Dress for Success - The Charity For Employment

How To Succeed At Job Interview and Develop Your Professional Skills

Jan 6, 2009

Dress for Success is a charity that helps women to find work, succeed at job interview, and develop their professional skills and networks. We explain how it works.

It can be daunting attending job interviews when you’ve been out of the job market for a while. Personal networking, contacts, your appearance and body language are just as important to your success as your CV, qualifications and life experience. If you don’t look and feel the part on the day, you won’t project confidence, ambition and ability – traits that are attractive to employers. However, it’s difficult to feel positive and go-getting when your personal and financial circumstances are unstable.

If you’re in this situation right now, don’t despair. You don’t have to struggle on alone and you can turn things around. There are charities and organisations that can help you prepare for a job interview, develop professional skills, as well as providing practical assistance with clothes and accessories.

Dress for Success is an international charity that operates in 90 cities across seven countries. It provides a free service to disadvantaged women which includes quality suits and accessories for job interviews, advice on hair and makeup, as well as seminars on various topics including interview skills, professional development, mentoring and career advice. It caters for women of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds including single mums, widows, victims of domestic violence, homeless women, refugees and asylum seekers. The charity has been operating since 1997 and so far has been a huge success, helping over 450,000 women. It aims to provide physical, practical and emotional support to help women develop economic independence and make the best of themselves.

Once you have found work, the support network is still available so it's not a one-off service. You are invited back to the charity's offices and provided with a week's worth of work clothing. You also have the option of joining the Professional Women's Group – an international career development and networking association for women who have recently started work. The group runs monthly seminars on various career development topics.

The majority of women who approach the charity for help are referred by shelters or organisations although the service is open to all women. The main website has a list of local offices.

If you’re interested in supporting the work of the charity, you can donate clothing or accessories. They don’t need to be new but they must be in good condition. The charity runs an annual SOS (Send a Suit) week to encourage donations from companies and individuals. For more details see the Dress for Success website.

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The copyright of the article Dress for Success - The Charity For Employment in Training/Professional Development is owned by Nicci Talbot. Permission to republish Dress for Success - The Charity For Employment in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.