“Dress for success” is a saying that holds more weight than you might realize. The importance of looking professional in order to earn a top position is something that often goes unrecognized.
Suited for Change was founded in 1992 to help women achieve financial independence by giving them what they need to succeed in a professional environment. The organization works to increase employment and job retention potential for women. They do this by providing professional attire, mentoring, and job readiness education. These services are available to women in need for no cost.
Suited for Change has no shortage of success stories from women who were able to benefit from their services. One of these stories belongs to Regina Hoke. Regina had earned her dental assistant certificate and had started a career working for a dentist in North Carolina when her world turned upside down and left her jobless and homeless near Washington DC. The dentist had closed the office where she worked and she was left to find a job elsewhere. Due to this and family reasons, Regina ended up in Washington DC without many prospects.
She was soon referred to Suited for Change in order to get business attire for interviews. She signed up for the “Job Seeker” workshop series and began applying to numerous administrative positions. Through the workshop, she learned the skills needed to job search, assess her own skills, and modify her resume to suit the jobs for which she was applying. Because of this and the access to professional business attire, Regina was hired as a receptionist only a month after she had been referred to Suited for Change.
When asked about her experiences with Suited for Change, Regina replied, “I think the setup was real nice and like you are at a department store. You do not have to run around to find things. It is very organized and had a variety of items. The volunteers were awesome, wonderful, nice, caring, and listened to what I liked and what I did not like.” Regina wore the outfits that she found at Suited for Change to her interviews, and used the skills she learned in the workshop to showcase herabilities. Her positive experience led to her success, and today she continues to work towards becoming a dental assistant.
The assistance that Suited for Change provides for women in need is invaluable, as it gives them the skills, attire, and confidence they need to succeed in the hyper-competitive job market. Regina’s story is just one example of the many lives that this organization has changed over their years in existence.
To continue this important legacy, you can contribute to the incredible work that this organization is doing. Whether it is through the donation of finances, clothing, or time, any contribution is essential. To learn more about getting involved, you can refer to Suited for Change’s website. You can also spread the word about the organization so that women in need are aware of their many]resources.
Featured Image by Steve wilson on Flickr
Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)
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Suited for Change
August 23, 2017 at 2:37 pm
What an amazing article! Here at Suited for Change, we love our clients! We’ve been around for 25 years and have served 25,000 women in need. Stories like this show what a difference our mission can make in a woman’s life. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook at @suitedforchange!