Summer Jobs Britain 2007
David Woodworth & Guy Hobbs / Vacation Work
320 pages / 38th edition / £12.99
Being British and thinking that the grass was greener on the other side of the Channel, a summer job in Britain wasn't high on the radar and, for me, neither was this publication. But in these days of grantless tuition working in the UK makes much more sense to UK students in need of top up funds.

Summer Jobs Britain has 30,000 vacancies across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, matching the number of jobs compiled for the rest of the world in the Summer Jobs Abroad edition.

Each area is assessed for prospects of work and a range of opportunities given; from adventure centres and major sporting events to seaside fish and chip shops. Vocational jobs and suit and tie traineeships jockey for space in SJBs pages with agencies offering work as an extra in film or TV (where you get paid more if you have to have a haircut).

Overall: A huge number and range of vacancies offered throughout the UK.

Teaching English Abroad
Susan Griffith / Vacation Work
576 pages / 8th edition / £14.95
Over 620 English language schools and teaching organisations around the world have participated in revising the latest edition of this popular publication. But Vacation Work guides are usually much more than the sum of their facts and contacts and Teaching English Abroad is no exception in not relying solely on information gained from the industry. Much of the content comes from the perceptions of traveller teachers on the ground.

Teaching English Abroad promotes the rewards in doing just that but doesn't neglect the problems that may be faced in both securing and undertaking a teaching post. While the first hundred or so pages deal with methods for finding a job, preparation and problems and the value of ELT qualifications, the majority of the book lies in the Country Guide.

Each country is assessed for its prospects of providing work to English teachers and local work regulations are examined as to how they are applied in reality. Practical solutions are offered to combat competition from other teachers and the book identifies areas of growth and decline. Small details are not neglected such as whether schools are biased towards the British or American accent.

Verdict: Comprehensive global coverage - the top guide to securing a teaching job overseas.

Working on Yachts & Superyachts
Jennifer Errico / Vacation Work
256 pages / 2nd edition / £14.95
Taking you into the world of the super rich, this new guide covers everything from the dockwalk (walking a marina looking for a job) to becoming a full fledged crew member with five wristwatches, three expensive cameras, an ensemble of scuba gear and a mini scooter.

Working on Yachts & Superyachts is a comprehensive guide to getting on board a Superyacht (a yacht over 80 ft) as an employee, whether on a temporary basis or to build a career. Written by an experienced former Superyacht chef, the, sometimes humourous, text is interspersed with other viewpoints and advice.

All aspects of finding work are covered, including where to look for work worldwide, detailed job descriptions of all the positions available from deckhand to captain, and a salary guide. Also included are useful websites, plus courses and qualifications that make one more attractive to a captain.

Verdict: If you think you'd enjoy life on a yacht in the Caribbean or the South Seas then this guide is perfect for you.

The Gap Year Book
Charlotte Hindle & Joe Bindloss / Lonely Planet
462 pages / 2nd revised edition / £12.95
A new entry into the ever growing list of gap year guides, The Gap Year Book places more emphasis on travel than other guides. Unsurprising, considering Lonely Planet's background.

A nice touch is the World Trips map on the inside front cover which had me day dreaming possible journeys of my own for quite a while. About half of The Gap Year Book is devoted to travel information starting with useful preparation advice for beginners. Each of the Earth's regions are examined for popular activities, festivals and classic routes, and for details such as getting there and what to expect.

The remainder of the guide gets down to covering the work aspect of a gap year from paid seasonal jobs to volunteer work and classic gap year projects. Each section includes both advice and numerous listings, almost all of which have a website address to get more in depth knowledge. If money isn't a problem then one of the many listed courses from belly dancing to learning to sail may be of interest.

Verdict: An excellent new gap year guide particularly strong on the travel side of a year out.