Congratulations! You have completed a level of the Award and it’s time to leverage it. Completing this stage of your Award is a fantastic achievement—be proud of how far you’ve come! Your hard work and commitment have already set you apart, and the skills you’ve gained will continue to open doors in the future. This page is packed with valuable insights and tools to help you use your Award to its fullest potential, whether you’re applying for a part-time job, a training course, an apprenticeship, a university placement, or just aiming for personal growth. Every level of the Award counts, and here’s how you can make the most of yours.
Now it’s time to leverage your achievement!
Celebrate Your Achievement!
Each level of the Award represents a significant accomplishment and demonstrates your commitment to personal development. Whether you’ve completed Bronze, Silver, or Gold, you’ve gained skills that will help you in life, education, and career.
What You’ve Achieved:
The foundation of your journey. You’ve explored new activities, challenged yourself, and built a foundation of core skills that will serve you for life. Completing Bronze shows dedication, time management, and a willingness to grow—qualities that stand out to both employers and educational institutions.
You’ve taken it up a notch. The Silver Award requires more time and deeper engagement in your activities. You’ve honed your skills further, developing your interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving abilities, increasing your commitment and showing that you can take on bigger challenges.
The pinnacle of your Award journey. You’ve shown resilience, leadership, and determination. At Gold, you’ve also completed the Gold Project, a significant undertaking that demonstrates your ability to lead, collaborate, and work on long-term initiatives. Gold is a significant achievement, representing the highest level of commitment. The skills and experiences you’ve gained will serve you for life, positioning you for continued success in both personal and professional arenas.
No matter the level, your Award is a significant achievement. Each step of your journey equips you with valuable skills that are recognized across all pathways—whether you’re entering the workforce, pursuing further education, training for a trade or apprenticeship, or following any other path you choose.
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Moving to the Next Level: Why It’s Worth It
If you’ve completed Bronze or Silver, now is the perfect time to consider pushing yourself to the next Award level.
Here’s why:
Build on the foundation you’ve created: Each level offers more opportunities for growth and development.
Gain more recognition: Employers, universities, and other institutions recognize the time and effort required for each level, but higher levels give you even more to showcase in applications and interviews.
How does each level differ?
A larger time commitment and more advanced activities push you to build on the foundation you’ve laid. Plus, if you’ve finished your Bronze Award, the Silver will take you the same amount of time – 6 months.
Gold challenges you even further with increased responsibility, leadership roles, and a journey that includes the Gold Project, a unique opportunity that demonstrates your ability to plan, lead, and work with others. The higher you climb, the more you gain in terms of skills—but every level contributes meaningfully to your future success. Plus, if you’ve done your Silver Award, completing Gold takes just 12 months to do!
If you are re-registering with your Award Centre, please click here. If you’d like to learn about completing your Award entirely online through our Virtual Award Centre, click here to register.
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Leverage Your Award for Career and Education Opportunities
Your Award is much more than a certificate—it’s proof of your growth and your ability to succeed in real-world situations. Maximize your professional presence and let future employers see your achievement.
Steps to add your Award to your LinkedIn Profile
- Log-in to your LinkedIn profile.
- Click the “Add Profile Section” button.
- Click ‘Add Education’
- Input Award details. Please input the details exactly as below, so that your profile is visible to our Alumni network.
- School: The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
- Degree: Name of the Award in your country
- Field of Study: Name of your Award Centre
- Dates: Start and end date of Award level
- Grades: Level of the Award i.e. Bronze, Silver Gold
- Click save and proudly showcase your Award!
Award Canada Alumni Network (ACAN) Connect LinkedIn group
If you are over the age of 18, join our dedicated social networking group focused helping Award Holders continue their personal and professional growth.
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Core Skills You Developed Through Completing Your Award Level
Throughout your Award journey, you’ve built valuable life skills that employers and universities seek. These skills are applicable to nearly every career or field of study, making you a well-rounded and desirable candidate.
Skills You Developed:
Completing each level of the Award demonstrates your ability to set long-term goals and persevere through challenges.
You’ve grown in self-assurance by tackling new experiences and pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone.
Through team activities and volunteering, you’ve learned how to interact effectively with a diverse range of people.
Engaging with others, whether through service or group activities, has enhanced your ability to communicate and connect with those around you.
By leading groups, taking on responsibility, and working collaboratively, you’ve developed leadership qualities and strengthened relationships.
The physical section of your Award has contributed to your overall health and well-being, building endurance and strength.
You’ve gained awareness of safety protocols and best practices, especially during the Adventurous Journey.
Overcoming obstacles in your activities, whether in the skills or physical sections, has sharpened your ability to think critically and solve problems.
The commitment and time management skills developed through the Award positively impact your academic performance.
Following through on your commitments and acting with integrity are essential qualities you’ve strengthened throughout your Award journey.
Working in diverse environments has taught you the value of fairness, empathy, and treating others with respect.
Volunteering and engaging with communities has deepened your understanding of others’ experiences and fostered a sense of empathy.
You’ve proven your ability to bounce back from setbacks, stay focused, and complete difficult tasks.
Through your service, you’ve learned the importance of giving back to your community and contributing to the well-being of others.
These are the soft skills that employers prioritize. Companies often place as much value on these qualities, and the story behind them, as they do on technical expertise. Your ability to communicate, lead, and solve problems will set you apart in any job application or interview.
"As a business leader, you have a responsibility to give back to the community. The Award opens doors for the corporate community and serves as a bridge to connect in a meaningful way. Our involvement in The Award means we are able to make a positive contribution by helping to improve the lives of young people in local communities in which our employees live and work."
"I believe the Duke of Ed provides great preparation for young people pursuing careers. I have seen this first-hand from one of our previous co-op students who achieved her Gold level. She fit well with our organization, and her passion to give back to the community impressed me."
"I remain deeply impressed by the quality and accomplishments of Award participants. There is no doubt that The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award continues to make a significant impact on the youth of our country."
Showcase Your Award in Your Resume and Interviews
Now that you’ve completed a level of the Award, it’s crucial to highlight it in your resume and during interviews.
Resume Template & Example:
Your Award is a key asset on your resume. We’ve provided a resume template and a sample filled-out resume to help you showcase your Award experience in the best possible way. This resource ensures your skills and achievements are presented clearly and professionally.
Why it’s important:
Employers look for well-rounded candidates who can demonstrate practical experience of leadership, teamwork, and the ability to overcome challenges—exactly what your Award proves. Including it in your resume shows that you have more than just qualifications; you have real-world experience that sets you apart.
Interview Tips:
In interviews, you can use your Award to illustrate your strengths – tell your story. Click here for some tips on speaking about your Award experience in interviews.
Here are examples of how you might frame your experience:
“It took me over four years to achieve all three Award levels while juggling my academic studies. It taught me that if I commit to something then I should see it through – and the benefits will be far reaching. My Award demonstrates that if I was the successful candidate for the Junior Accountant role, I would be 100% committed to the job and each individual task that was given to me.”
“It rained throughout my three-day Award journey, making it difficult to set up camp and fully testing our waterproof gear. We had to be resilient, or we wouldn’t have got through. We took our minds off the rain by singing songs and focusing on the end goal. This experience has helped me deal with setbacks in all elements of life and I believe it will enable me to be resilient and keep focused when managing the inevitable demands and challenges placed on the Events Co-ordinator role.”
“During my SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major) in Construction, I completed a placement that allowed me to apply hands-on skills in a real-world setting, such as framing, drywall installation, and basic carpentry. Alongside this, I was using this toward completing my Award, which gave me the opportunity to further develop essential skills like reflection, problem-solving and leadership. Balancing my placement and my Award taught me the importance of time management and resilience—skills I know will benefit me whether I choose to continue in the trades, pursue an apprenticeship, or enter the workforce. My ability to commit to long-term projects and work collaboratively with others will be valuable assets in any construction role.”
“Through my Award experience, I developed strong time management and organizational skills by balancing my activities and commitments across different sections of the Award. This has prepared me for the challenges of managing a part-time job while staying focused on my responsibilities. The resilience I gained while working through tasks and the teamwork I built during group projects will help me excel in a part-time position and contribute effectively to the team.”
Share Your Award Story!
Your Award journey has been unique, and your story can inspire others. Share your experience with us and help others see the value of taking on this challenge.
Share your story here
Share your Achievement using our Award Holder Social Frame!
Save the Award Holder Social Frame (see below) to your computer – download and save it as JPEG or PNG file.
- Use a free browser-based photo editing tool like Canva, and upload the file you just saved on your computer.
- Click the uploaded image and select “Use in a design”, size it Instagram (Post) and add the file to the design.
- Drag the downloaded file onto the photo, the banner should be over the photo. If you can’t see the banner right click your photo and press “Send Backward”.
- Download final image to your computer and upload to your social media accounts.
- Don’t forget to share your post with us by tagging us @dukeofedcanada
Join the Award Canada Alumni Network (ACAN)!
If you are 18 years of age or older, join the Award Canada Alumni Network (ACAN)! As an Award Holder over the age of 18 you are automatically enrolled as a member of the ACAN community. If you are an Award Holder under the age of 18, you will also automatically be enrolled on your 18th birthday.
As part of ACAN, you gain access to lifelong learning resources, professional growth tools, and guidance. You can attend networking events to reconnect with fellow Award Holders and build new connections. Plus, join the ACAN Connect LinkedIn group to expand your professional network and continue growing personally and professionally.
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