Doing work experience during your Christmas holiday can be more fun than you’d think. Nicola Laver reports

Without work experience on your CV, the chances of securing a training contract or pupillage nosedive. But if you didn’t do a summer vacation scheme, don’t panic, it’s not too late. Many firms hold shorter programmes during December and January. And with most deadlines for winter placements not until mid-November, there is still time to put in a last-minute application.