10th Croydon


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A guide for Explorers and Network members

GET AHEAD


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Even though you might not realise it yet, your experience in Scouting 
has helped you to develop a whole range of important skills that higher 
education establishments and employers are looking for.

Whether you are applying for jobs, college, university or apprenticeships, 
competition is higher than ever. The skills you will have developed through 
Scouting, including teamwork, interpersonal skills and decision-making, 
will help to set you apart from the crowd.

This guide is designed to help you express the experiences and activities 
you do through Scouting in a way that employers and admissions tutors 
will understand. To do this, you need to identify which important life skills 
you have developed.

Even though people in Scouting will understand that being a Young Leader 
requires a range of skills from teamwork to time management, employers 
and admissions tutors may not. This guide will help you to make the 
connections for them.


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SCOUTING

 

EXPERIENCES

DESCRIPTION

SKILLS AND
PERSONAL QUALITIES

Being a member of        
The Scout Association

Committing to attending regular meetings.

Following a set of values (the Promise and Law).

•  Integrity.

•  Commitment.

Being part of a Patrol,       
or a Patrol Leader

Working as part of a small group of peers                    
to complete activities on a weekly basis.

As a Patrol Leader, leading and motivating a small 
group of peers and helping new members to settle 
in and learn new skills.

Representing the views of your Patrol to the rest  
of the Troop/Unit.

•  Teamwork.

•  Leadership.

•  Interpersonal skills.

•  Ability to motivate and          

enthuse others.

•  Working with peers.

Gaining badges               
and awards

Developing specific skills in a number of areas, 
including sports, creative activities, faith and        
the environment.

Each badge has a different level of skill and 
commitment required.

Many badges entail work outside regular               
scout meetings.

•  Organisational skills.

•  Personal development.

•  Commitment.

•  Self-motivation.

Hikes and expeditions

Working as part of a team, and making         
collective decisions.

Planning and preparation, including training, 
route planning and putting a plan in place              
for emergencies.

Developing skills such as map reading                   
and navigation.

•  Teamwork.

•  Communication skills.

•  Using your initiative.

•  Planning and organisational skills.

•  Adapting to changing situations.

The first stage is to work out which important life skills your Scouting 
activities have helped you to develop. This table includes many of the 
activities and experiences you will have taken part in through Scouting.

The second column includes a short description, which you could adapt for 
an application form or interview to make sure people understand exactly 
what you mean.

The third column highlights the skills you have developed through taking 
part in the relevant Scouting activity. Employers and higher education 
institutions are looking for these skills in their applicants


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Participating in                  
a camp (either indoors   
or outdoors)

Planning the camp.

Being responsible for your own kit and belongings.

Taking part in a variety of challenging and 
demanding activities.

Living alongside your peers and being considerate 
of other people’s needs.

•  Teamwork.

•  Independence.

•  Personal development.

•  Adapting to changing situations.

Community service

Taking part in Scout Community Week, which 
involves both community service and fundraising.

working with other sections, either as a Young 
Leader or adult leader.

working at an activity centre or as part of                      
a campsite service team.

•  Teamwork.

•  Communication skills.

•  Commitment.

•  Sense of social responsibility.

Programme planning

Taking into consideration the age range and 
abilities of the section, resources available, and 
what the young people in the section want to do.

Ensuring that the programme follows the rules 
and policies of The Scout Association.

•  Organisational skills.

•  Using your initiative.

•  Decision making.

•  Planning and time management.

Being a Young Leader

Completing the Young Leaders’ Scheme.

Attending the weekly meetings of                                    
a younger section.

Helping to plan and run the programme and 
activities while taking into account the age range 
and abilities of the young people you are working 
with, and also working to The Scout Association’s 
rules and guidance.

Working alongside the adult leadership team.

•  Leadership.

•  Communicating with people           

of different ages.

•  Interpersonal skills.

•  Independence.

•  Flexibility and adaptability.

•  Commitment.

•  Able to cope with responsibility.

•  Decision making.

•  Trustworthy.

Being an adult leader

Completing the relevant modules of the Adult 
Training Scheme.

Attending weekly meetings for the section.

Helping to plan the programme and events, taking 
into account the age range and abilities of the 
young people you are working with, and working 
to The Scout Association’s rules and guidance.

Being directly responsible for the safety, wellbeing 
and personal development of the young people 
you are working with.

For Wood Badge holders, there are opportunities 
for external recognition of your qualification: 
scouts.org.uk/supportresources.

•  Leadership.

•  Able to communicate with people 

of all ages.

•  Interpersonal skills.

•  Independence.

•  Flexibility and adaptability.

•  Commitment.

•  Able to cope with responsibility.

•  Decision making.

•  Trustworthy.

•  Able to plan and meet goals,          

for example completing your 
adult training.


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Participating in forums 
(in your Troop, Unit, 
District or County)

Representing the views of your peers.

Contributing to the programme and decisions 
taken about the way your Troop/Unit/District/ 
County is run.

You may have had a specific role, such as the 
chairperson, secretary or treasurer.

•  Able to understand and represent 

the opinions of others.

•  Communication skills.
•  Interpersonal skills.
•  Organisational skills.
•  Decision making. 
•  Chairperson: leadership skills.
•  Secretary: administration skills.
•  Treasurer: financial management.

Chief Scout Platinum 
and Diamond Awards/
Bronze and Silver        
Duke of Edinburgh’s 
(DofE) Award

These are completed over six or 12 months.

The DofE is an external and widely                 
recognised award.

Involves completing community service, 
developing a skill, taking part in a physical activity, 
and carrying out an expedition.

For the Chief Scout Awards, completing additional 
Scouting activities on the themes of international, 
environment and values.

Also being a member of Scouting for six or                 
12 months, and completing six or 12 nights away.

•  Commitment and dedication.
•  Time management (often 

completed alongside          
important exams).

•  Teamwork.
•  Personal development.
•  Using your initiative.
•  Self-motivation and the ability        

to achieve personal goals.

Queen’s Scout Award 
(QSA)/DofE Gold Award

The DofE Gold and QSA are the top awards that 
can be gained before the age of 25.

The DofE is an external and widely            
recognised award.

These awards are completed over at least                                            
18 months.

Involves completing community service, 
developing a skill, taking part in a physical 
activity, completing an expedition and                           
attending a residential experience with people 
you do not know.

For the QSA you also have to show your dedication 
to Scouting. This includes being a member for 
18 months, completing 18 nights away and 
completing activities based on the themes                   
of international, environment and values.

•  Commitment and dedication.
•  Time management (many of 

you will have been completing 
important exams whilst working 
towards your dofe/qsa).

•  Teamwork.
•  Personal development.
•  Using your initiative.
•  Self-motivation and the ability        

to achieve personal goals.

The Explorer Belt

Plan and train for a 10-day expedition in                    
a foreign country with a group of peers.

Complete projects during the expedition                    
to develop your knowledge of the area you         
have travelled to deliver a presentation to peers 
and adults after the expedition.

•  Teamwork.
•  Cultural awareness.
•  Self-motivation.
•  Motivating others in                                  

a challenging situation.

•  Independence.
•  Using your initiative.
•  Decision making.
•  Presentation skills.
•  Research skills.
•  The ability to cope with new         

and unknown challenges.


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Participating in 
international events

Either travelling overseas with Scouting, or 
attending an event in the UK where Scouts             
from other countries will be present.

Working alongside people from other countries 
and developing awareness of other cultures       
and some of the issues that communities face            
in other countries.

•  Teamwork.

•  Cultural awareness.

•  Personal development.

•  The ability to cope with new         

and unknown challenges.

•  Communication skills.

Participating in a World 
Scout Jamboree

Attending a selection event and regular         
training weekends.

Completing significant fundraising.

Attending the Jamboree with Scouts from around 
the world.

Giving presentations about your experience               
to different sections upon your return.

•  Teamwork.

•  Interpersonal skills.

•  Cultural awareness.

•  Personal development.

•  Self-motivation.

•  Presentation skills.

•  The ability to cope with new         

and unknown challenges.

Carrying out risk 
assessments

Identifying any potential risks for different 
activities and who the risks might affect.

Working out ways to minimise these risks.

•  Maturity and responsibility.

•  Using your initiative.

•  Decision making.

•  Able to identify, discuss and 

minimise potential hazards.

•  Communication skills.

Hold an Adventurous 
Activity Permit 
(personal, leadership       
or supervisory)

Developing a high level of skill and knowledge 
about a chosen adventurous activity.

For leadership and supervisory permits,              
being able to lead training sessions and instruct 
others in an activity, including being responsible 
for their safety and personal development.

•  Able to cope with responsibility.

•  Leadership.

•  Communication skills.

•  Using your initiative.

Budgeting

Investigate the costs of food, transport, 
accommodation, equipment and activities               
for example for camps and activity days.

Working out the cost for the whole event and 
deciding how much to charge each person.

•  Financial awareness.

•  Organisational skills.

•  Time management.

Fundraising                         
(for example, to fund      
an activity or raise 
money for another 
charity)

This could be as a participant or you could                  
be organising the fundraising.

This will include deciding what you are 
fundraising for, how you are going to do it,          
and organising and running the event.

•  Financial awareness.

•  Organisational skills.

•  Time management.

Taking part                            
in a Scout show

Either performing or working as back                 
stage support.

Committing time for rehearsals                                         
and performances.

•  Confidence in public speaking.

•  Commitment and dedication.

•  Teamwork.


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When you have identified your Scouting experiences and  
the skills you have developed through Scouting, you    
should include these in your CV, application forms and 
interview answers.

When writing your CV and filling in application forms, you 
need to focus on being brief and concise. Hundreds of other 
people will be applying for the same jobs and courses as you, 
so you need to make sure your key selling points stand out 
straightaway, rather than hiding them in long descriptions.

Interviews provide the opportunity for you to elaborate and 
go into more detail about your skills and achievements, so 
don’t worry about trying to include every last detail in your 
application form.

When answering a question, whether it is on an application 
form or in an interview, your answer needs to have    
three parts.

For example:

‘I have been a Young Leader for the 
Cub Pack for three years. This involves 
attending weekly meetings, and working 
alongside the adult leadership team to 
plan and run activities and events. This 
has helped me to become more confident 
and independent, develop my teamwork 
and leadership skills, and improve my 
communication and interpersonal skills.’

If you were in an interview, you could go into a bit  

 

more detail.

‘I have been a Young Leader for my local 
Cub Pack for three years. This involves 
attending weekly meetings, and working 
alongside the adult leadership team to 
plan and run activities, weekend events 
and camps. I also hold an Adventurous 
Activity Leadership Permit for climbing. 
This recognises my high level of skill in 
climbing, and allows me to lead climbing 
sessions for the Cubs, during which I am 
responsible for their safety and personal 
development. This has helped me to 
become more confident and independent, 
develop my teamwork and leadership 
skills, and improve my communication  
and interpersonal skills.’

These three parts to the answer correspond to the three 
columns of the table. 

For example: 

Have you ever held a leadership position?

a) Young Leader for a Cub Pack
b) Attending weekly meetings, and working alongside  
  the adult leadership team to plan and run activities  
  and events.
c)  Became more confident and independent, developed  
  teamwork and leadership skills, and improved my  
  communication and interpersonal skills.

This can then easily be translated into a few sentences  
to include in an application form or interview.

a) Say what you have done.
b) Explain, briefly, what this means.
c) Highlight which skills this demonstrates.


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Have you ever worked as part of a team?

a) Went on an Explorer Belt expedition to Austria.
b) Planned, trained for and carried out a 10-day expedition  
  in Austria with a team of six, carrying out various  
  projects along the way to learn about the country.
c)  Teamwork, collective decision-making, motivating  
  others in a challenging situation.

‘Through the Scout Network I completed 
my Explorer Belt, which involved 
planning, training for and completing 
a 10-day expedition abroad. I worked 
as part of a team of six to plan our 
expedition in Austria, which involved 
making collective decisions on the 
route and budget of our expedition and 
projects to be completed along the way. 
The experience helped me to develop my 
teamwork and decision-making skills, 
and also my ability to motivate others  
in a challenging situation.

Longer interview answer:

‘Through the Scout Network I completed 
my Explorer Belt, which involved 
planning, training for and completing 
a 10-day expedition abroad. I worked 
as part of a team of six to plan our 
expedition in Austria, which involved 
making collective decisions on the 
location, budget, expedition route and 
projects to be completed along the way. 
Once on the expedition, we had to work 
together to ensure that we kept to the 
planned route and kept team morale 
high. We also worked together to research 
various aspects of community life in the 
area we visited, delegating various tasks 
to different team members and then 
collecting our findings together to write  
a presentation to deliver on our return.  
It helped me to develop my teamwork 
skills and ability to make collective 
decisions, and also my ability to motivate 
others in a challenging situation.’

Have you ever worked independently?

a) Hold an Adventurous Activity Leadership Permit for  
  canoeing, and run monthly sessions for Scouts.
b) Organise, plan and run monthly canoeing skills    
  training sessions for local Scouts.
c)  Independence, leadership skills, self-motivation, use  
  of initiative, ability to cope with responsibility.

‘I hold an Adventurous Activity Leadership 
Permit for canoeing through Scouting. 
Using this, I organise, plan and run 
monthly canoeing skills training sessions 
for Scouts aged 10 to 14 in my local area. 
This has improved my confidence in 
working independently to reach goals,  
as well as my self-motivation and ability  
to cope with responsibility and use    
my initiative.’

Longer interview answer:

‘I hold an Adventurous Activity Leadership 
Permit for canoeing through Scouting. 
Using this, I organise, plan and run 
monthly canoeing skills training sessions 
for up to eight Scouts aged 10 to 14 in my 
local area. This includes securing use of 
the location and equipment, advertising 
the sessions and being responsible for the 
safety and personal development of the 
young people attending. I have run four 
of the sessions so far, and received really 
good feedback. This has improved my 
confidence in working independently  
to reach goals, as well as my self-
motivation and ability to cope with 
responsibility and use my initiative.’


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Have you ever held a leadership position?

Have you ever worked as part of a team?

These are some of the types of questions that are likely  to come up in 
application forms and interviews. Using your own Scouting experiences, 
try and put together some answers for the following questions using the 
three part method. It might be helpful to write a short application form 
answer and a longer interview answer for each question.

a) What you have done:

a) What you have done:

b) Explanation: 

b) Explanation: 

c) Relevant skills: 

c) Relevant skills: 


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Have you ever worked 

independently to reach a goal?

Give an example of when you have 

motivated others in a challenging situation.

Tell me about your greatest 

achievement so far.

Give an example of when you have 

managed a budget. 

a) What you have done:

a) What you have done:

b) Explanation: 

b) Explanation: 

c) Relevant skills: 

c) Relevant skills: 

a) What you have done:

a) What you have done:

b) Explanation: 

b) Explanation: 

c) Relevant skills: 

c) Relevant skills: 


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Give an example of a situation 

where you have used your initiative.

Have you ever organised or 

planned an event?

a) What you have done:

a) What you have done:

b) Explanation: 

b) Explanation: 

c) Relevant skills: 

c) Relevant skills: 


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CVS

If you have been a Young Leader or an adult leader, you can 
list this under ‘positions of responsibility’. You should include 
a brief outline of your main duties. 

For example:

‘2011–present: Section Leader, Cub Scouts. 

This includes attending weekly meetings, 

planning the programme and events, 

and being responsible for the safety and 

wellbeing of up to 25 young people aged 

between 8 and 10 during potentially 

hazardous activities.’

Being a member of Scouting, as well as activities you take 
part in through Scouting could come under ‘Interests.’ 

For example:

‘I am a keen canoeist, and hold an Open 

Boating Adventurous Activity Permit 

through Scouts.’

Badges and awards you have achieved through Scouting 
could also be included under ‘Achievements.’ 

For example:

‘I have completed my Gold DofE and my 

Queen’s Scout Award, the highest awards 

available to young people in Scouting.’

Schools and universities will have provided you with plenty of 
information on how to write CVs, fill in application forms and UCAS 
forms, and prepare for interviews. This section shows you where  
to include your Scouting experiences.

APPLICATION FORMS

Often, instead of asking you to send a CV, companies, colleges 
and universities will ask you to fill in an application form. 
Because every application form is different, there is no set 
place to include your Scouting experiences. Instead you 
will have to look closely at what skill you are being asked 
to demonstrate. If you have a Scouting experience that 
demonstrates the skill, include it in your answer.

Remember that you still need to be concise on an application 
form, so don’t try and include every example you have. If you 
are invited to an interview, you will have the opportunity to 
give more examples and information about your experiences. 

INTERVIEWS

Again, there is no specific place where Scouting will fit 
into your interview answers. Every interview will be 
different. If you do use a Scouting experience in an answer, 
always remember to explain what you mean and what the 
experience involved in detail. Make sure that you tell the 
interviewer which important skills these experiences have 
given you. Don’t leave it to them to make the connection.


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1st Edition, March 2013

Contributors: Charlie French, Carol Fitzsimons, David Morris, Phil Probst, Graham Phillips

© 2015 The Scout Association Registered Charity No. 306101/SC038437 

scouts.org.uk

Use this space to write down any comments on your Scouting skills and experiences.