Skip to main content

Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

Applying for a job

Contents

Work out what skills you’ve developed

First things first, you need to work out exactly what you’ve done, how you explain it to someone outside Scouts, and how you can talk about the skills and personal qualities you’ve developed.  

Finding it tricky to know where to start?

We’ve put together some common Scouts experiences, given you an example of how you could explain it to someone outside the movement and given you the employability buzzwords for the skills you’ve developed.

Remember to show off just how much you’ve learned from Scouts - don't underestimate the experiences you've had or skills you've developed.

  • Shown a commitment to attending regular meetings. This shows commitment, as you've being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time.
  • Followed a set of values that matter to you, which are your Promise and Law. This shows integrity, which means being honest and doing what you say you’ll do.

By being a Patrol, you’ve…

  • Worked as part of a small group to complete activities. This shows teamwork and interpersonal skills, like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group.    

By being a Patrol Leader, you’ve…

  • Led a small group of peers. This shows leadership, interpersonal skills (like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group), and your ability to motivate and enthuse others. 
  • Helped new members to settle and develop skills. This shows teamwork, leadership, interpersonal skills (like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group), and your ability to motivate and enthuse others. 
  • Represented your Patrol’s views to the rest of your group. This shows leadership and interpersonal skills (like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group).
  • Taken action to make the world a better place – what exactly you did was up to you. This shows that you’re committed and that you can identify a need, make a plan to tackle that need and put your plan into action.
  • Worked with others. This shows teamwork and interpersonal skills, like communicating clearly, listening well and making decisions as a group.    
  • Stuck at your project or plan over a period of time. This shows commitment and resilience, which means being able to get back up and try, try again when things go wrong.
  • Planned activities that follow Scouts’ rules and policies. This shows organisational, decision-making, and time management skills.
  • Thought about the resources available and the wants and needs of your audience. This shows initiative, which means being able to get things going on your own, and planning skills.
  • Represented the views of your peers. This shows interpersonal skills, such as communicating clearly, listening well and understanding and representing others’ opinions.
  • Contributed to the programme and taken decisions about how your Troop, Unit, District or County is run. This shows organisation and planning and decision-making skills.

If you held a specific role in Forums, you’ve demonstrated even more skills…

  • A chairperson has shown leadership, time management and organisation
  • The secretary’s shown they’ve got what it takes when it comes to planning, communication, organisation and note-taking
  • The treasurer knows their stuff about budgeting and financial management
  • Shown you can work out the cost of things like food, transport, and accommodation. This shows research, time management and organisation skills.
  • Worked out the cost of the whole event and decided how much to charge each person. This shows financial awareness and organisation skills.
  • Chosen a cause. This shows research and planning skills.
  • Decided how to raise money. This shows financial awareness and organisation skills.
  • Organised and run an event. This shows financial awareness, organisation skills, and time management.
  • Worked as a team to come up with ideas, run the event and solved problems
  • Worked as part of a team to make collective decisions. This shows teamwork and interpersonal skills like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group.    
  • Planned and prepared (for example, you probably trained, planned your route, and made a plan in case of emergency). This shows initiative (being able to get things going on your own), planning, and adapting to changing situations.
  • Developed skills such as map reading and navigation. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time) and adapting to changing situations.
  • Planned a trip. This shows organisation skills and teamwork.
  • Been responsible for your own kit and belongings. This shows independence.
  • Taken part in a number of challenging and demanding activities. This shows independence, personal development, and a willingness to learn new things.
  • Lived alongside your peers, being considerate to their needs. This shows teamwork and interpersonal skills like communicating clearly and listening well.
  • Travelled outside the UK with Scouts. This shows teamwork, personal development, communication skills, and the ability to cope with new and unknown challenges.
  • Attended an event in the UK with people from other countries. This shows teamwork, personal development, communication skills, and the ability to cope with new and unknown challenges.
  • Worked alongside people from other countries to develop an awareness of other cultures and some of the issues people face. This shows cultural awareness and personal development.
  • Developed specific skills in a number of areas – what they are has been up to you. This shows your commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), personal development, and self-motivation.
  • Probably included some work outside your usual meetings. This shows your organisational skills, commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), and self-motivation.

Getting your Chief Scout’s Platinum or Diamond Award (or your Bronze or Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award) is no mean feat. The DofE is also a widely recognised award. What you’ve done depends on the award but you may have…

  • Stuck at it for up to 12 months. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time) and time management (especially if you completed your award alongside important exams).
  • Volunteered, developed a skill, taken part in physical activity, and completed an expedition. This shows personal development, teamwork, and self-motivation.
  • Completed additional activities on the themes of international, community, and values. This shows commitment, initiative (getting things going on your own), and your ability to achieve personal goals.
  • Completed additional nights away. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), teamwork, and interpersonal skills like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group.    

Getting your King Scout’s Award or your Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a huge achievement. They’re the top awards that you can get before you’re 25, and the DofE is a widely recognised award. What you’ve done depends on the award but you may have…

  • Stuck at it for up to 18 months. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time) and time management (especially if you completed your award alongside important exams).
  • Volunteered, developed a skill, taken part in physical activity, and completed an expedition. This shows personal development, teamwork, and self-motivation.
  • Completed additional activities on the themes of international, community, and values. This shows commitment, initiative (getting things going on your own), and your ability to achieve personal goals.
  • Completed additional nights away. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), teamwork, and interpersonal skills like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group.    

If you’ve got your Explorer Belt, you’ve…

  • Planned, trained for, and completed a 10-day expedition in a foreign country with a group of friends. This shows independence, teamwork, research skills, interpersonal skills (like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group), your ability to motivate others in a challenging situation, and your ability to cope with new and unknown challenges. 
  • Completed projects to develop your knowledge of the area. This shows teamwork, cultural awareness, interpersonal skills (like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group), and your ability to cope with new and unknown challenges. 
  • Delivered a presentation to peers and adults. This shows self-motivation, independence, and research and presentation skills.
  • This shows teamwork, confidence, public speaking and commitment, which means being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time.
  • Worked as backstage support. This shows teamwork, organisation skills and commitment, too.
  • Attended a selection event. This shows interpersonal skills like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group and self-motivation.    
  • Taken part in regular training weekends. This shows personal development, commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), and self-motivation.
  • Done significant fundraising. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), financial awareness, and organisation skills.
  • Attended a jamboree with Scouts from around the world. This shows teamwork, personal development, and your ability to cope with new and unknown challenges.
  • Given presentations about your experience to a range of audiences. This shows presentation and organisation skills.
  • Developed a high level of skill and knowledge about your chosen adventurous activity. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), independence, and initiative (getting things going on your own). 
  • Shown you can identify any potential risks (and who the risks might affect) for different activities.
  • Shown you can work out ways to minimise these risks. This shows maturity and responsibility, initiative (getting things going on your own), decision-making and communication skills, and your ability to identify, discuss, and minimise potential hazards.
  • Developed a high level of skill and knowledge about your chosen adventurous activity. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), independence, and initiative (getting things going on your own). 
  • Shown you’ve got what it takes to lead training sessions and instruct others in an activity, including being responsible for their safety and personal development. This shows your ability to cope with responsibility, leadership, communication skills, and initiative (getting things going on your own). 
  • Completed the Young Leaders’ Scheme. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time) and independence.
  • Worked alongside an adult leadership team at the weekly meetings of a younger section. This shows leadership, your ability to communicate with people of different ages, interpersonal skills (like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group), and flexibility and adaptability.
  • Planned activities that suit your audience and follow Scouts’ rules and policies. This shows organisation, your ability to cope with responsibility, and decision-making skills.
  • Completed the relevant modules of the adult training scheme. If you hold a Wood Badge, there are opportunities for external recognition of your qualification. This shows commitment (being dedicated and sticking at something over a period of time), independence, and the ability to plan and meet goals.
  • Helped to plan a programme and events, thinking about the abilities of your section and Scouts’ rules and guidance. This shows organisation, your ability to cope with responsibility, and decision-making skills.
  • Attended weekly meetings, where you’ve been responsible for the safety, wellbeing, and personal development of young people. This shows leadership, your ability to communicate with people of different ages, interpersonal skills (like communicating clearly, listening well, and making decisions as a group), and flexibility and adaptability.
Next
Writing an application form