After finishing school and taking on two short-term jobs, Newtown resident JJ Downes found himself unemployed soon after turning 18. Unsure of how to find stable work, JJ reached out to Working Wales for guidance.

JJ explained: “I thought I didn’t need help and that I could do it by myself. But it got to the stage where I was stuck in a rut and couldn’t get out of it. Working Wales put me right on the path that I needed.”

Careers adviser Karen Rodenburg sat down with JJ to explore his skills and aspirations, leading him to discover his interest in security.

JJ said: “It was a big help. It was good to get details about specific jobs and how popular they are, the demand, and what the pay is like.”

Karen also worked with JJ to enhance his CV, tailoring it for jobs he was interested in.

With his improved confidence, JJ secured a role as a security guard. He completed training, gained qualifications, and soon earned a permanent position with the company.

JJ’s advice for others: “This is something I feel passionate about. I went a long time without telling anyone how I felt about not being in a job. Don’t give up and talk to your family.

“Get in contact with Working Wales or go to your local careers centre and just talk to them. They’ll sit down, they’ll listen, they’ll care, and you can move step by step with them.”

JJ’s success is just one example of how Working Wales, funded by Welsh Government and delivered by Careers Wales, helps people take confident steps toward their futures. Over the past year, careers advisers like Karen supported over 31,000 adults and 5,000 young people across Wales, providing each customer with tailored career information advice and guidance.

(Image: Careers Wales) Moreover, the service supported over 50,000 customers through the multi-channel Connect service, the first point of contact for career advice and guidance across Wales.

Working Wales also organised or attended 276 recruitment events in partnership with employers across Wales. These events connected local job seekers with real opportunities and provided on-site guidance, from CV support to interview preparation, with positive outcomes for many participants.

To read more stories like JJ's and learn more about Careers Wales’ work across the country, explore the latest Careers Wales annual report.

(Image: Careers Wales) Cymru’n Gweithio yn helpu un o drigolion Powys i roi hwb i’w yrfa fel swyddog diogelwch

Ar ôl gorffen yn yr ysgol a chymryd dwy swydd tymor byr, cafodd JJ Downes o’r Drenewydd ei hun yn ddi-waith yn fuan ar ôl troi’n 18 oed. Yn ansicr ynghylch sut i ddod o hyd i waith sefydlog, gofynnodd JJ i Cymru’n Gweithio am arweiniad.

Eglurodd JJ: “Roeddwn i’n meddwl nad oedd angen cymorth arna i ac y gallwn ddod i ben ar fy mhen fy hun. Ond cyrhaeddais y pwynt lle roeddwn i’n sownd ac angen torri cwys newydd. Rhoddodd Cymru’n Gweithio fi ar y trywydd iawn.”

Eisteddodd y cynghorydd gyrfaoedd, Karen Rodenburg, i lawr gyda JJ i archwilio ei sgiliau a’i ddyheadau, gan ei arwain i ddarganfod ei ddiddordeb mewn diogelwch.

Meddai JJ: “Roedd yn help mawr. Roedd yn dda cael manylion am swyddi penodol a pha mor boblogaidd ydyn nhw, faint o alw sydd, a beth yw’r cyflog.”

Bu Karen hefyd yn gweithio gyda JJ i wella ei CV, gan ei deilwra ar gyfer swyddi yr oedd ganddo ddiddordeb ynddynt.

Wedi iddo fagu mwy o hyder, sicrhaodd JJ rôl fel swyddog diogelwch. Cwblhaodd hyfforddiant, enillodd gymwysterau, ac yn fuan cafodd swydd barhaol gyda’r cwmni.

Dyma gyngor JJ i eraill: “Mae hyn yn rhywbeth rwy’n teimlo’n frwd yn ei gylch. Es i amser hir heb ddweud wrth neb sut roeddwn i’n teimlo am fod yn ddi-waith. Peidiwch â rhoi’r gorau iddi, a siaradwch â’ch teulu.

Cysylltwch â Cymru’n Gweithio neu ewch i’ch canolfan gyrfa leol a siaradwch â nhw. Byddan nhw’n eistedd gyda chi, byddan nhw’n gwrando, byddan nhw’n rhoi gofal i chi, a gallwch chi symud gam wrth gam gyda nhw.”

Dim ond un enghraifft yw llwyddiant JJ o sut mae Cymru’n Gweithio, a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru ac a ddarperir gan Gyrfa Cymru, yn helpu pobl i gymryd camau hyderus tuag at eu dyfodol. Dros y flwyddyn ddiwethaf, mae cynghorwyr gyrfa fel Karen wedi cynorthwyo dros 31,000 o oedolion a 5,000 o bobl ifanc ledled Cymru, gan ddarparu cyngor ac arweiniad gyrfa wedi’u teilwra i bob cwsmer.

At hynny, cefnogodd y gwasanaeth dros 50,000 o gwsmeriaid drwy’r gwasanaeth Cyswllt aml-sianel, y pwynt cyswllt cyntaf ar gyfer cyngor ac arweiniad gyrfa ledled Cymru.

Yn ogystal, roedd Cymru’n Gweithio wedi trefnu, neu wedi bod yn bresennol mewn 276 o ddigwyddiadau recriwtio mewn partneriaeth â chyflogwyr ledled Cymru. Bu’r digwyddiadau hyn yn fodd o gysylltu ceiswyr gwaith lleol â chyfleoedd go iawn gan ddarparu cyfarwyddyd ar y safle, o gymorth gyda CVs i gymorth gyda pharatoi ar gyfer cyfweliadau, gyda llawer o’r rheiny a gymerodd ran yn cael canlyniadau cadarnhaol.

I ddarllen rhagor o hanesion fel rhai JJ a dysgu mwy am waith Gyrfa Cymru ar draws y wlad, gallwch archwilio adroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf Gyrfa Cymru.