Toolbox — For Training and Youth Work
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Simulation Exercise, Group Building Activity
Cats & Dogs: CV Puzzle
An active and playful tool where participants, as “cats” and “dogs,” engage in a dynamic CV puzzle game that develops teamwork, strategy, and reflection on employability skills and career readiness.
Aims of the tool
To strengthen participants’ teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills while exploring how playful, movement-based activities can simulate employability challenges and support career education.
Description of the tool
Cats & Dogs: CV Puzzle is an energetic, movement-based learning tool linking sport with employability skills. Participants are divided into “cats” (teams collecting CV puzzle pieces), “dogs” (defenders), and leaders. Cats must gather scattered puzzle pieces and collaboratively build a complete CV that matches their assigned job profile, while dogs try to slow them down by tagging.
The activity promotes teamwork, communication, strategic thinking, and group coordination. Once teams complete their CVs, a facilitator-led debrief reinforces the connection between the game mechanics and real-life employability competences such as planning, cooperation, adaptability, and decision-making.
Learning outcomes include:
• Experiencing how gameplay can mirror real-life job-search or task-completion challenges.
• Strengthening problem-solving, teamwork, and communication.
• Reflecting on how the tool can be transferred to youth work, career readiness workshops, or educational contexts.
Available downloads:
Disclaimer
SALTO cannot be held responsible for the inappropriate use of these training tools. Always adapt training tools to your aims, context, target group and to your own skills! These tools have been used in a variety of formats and situations. Please notify SALTO should you know about the origin of or copyright on this tool.
Tool overview
http://toolbox.salto-youth.net/5252
This tool is for
Youth workers, educators, trainers, young people (15+), or participants involved in employability or skills-development programmes.
and addresses
Social Inclusion, European Citizenship, Peer education
It is recommended for use in:
Transnational Youth Initiatives
Capacity Building
Materials needed:
Cones to mark the playing area and safe zones
Printed CV puzzle pieces and job profile cards
Jerseys/bibs in two colours
Whistle
Large open indoor or outdoor space (minimum 10x20m)
Duration:
Approx. 60-80 minutes
• Set-up: 5 min
• Introduction & rules: 10 min
• Gameplay: 20 min
• Debrief: 25 min
• Reflection & transfer: 20 min
Behind the tool
The tool was created by
PLAY International Western Balkans
in the context of
The tool was developed within the PLAY2EMPLOY project, implemented by PLAY International Western Balkans, which aims to enhance young people’s understanding of the basic skills needed for employment. The project promotes PLAY’s pedagogical approach, where
The tool has been experimented in
Applied and tested in all sessions at PLAY International Western Balkans with beneficiaries, including students aged 15–18, as well as in youth workshops, trainings, and experiential learning sessions focused on teamwork, employability, and basic life ski
The tool was published to the Toolbox by
Edona Bllaca (on 30 November 2025)
and last modified
19 November 2025
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