When 21-year-old Owen Williams from Llanelli started college, he struggled with financial limitations and finding a job.

He said: “I felt I was limited by having no money, no work, and no opportunities, and felt like my friends were one or two steps ahead of me.”

Owen shared his concerns with his lecturers and found out about Working Wales.

After attending a workshop, he was matched with careers adviser, Lara Bagagiolo, for individual support. They began meeting one-on-one to explore potential career paths suited to his skills and interests, as well as his next steps forward.

Owen developed his CV and prepared for job applications with Lara’s help, which led to him securing a retail role. This job provided financial stability whilst allowing him to continue exploring long-term career options.

Lara continued to offer guidance as Owen navigated his next big decision—whether to pursue higher education.

With Lara’s support, he gained the confidence to move forward with a degree in events management, ultimately choosing to study at the University of West Scotland.

(Image: Careers Wales) He said: “My sessions with Lara gave me so much insight into what I could do and how I could get there.

“My mind was in a million pieces before, but it was a massive relief to have support looking at my future. I don’t know where I’d be without her and the Working Wales service.”

Owen’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 Lara supported over 31,000 adults and 5,000 young people across Wales, providing each customer with tailored career information advice and guidance.

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 Owen's and learn more about Careers Wales’ work across the country, explore the latest Careers Wales annual report.

(Image: Careers Wales) “Roedd yn rhyddhad enfawr i gael cymorth.” Cymru’n Gweithio yn galluogi myfyriwr o Lanelli i gymryd y camau nesaf o ran gyrfa

Pan ddechreuodd Owen Williams, 21 oed o Lanelli, yn y coleg, roedd yn cael trafferth gyda phrinder arian a dod o hyd i swydd.

Dywedodd: “Roeddwn i’n teimlo fy mod wedi fy nghyfyngu gan nad oedd gennyf arian, a dim gwaith na chyfleoedd, a theimlais fod fy ffrindiau gam neu ddau o’m blaen.”

Rhannodd Owen ei bryderon gyda’i ddarlithwyr a daeth i wybod am Cymru’n Gweithio.

Ar ôl bod i weithdy, cafodd ei baru â chynghorydd gyrfaoedd, Lara Bagagiolo, am gymorth unigol. Dechreuon nhw gyfarfod un-i-un i archwilio llwybrau gyrfa posibl a oedd yn addas i sgiliau a diddordebau Owen, yn ogystal â’i gamau nesaf ymlaen.

Datblygodd Owen ei CV a bu’n paratoi ar gyfer ceisiadau am swyddi gyda chymorth Lara, ac arweiniodd hyn at sicrhau rôl manwerthu. Rhoddodd y swydd hon sefydlogrwydd ariannol i Owen tra’n caniatáu iddo barhau i archwilio opsiynau gyrfa hirdymor.

Parhaodd Lara i gynnig arweiniad wrth i Owen lywio ei benderfyniad mawr nesaf—p’un ai i ddilyn addysg uwch ai peidio.

Gyda chymorth Lara, magodd yr hyder i symud ymlaen gyda gradd mewn rheoli digwyddiadau, gan ddewis astudio ym Mhrifysgol Gorllewin yr Alban yn y pen draw.

Dywedodd: “Rhoddodd fy sesiynau gyda Lara gymaint o syniadau i mi o’r hyn y gallwn ei wneud a sut y gallwn ei wireddu.

Roedd fy meddwl i ar chwâl, ond roedd yn rhyddhad enfawr i gael cymorth i ystyried fy nyfodol. Dydw i ddim yn gwybod ble byddwn i hebddi hi a gwasanaeth Cymru’n Gweithio.”

Dim ond un enghraifft yw llwyddiant Owen 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 Lara 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 Owen a dysgu mwy am waith Gyrfa Cymru ar draws y wlad, gallwch archwilio adroddiad blynyddol diweddaraf Gyrfa Cymru.