STUDENTS may be preoccupied with their studies and managing their debts, but they would also be wise to ponder the next step - their careers

Unless a summer of temping in call centres or inputting endless rows of data appeals, a few hours spent researching other options is a wise investment. And for many, the key word should be "career" rather than just "job."

Second year students should be thinking about applying for long-term jobs as soon as they return to University or college in September, whilst this summer's graduates will need to take swift action.

"Ideally they should be looking before now, but they're obviously somewhat obsessed with their exams." says Dr Peter Marsh, Pro Vice Chancellor at the University of Bolton. "We encourage people to think at the start of the year about their careers because the big companies advertise quite early for internships and training."

The careers service at the University is open throughout summer, for any student who wishes to seek advice about their future. Dr Marsh recommends making an appointment with a careers advisor. "Often students simply aren't aware of the range of careers open to them," he says.

Alternatively, a summer job can quite often provide a "foot in the door" for a later career, but don't forget that first you will have to get the job - and a little preparation can make all the difference.

Niche publisher Brand 4 Work has found a solution for even the most harassed student. Their career guide for 16 to 25-year-olds comes not only in book form, but also as a 55 minute DVD.

Written by career management guru Sally Campbell, the film and guidebook (titled Go-Jonny-Go) provide an eight-step process for "self-marketing."

Now that may sound like corporate gobbledy-gook, but Sally points out that "you only need to be one per cent better than the competition to secure an offer".

Sally collects advice from human resources and recruitment specialists about what they feel candidates could do better to impress potential employers. Job opportunities can be found in the local press, on the internet or through job agencies, but that is only the first step in securing a summer position.

Human resources professional Charles Liddy says: "Getting prepared for the interview is probably the one thing that people don't do enough. It's amazing how much more confident you can be if you've done the preparation and planning.

"When you are interviewing five or six candidates in a day, the candidate who has gone the extra mile and made the extra effort to be better prepared, to have more information at the tips of their fingers, to ask better questions, is the one who stands out a mile."

"Young people can benefit hugely from taking time to decide what makes them tick and the skills they offer before carefully matching these to an employer's needs," says Sally.

"With Tony Blair aiming for 50 per cent of all school leavers to attend university by 2010, the competition for jobs is getting tougher and sound preparation and research is essential to get the work you want. In response to this need, I wrote 'Go-Jonny-Go' with the aim of fostering a more enterprising, self-reliant approach to the world of work and career management."

Self-marketing can be as simple as ensuring that your exam grades are included on your CV, or as subtle as using body language to influence the outcome of your interview.

An online quiz on the Go-Jonny-Go website helps you find your Job-Seeking Creature. Horses are care-free, dogs are content to be led, lions use the press, job-fairs and the internet to easily locate jobs while eagles have a clear idea of what they want and target specific companies.

Above all, Go-Jonny-Go encourages young people to take personal responsibility for their success, and aims to teach the skills which will lead to a rewarding career.

A successful career hinges on having the right mindset, says Sally. She particularly believes that entrepreneurial spirit should be encouraged and uses quotations from two of the most successful businessmen in the world to provide inspiration.

"Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming," said Richard Branson, while Bill Gates describes his early years with Microsoft by saying: "We were young, but we had good advice, good ideas and lots of enthusiasm."

For University students who feel they may have left their job-hunting a little late, Dr Marsh does have some reassurance. "The careers service is open to students even up to three years after they have graduated," he says. "So it's never too late."

Go-Jonny-Go book and DVD pack costs £24.99 and is available at all major bookshops or online from www.go-jonny-go.co.uk