity to better understand how the European Union works and to achieve strategy, decision, debate and cooperation skills. The project aims to simulate the decision making process in the European Union, and it is implemented with the direct support of the European Commission through the Youth in Action Programme, the European Parliament and the Robert Bosch Foundation.

We need photographers and journalists for the event!!!

Through participation in the project not only will you be able to meet other young people from across Europe, but you will also have the chance to explore the beautiful city of Strasbourg!

For more information check out our website

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me