Kath Houston is a careers adviser and career coach, a published career management author and senior fellow of employability and enterprise at the University of Central Lancashire
Summer schemes do exist: They may seem like an official secret and some are filled way in advance of the summer, but the good news is that many employers have ongoing recruitment. Large companies often advertise online so think of a big company you would like to work for and check the careers or jobs section of their website. Secondly, try portal sites to check several companies at once. Thirdly, tell everyone you know that you are looking for a summer placement (fond uncles/aunts, the postman, family friends) and put out a call on Facebook so you get to hear of anything going.
Think of your summer as a patchwork quilt of interesting experiences: Doing several short work experiences is the best way to discover what you like and what you are good at. Think of the summer stretching in front of you like a patchwork quilt of interesting experiences. You might do something ordinary to bring cash in - hospitality work for example, then try one of the short unpaid BBC placements or some brilliant volunteering through Do It Org or your local hospital radio. Sandwich paid work with free work in this way and you will have juiced up your CV immensely.
David Shindler is the author of Learning to Leap, A Guide to Being More Employable and a careers consultant who runs Dash Coaching, a business helping people to be more employable
If you can't find a set scheme, propose your own internship: Try approaching small companies and start-ups in areas that interest you. Many will be very happy for support and will give you more personal attention than a big company. Propose your own internship to a local business and ask them to create a position for you. Find out who who does the recruiting and set up a meeting. Go armed with a specific suggestion and why you want to do it. How can you solve a problem they have?
Creative applications are helping candidates stand out: In the US, innovative job hunters are responding to internship opportunities in Silicon Valley by creating inspired alternatives to the traditional covering letter. Examples include: designing a beautiful Facebook page; websites, ads and blogs instead of a cover letter, which then create waves on Twitter; using about.me to create a custom profile.
Consider a virtual internship: This means working remotely, using technology at your convenience, with no commuting. Great for first and second year students who still gain knowledge, skill, and understanding of a particular industry. Great for small companies and start-ups who don't have the hassle of finding physical space for an extra person. Take a look at Work Circle, Internship UK and YouTern for starters.
Donna Miller is human resources director of European operations, at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and sits on the board of the Association of Graduate Recruiters
Talk to people who work in the areas you're interested in: A lot of students don't know what they want to do yet. And that's okay. Consider doing some informational interviews - most people would be willing to spend 20 minutes over a coffee talking to you about their industry and what it is they do. It's also as important to find out what you don't want to do as knowing what you do want to do.
More and more schemes are open to first year students: Check with your careers service to see if they know of any companies that are looking for a short time commitment. It's often the case of getting your foot in the door. Many of our first year placement students return to us over term breaks or for a brief period of work.
Go compare: Check out Rate My Placement. It not only lists all of the available schemes available from both large and small employers across the UK, but there are reviews from interns who have actually worked within the companies 'telling it like it is.'
Laura Hooke combines work for the careers service of City University London with freelance career consultancy
Ask yourself the right questions: Who would you really like to work for? Why not approach them to see if you can work for them in some capacity over the summer. What do you hope to be doing later, when you finish studying? The experience and skills you develop now could help you later and your long term goals can help you decide what work experience to look for now. Be clear about yourself. What are your strengths? What do you enjoy and hate doing? Ernst & Young has an exercise that might help you start to identify your strengths. It's simple and quick.
Davida Cronin is the senior marketing and sales coordinator at BUNAC, who has twice taken part in BUNAC's Work America programme
Seek pastures new: The experience of working abroad can really prove your motivation and improve your confidence. BUNAC offers students the opportunity to arrange their own internship or job in the USA during the summer holidays with our Work America programme, which offers full-time degree level students the chance to enhance their CV and impress future employers with a fully flexible work visa and job-hunting support. This year alone, students have managed to arrange internships with the New York Supreme Court, Entertainment One in Hollywood and Country Music Television in Nashville.
Laura Smith is the youth programmes manager for VSO in the UK, whose programmes include Global Xchange, part of the International Citizen Service scheme for 18 to 22-year-olds
Volunteering offers a chance to gain new skills: The International Citizen Service is open to young people from all walks of life aged between 18 and 22. You don't need to have any formal qualifications or experience to take part - just a commitment to volunteering and learning something about yourself and another part of the world. If you are on a low income, your place on the scheme will be free. You will return with an array of transferable skills: the ability to communicate to different audiences, to organise events, projects and workshops, to interview and research, and with an understanding of development issues. The volunteering that you will do be of great benefit to the community and although you're not going to get paid to take part, the benefits to you in the long run are well worth it.
Lienda Beale is a recruitment officer at financial and business adviser Grant Thornton UK LLP. Lienda oversees the graduate and intern recruitment in the firm's London offices
Remember, internships can lead to a job: Most large companies will ask you to complete an online application form for internships, followed by online numerical and verbal reasoning tests, competency based interviews and in some cases assessment days. The process may seem quite long but this is because following on from the internship scheme, the company hopes that you will join the trainee program. Be focused in your application and highlight your strengths, experiences and show your motivation for this career. See this as a path to your future.
