Spring is in the air and summer is just round the corner . . .

At least that is what I was thinking over the weekend. For most of us the sun shone and we could allow ourselves to hope we might get a summer this year.
Today though, it’s grim, grey and reflective of the true mood of the country and students are no exception. It’s not summer that’s round the corner but exams.

There’s nothing new there, it’s been like that for students for years. The trouble is that this year there isn’t much respite once exams are over. With a job market looking dimmer than the weather and talk of rising tuition fees to look forward to next term it makes you just want to bugger off somewhere else doesn’t it. But that would be irresponsible wouldn’t it. Or would it?

Why not take off? I think it could be time to take a holiday. Now I’m not thinking of such irresponsible stuff as just lazing in a far flung country until it’s time to come back to study again or start your career, claiming to have found yourself. There is plenty you can do that would be both exciting and rewarding as well as give you something worthwhile to add to your CV.

It doesn’t matter if it’s for the summer or a full on gap year. You can add valuable work experience to your CV as well as life experiences that might show your organisational capabilities and so on by finding the right thing to do with your time out.

We know you’re thinking about it as we’ve seen a big increase in the amount of interest in our travel related vouchers and discounts, such as guidebooks and hostel enquiries on the money matters page on studentswapshop. Finding something constructive to do however could give you the edge when you do need to find that all important job.

I’ve recruited people throughout my career and without a shadow of a doubt when all else is equal will select the CV with activities that show a bit of get up and go, be it volunteering, learning or teaching a language, living with a family overseas etc. The list is endless but what is common throughout is the ability to demonstrate how you make decisions, deal with problems and prioritise in those situations. Funnily enough they are just the sort of skills employers are looking for you to demonstrate. So give yourself a head start and make your summer fun but also constructive.