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How to highlight the skills you use in scouting on your CV

Over 110,000 adults are involved with scouting in the UK and they, along with young people, have the opportunity to experience new things, learn new skills and develop personally.

The training that you will receive as a member of scouting has implications beyond your role. When applying for a job it is important to remember to include the formal scout training that you have taken part in had within, as well as what you have learnt informally through experience.

Employers are often looking for skills that as an adult in scouting you will already have. Do not be put off from including these skills in an application simply because your potential employer does not know about scouting. Many of the skills you have can be described in non-scouting terms, as can the roles you have carried out as a volunteer.

 There is a diverse range of skills and experiences that you may have that can help supplement your CV and highlight you as an ideal candidate for a job. Some of these are suggested below, but there may be more specialised skills, such as your experience as an Instructor which may be appropriate to you.

Practical skills

  1. Ability to plan systematically
  2. Appreciation of the importance of safety and procedures you use to ensure the safety of yourself and others
  3. Knowledge of first aid and any formal training in this field.

Working as a team

  1. Working in a variety of teams e.g. Sections, Groups, Districts, Counties
  2. Supporting others in their role, knowing the value of teamwork
  3. Valuing others for their skills and abilities and supporting those with additional needs

Management skills

  1. Leadership skills, knowing how to lead teams, supervise the group and individuals to get the job done
  2. Being able to monitor, evaluate, and review performance
  3. Being able to manage large projects and often large groups of people.

Communication

  1. Being effective in meetings, taking minutes, putting your view across and representing others
  2. Writing plans, programmes, reports and newsletters.

Finance

  1. Budgeting, keeping accounts
  2. Securing funding from outside bodies and fundraising.

Training

  1. You will have received formal training in The Scout Association, and it is worth mentioning this.
  2. Most adults in scouting have experience of training others, either formally or informally. For example, if you have ever passed on a new skill to someone or been part of a buddy system. These too are worth mentioning.

Some of the skills listed above you may already have, but some of them you may have gained as part of your role in scouting. Either way it is important to remember scouting when applying for any position. You never know when those skills you have picked up and developed in scouting are going to make you stand out in a crowd.