Student summers

There’s a long summer ahead, but what are you going to do with it? Condor Properties have some ideas...

Firstly, congratulations; you’ve made it through exam hell and out the other side. You studious little things have really earned the long summer ahead. The question is; what are you going to do with it? How are you going to make it one to remember?

Well, despite being wracked with envy, the team at Condor Properties have come up with some suggestions. Don’t say we’re not good to you...

Travel

It might be a student cliché, but backpacking is probably the most entertaining, educational and eye-opening experience you can have after a hectic year at university. And the good news is that it’s getting cheaper thanks to a host of websites that offer free accommodation around the world (www.hospitalityclub.org, www.stay4free.com and www.couchsurfing.org).

“I travelled from Sweden to Croatia without paying for accommodation,” says Jonas Almstedt, who studies in Bristol.

“The people I stayed with were all travellers who wanted to help others see the world on a budget.”

These websites are trustworthy, although it’s always worth telling family and friends exactly where you’re going before hand.

Work experience

This current financial crisis is like the turd that won’t flush and it doesn’t seem to be disappearing anytime soon. Annoyingly this has had an effect on the job market, which means the latest crop of students need to stand out from the competition more than ever.

One of the best ways to do this is by doing an internship during the summer. It’s a brilliant way to get experience in your field and it looks great on your CV when you come to apply for a proper job.

Find a fun summer job

Forget shelf stacking in ASDA – find a job that you’re actually going to enjoy this summer, like working at a music festival.

“Last year I volunteered at Glastonbury,” says Sophie Andrews, a student at Exeter.

“I got to see loads of amazing bands for free and didn’t have to put in too many hours.”

www.summerjobs.com has a whole list of cool jobs (paid and unpaid) ranging from festival work to tour guiding.

Imbibe free culture

You’ll have probably killed a few brain cells in the post exam celebrations, so why not replenish your mind with some culture? There are so many free museums and galleries that you can take advantage of across Britain and Europe. www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals has a list of where to go near you for free culture.

Go WWOOFing

No, it doesn’t have anything to do with dogs. WWOOF stands for World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms; it is an organisation that places willing volunteers on organic farms, where they work in exchange for food and accommodation.

It’s worthy, educational and is a great way to meet people. It also provides you with an opportunity to work abroad and looks good on your CV. Visit www.woof.org.uk for more details.