If you have recently left school and are taking a year out before you head to college, you may well find yourself a little low on cash. Minimal financial freedom is no fun at all, so the chances are good that you will be keen to find yourself a job.

Instead of working in a call centre selling health insurance or flipping burgers in a fast food chain, you might want to consider going into something a little more worthwhile. Remember that a decent job will look good on your university application, and may just give you the edge over other hopeful candidates.

Today, the green movement is a fast growing thing, and environmental issues are among the most important and thought about in the world. Securing yourself a job in the ecological sector is thus an intelligent manoeuvre, especially if you are interested to go into the biological sciences later in life.

Do a little research regarding possible routes into this field: run a basic internet search of environmental institutions in your area. These might include establishments like national parks and bird sanctuaries, as well as recycling depots and science laboratories.

Your next step should be to send a CV and covering letter around to the places in which you are interested in working, explaining your situation and asking to be considered for any junior positions. With a little luck, your responses will be positive, and you should receive at least a couple of replies offering to train you.