16-year-old Freya Jones felt uncertain about her options after school. She had ideas but wasn’t sure how to connect her interests with potential career paths.

Seeking guidance, Freya, who lives in Porthmadog, turned to Guto Dafydd, a careers adviser from Careers Wales based at her school.

Through individual meetings with Guto, Freya explored her post-secondary options and gained a clearer understanding of the grades she’d need.

Freya said: "Before these meetings, I had no idea about the difference between A-Levels, sixth form and other options. Having someone to talk to really helped.

"I was always in between options, but I wasn’t sure what the differences were. Talking to Guto helped me understand the qualifications I needed. He helped me explore what kind of jobs I could get from these.”

Freya considered a variety of pathways, from apprenticeships to local colleges before ultimately deciding to pursue A-Levels in Media, Law and English.

Guto provided Freya with resources to help her navigate the college application process and helped arrange interviews, making the process less overwhelming. Now, Freya says she feels confident and focused as she moves forward, with both university and apprenticeships in her sights after college.

(Image: Careers Wales) Freya shared: “I feel like I have got a clearer mindset of what I can achieve.

“Talking to someone who knows more about these things is really helpful. It’s good to explore different opportunities so that you can choose something else if you do not reach specific grades.”

Freya’s journey is just one example of how Careers Wales helps young people take confident steps toward their futures. In schools, advisers like Guto held over 64,000 guidance sessions with young people, supporting over 40,000 students like Freya who were exploring their career options.

Last year alone, over 400,000 individuals used the Careers Wales website, with nearly 145,000 accessing vital job information. Across Wales, young people were equipped with the tools and experiences they need for life beyond the classroom. With over 2,000 career-planning sessions and over 1,600 employer-led activities— ranging from mock interviews to site visits—young people across Wales were introduced to opportunities that prepare them for life beyond school.

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

For careers information, advice and guidance visit the Careers Wales website.

“Roedd siarad â rhywun yn help mawr.” Myfyrwraig o Borthmadog yn canfod cyfeiriad gyrfa gyda chymorth Gyrfa Cymru

Roedd Freya Jones, 16 oed, yn teimlo’n ansicr ynghylch ei hopsiynau ar ôl gadael yr ysgol. Roedd ganddi syniadau, ond nid oedd yn siŵr iawn sut i gysylltu ei diddordebau â llwybrau gyrfa posibl.

Wrth geisio cyfarwyddyd, trodd Freya, sy’n byw ym Mhorthmadog, at Guto Dafydd, cynghorydd gyrfa o Gyrfa Cymru sy’n gweithio yn ei hysgol.

Trwy gyfarfodydd unigol gyda Guto, archwiliodd Freya yr opsiynau a fyddai ar gael iddi ar ôl gadael addysg uwchradd a chafodd ddealltwriaeth gliriach o’r graddau y byddai eu hangen arni.

Meddai Freya: “Cyn y cyfarfodydd hyn, doedd gen i ddim syniad am y gwahaniaeth rhwng Safon Uwch, y chweched dosbarth ac opsiynau eraill. Roedd siarad â rhywun yn help mawr.

Ro’n i bob amser yn simsanu rhwng opsiynau, ond do’n i ddim yn siŵr beth oedd yn wahanol amdanyn nhw. Gwnaeth siarad â Guto fy helpu i ddeall y cymwysterau yr oedd eu hangen arna i. Fe helpodd fi i archwilio’r mathau o swyddi y gallwn i eu cael gyda nhw.”

Bu Freya yn ystyried amrywiaeth o lwybrau, o brentisiaethau i golegau lleol, cyn penderfynu yn y pen draw i ddilyn cyrsiau Safon Uwch yn y cyfryngau, y gyfraith a Saesneg.

Darparodd Guto adnoddau i Freya i’w helpu i lywio’r broses ymgeisio i’r coleg a helpodd i drefnu cyfweliadau, gan wneud y broses yn llai llethol. Nawr, dywed Freya ei bod yn hyderus ac yn canolbwyntio wrth symud ymlaen, ac mae ei phryd ar fynd i’r brifysgol neu ddilyn prentisiaethau ar ôl gadael y coleg.

Meddai Freya: “Rwy’n teimlo bod fy meddwl i’n gliriach am yr hyn y galla i ei gyflawni.

Mae siarad â rhywun sy’n gwybod mwy am y pethau hyn yn help mawr. Mae’n dda edrych ar wahanol gyfleoedd fel y gallwch chi ddewis rhywbeth arall os na chewch chi raddau penodol.”

Dim ond un enghraifft yw taith Freya o sut mae Gyrfa Cymru yn helpu pobl ifanc i gymryd camau hyderus tuag at eu dyfodol. Mewn ysgolion, mae cynghorwyr fel Guto wedi cynnal dros 64,000 o sesiynau cyfarwyddyd gyda phobl ifanc, gan gefnogi dros 40,000 o fyfyrwyr fel Freya a oedd yn archwilio eu hopsiynau gyrfa.

Y llynedd yn unig, defnyddiodd dros 400,000 o unigolion wefan Gyrfa Cymru, gyda bron i 145,000 yn cyrchu gwybodaeth hanfodol am swyddi. Ledled Cymru, cafodd pobl ifanc yr offer a’r profiadau yr oedd arnynt eu hangen ar gyfer bywyd y tu allan i’r ystafell ddosbarth. Gyda thros 2,000 o sesiynau cynllunio gyrfa, a thros 1,600 o weithgareddau dan arweiniad cyflogwyr—yn amrywio o ffug-gyfweliadau i ymweliadau safle—cyflwynwyd pobl ifanc ledled Cymru i gyfleoedd sy’n eu paratoi ar gyfer bywyd y tu hwnt i’r ysgol.

I weld rhagor o hanesion fel un Freya ac i ddysgu mwy am waith Gyrfa Cymru ledled y wlad, archwiliwch adroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf Gyrfa Cymru.

I gael cyngor, arweiniad a gwybodaeth am yrfaoedd, ewch i wefan Gyrfa Cymru.