Day in the Life of a Youth Ambassador at Youth Without Limits LIVE
At the start of November hundreds of young people headed to the Google offices in London for Youth Without Limits LIVE: Beyond the CV. Our annual interactive employability event helps young people build their confidence and explore routes into employment through workshops and panel discussions with leading employers.
In attendance was DofE Youth Ambassador, Freya. Read on to hear how she found her first Beyond the CV event.
I kicked off the day by grabbing a coffee and taking the tube to Google, London. As soon as I got there I was greeted by Ash and Ali, the lovely Youth Ambassador Project Managers. I then stepped into Google’s lift to the event, which felt like the perfect start to an exciting day ahead!
As I entered the main area, I eagerly caught up with the other Youth Ambassadors over croissants. We had the chance to talk with DofE Award holders about their experiences and the impact DofE has had on their lives. Then, at 10am, the event began with an inspiring speech from DofE CEO, Ruth Marvel MBE. She emphasised how the skills gained through DofE, those not easily acquired in the classroom, prove to be vital in today’s workplace. It was a powerful reminder of the value that DofE has for young people!
The first session of the day was the ‘Future Skills’ led by Vicki Sanderson from MTC and Lionel Mason from NEXT. They spoke about how what sets candidates apart is the passion and enthusiasm they would bring to the role. They also encouraged us to showcase the teamwork and resilience we fostered through our DofE. Their message was clear: make the most of every opportunity, learn from challenges and use those experiences to improve.
We then dived into the next workshop; ‘Unlock your Future’ by Balfour Beatty, where they shared insights on crafting a CV, writing cover letters and navigating psychometric tests. The highlight for me was that they reminded us not to fear rejection and to instead view feedback as a tool for growth!
After a well-deserved pizza lunch, I caught up with other Youth Ambassadors before heading into a powerful session on ‘Personal Storytelling’ led by Richard from Loudspeaker. His message was highly motivating: he reminded us that we are all amazing and have bright futures ahead of us. He encouraged us to embrace failures and challenges as they are vital to success and it goes without saying that his words left us all feeling inspired and empowered.
Next, we joined the ‘Navigating the Future’ discussion, where Gold Award holders; Emily and Hannah shared their insights on the importance of adaptability and the need to prioritise work-life balance. Emily is a Performance and Operations Director for the NHS (and 2022-23 DofE Youth Ambassador!) and Hannah is the co-founder of podcast company ‘Mags Creative’. Their advice was not to compare our journeys with others as “comparison is the thief of joy”, which was a gentle reminder for us all.
After a quick tea and muffin break, we gathered one last time for a keynote speech by Tim Campbell MBE. He spoke passionately about taking charge of our situation rather than settling for what is handed to us. His views on how to start and promote a business as a young person were thought-provoking and he urged us to consider whether we want to work to live or live to work.
We wrapped up the successful day with a Youth Ambassador group photo. Reflecting on the event, I left feeling much more confident about my yet-to-be transition from education to the world of work. It helped me appreciate how my DofE awards have equipped me for future career opportunities!
Read more about our Youth Without Limits LIVE: Beyond the CV events here.
