Top five: Student jobs for 2014

It might seem a tad premature to be talking about summer jobs, but the cushy vacancies fill fast, so you need to be on the ball. Here are our top five openings for 2014.

A sweet gig at Glasto

If you’re prepared to lend a few hours of your time directing drunks to their tents or selling overpriced burgers to people that haven’t eaten for three days, you might be interested in applying for a job at Glastonbury this year. Let’s face it; if you haven’t got a ticket yet, it’s your only way in.

The best vacancies are disappearing quicker than a pack of biscuits on a building site, but you can apply for the remaining jobs via www.glastonburyfestival.co.uk. Some are paid, some are voluntary; either way, lucky candidates will be at the best ball of them all.

Change lives abroad

Rather than earning a pittance working for the man this summer, why not join a government-funded development programme and make a difference in impoverished communities abroad? The International Citizen Service (ICS) is recruiting volunteers in 2014 to help with a range of projects.

From training youngsters to use computers in Latin America to working with farmers on sustainable developments in Africa, there are many enriching opportunities for students aged 18-25. Placements last up to 12 weeks and, although you aren’t paid, your travel and living expenses are covered. www.volunteerics.org

Pay to play

Companies are always looking for guinea pigs to test their high-tech gadgets or quaff their latest line of confectionery. Whether you’re testing the new iPhone or trying out a new flavour of crisps, being a product tester is another gig you don’t really have to get off your backside for.

Willing reviewers can register at websites such as www.producttesting.uk.com to be paid for their reviews. The money isn’t great, but it’s not exactly hard graft.

Become a teacher

Pupils can become masters with a range of teaching jobs at home and abroad. Language schools up and down the country will be recruiting for teachers and activity leaders over the coming months. Some of these seasonal posts will require formal teaching certificates, while others ask for little more than good English qualifications.

Teaching can be rewarding, looks great on the CV and might unearth a hidden talent. Visit www.languageschoolfinder.co.uk to find the language schools in your area or, failing that, sites such as www.projects-abroad.co.uk regularly have teaching opportunities abroad.

Survey for pay

If you don’t fancy trekking through the mud at Glasto, jetting halfway around the world to be a volunteer or trying to explain pronouns to foreigners then you can earn money from the comfort of your couch by completing online surveys.

Organisations such as www.paidsurveys.uk.com remunerate workshy students for their opinions with a range of online surveys. All you have to do is tick a few boxes and watch the money roll in (well, trickle might be closer to the mark).