We may still in the throes of winter but now is the time to start getting your applications in if you want to work over the summer as a windsurfing instructor in Greece, camp supervisor in the USA or tent erector in France. Here are some ideas ...

Every summer thousands of people head off to holiday resorts across Europe, the USA and beyond to work in a variety of jobs, ranging from bartenders to water ski instructors. And this year, you could be one of them!

But if you want to fix something up before you go, now is the time to start making your plans.

And while we're still in the middle of winter, operators of summer resorts on the Med, tented camps in Europe and dozens of other holiday companies of every kind are already well into recruiting for the coming summer season.

During the summer the holiday companies provide employment for tens of thousands of young people – and for those not so young – and there are dozens of different kinds of jobs. Some, but by no means all, need staff who speak a second language.

Couriers and reps, tour guides, tour managers – these are some of the more obvious jobs – but there are many more, including a whole range of work involving children. Then there's cooking and cleaning, catering and maintenance.

Holiday camp operators need people to put up tents and take them down, others need maintenance staff, or crewing, catering and cleaning workers on barge and other boating holidays [see panel].

Then there's the sports and entertainment side of things which need sports and activity supervisors and instructors, singers, dancers, magicians and a host of other entertainers, as well as casino croupiers, hairdressers and shop staff.

The work is not well paid but board and lodging and travel there and back is usually provided and it's more fun than spending the summer stacking shelves in Tesco's.

You will stand a better chance of getting a job if you have some basic skills. If you don't, it's relatively easy to enhance your chances by getting some certificates in such things as childcare, first aid, lifesaving, etc.

Get your application in quickly because for every summer job abroad that is advertised, there are probably a dozen or more applications. And, naturally enough, the recruiters pick the best, those who have had some relevant experience, or those who have a smattering of French or another European language.

Similar work is available in many parts of the world but Europe is the best bet for Britons as there is no need for employment permits, visas, etc.

What these and other casual occupations offer is a cheap holiday and the opportunity to make friends in an international community and often to learn a new language.

What if you want to go further afield?

The best options here are the summer camps in the USA and the working holiday visas that allow youngsters from several EU countries to spend up to a year working in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan.

Summer camps in the US

There are a variety of programmes that allow young people – particularly students – to spend a summer in the US. There are three main operators – Camp America, BUNAC and Camp Counselors.

Thousands of young people from Britain and other countries sign up with these organisations every year for summer camp jobs or – with BUNAC – another programme that allows young people to 'take any job, anywhere.'

Camp life in the US is structured and rigorous – a bit like school, warns Camp America, but it's a million times more fun, says the organisation, the biggest recruiter of summer camp helpers.

"Looking after a group of American youngsters or maybe organising and running one of the numerous specialist activities on camp, such as drama, tennis or swimming programmes, is no holiday," it says.

"The kids are lippy but it's really great fun. Despite the hard work, a summer at camp is a thrilling and uplifting experience."

Strictly speaking, most summer camp jobs are open to students only although this is fairly loosely interpreted.

Successful candidates are provided with a free London-US return flight, J-1 Visa, pocket money, board and lodging and time for independent travel after their placement. Candidates must be free from June 1.

Camp America, BUNAC and Camp Counselors USA offer pretty much the same kind of work: playing a mum and dad role for the children, supervising the many activities and making sure they are happy.

For those who don't want to spend their summer in daily contact with children, there are other jobs: driving/general maintenance, kitchen and laundry work – even jobs for secretaries.

The duration of these camps is from mid June to mid/end August. After camp is over, participants are given the opportunity to travel for up to six weeks.

BUNAC's WORK AMERICA is a general work and travel programme which enables students to take virtually any summer job in the US, at any level.

The visa lasts from June through to the beginning of October. The programme is open to current, full-time students.

More info

BUNAC

www.bunac.org

BUNAC offers a range of working holidays including a summer camp counselling programme in the USA, flexible work and travel programmes to Canada, Australia and New Zealand and volunteering placements. These are open to full-time or gap year students and other young people from both the UK and the USA. Programmes last from eight weeks to 18 months.

Camp America

www.campamerica.co.uk

Camp America offers similar roles and experiences. Camps in the USA number over 12,000 – and all are hugely varied in theme, says Camp America. Whichever you choose, you are bound to find summer jobs at a camp that suit your skills, interests and personality and have the summer of a lifetime.

And it promises: "Whatever summer jobs you take on … you will find yourself developing as a person, building relationships with both campers and staff, and becoming friends with those you might never have expected."

CCUSA

www.ccusa.com

Again the jobs are pretty much the same. As a staff provider for more than 1,000 US camps, Camp Counselors USA was founded to give young people from abroad the chance to work in the USA and share their culture and experiences with American children during their summer holidays.

Working holidays in Japan

UK citizens are also eligible for Japan's Working Holiday Programme which allows people aged 18-30 to spend up to a year in Japan and do any work they can find. The main purpose of the visit must be a holiday, so you need to show evidence of having at least US$2,000. Working Holiday visas are free.

The Japan Association for Working Holiday Makers (JAWHM) provides a free job referral service, accommodation information, and other help.

More info

www.jawhm.or.jp/eng/