Change The World. Help Women Dress For the Workforce.

By Marilyn Machlowitz

Have you ever thought it would be fun to style shoppers in a boutique? Did you ever wish to empower women to find jobs and achieve financial independence? Well, here is a concrete way to do both—at the same time.

Job-Seekers need Professional Clothes.

You know that professional clothing is an important tool to increase a job-seekers’ self-confidence and to allow her to present in a way that will increase the likelihood that she will be hired. You also know that not everyone knows exactly what professional attire is—especially young people who never worked before COVID. You’ve also likely heard of Dress for Success, a non-profit that has been addressing this need for many years. Dress for Success has 140 local affiliates worldwide, each of which operates independently.

But you may not know that many U.S. cities also have local nonprofits offering free interview attire, as well as training to empower women towards finding jobs and achieving financial independence. Obviously, getting the job is the first big step. But after a job-seeker lands the job (office building concierge, hotel receptionist, office receptionist, and many others), she may need more support. These centers allow her to return to celebrate and to select additional free work outfits. She can also participate in no-cost training (virtual and in-person) to advance her career and hone her skills.

How These Non-Profits Work.

Most of the offices offering these services are leanly staffed, so they need, value, and seek volunteers. Schedules are flexible and retired women are well-represented. Empathy and respect are required, but no fashion or counseling background is required. Former HR professionals often lead training.

Each center operates slightly differently, but each typically operates along these lines:

• The women clients referred to these nonprofit centers by government agencies and social service providers may be entering the workforce after periods of homelessness or incarceration. (Some centers serve both men and women and some permit clients to refer themselves.)

• The centers collect size-inclusive gently-used office-appropriate attire through individual donations and corporate clothing drives. Manufacturers and retail stores also make generous donations of new apparel and accessories. These outfits are arrayed by volunteers at a boutique or in a training session.

• Clients arrive by appointment and work individually with volunteers to select two free interview outfits and accessories. (Upon obtaining jobs, clients return for three more free outfits.)

• Having established rapport and increased the client’s self-esteem, the volunteer then turns to the job-seeking process. Volunteers receive training to coach clients on resumes, cover letters, interviews, thank you notes and other aspects of landing a job. (At some centers, volunteers specialize in styling or in coaching; at many, volunteers do both.)

• Additional volunteers provide workshops and webinars on professional and personal development topics—like Excel to financial literacy – to help clients advance on the job as well as in life.

My Participation.

I live in New York, so I am training to become a volunteer at Bottomless Closet. Volunteers are urged to do at least one three-hour shift per month. In each shift, I will be expected to style two clients and advise each on resumes and interviews. I toured the inviting, immaculate and well-organized boutique at the midtown office of Bottomless Closet, where I attended an extremely thorough one-hour orientation session with twelve other women. Later, I participated in the first of my training shifts, where I was paired with a veteran volunteer as she coached and styled a client.

It was wonderful to see the client absorb new ways to answer interview questions. Later, upon leaving, she gave us a big smile and said: I feel special. What a reward.

Marilyn Machlowitz is an expert on executive search and a novice volunteer.

To Volunteer:

• NY www.bottomlesscloset.org

• PA www.careerwardrobe.org

• DC www.suitedforchange.org

• AL www.oursisterscloset.org

• MA www.tailoredforsuccess.org

• CA www.bloommarin.org ; www.bfcloset.org; www.wardrobe.org

• FL www.ladiesofvalorempowerment.org

• MD www.successinstyle.org

• MI www.jacketsforjobs.org

• OK www.suitedforsuccessokc.org

Marilyn Machlowitz is an expert on executive search and a novice volunteer.

We are offering occasional intel on meaningful volunteer opportunities for Lustre readers. It can be challenging to unearth volunteer opportunities and even harder to find those that fit—offering schedule flexibility and satisfaction. We will focus on those experiences that use or stretch your professional skills—not those for stuffing envelopes. Our goal is to acquaint you with opportunities available in metropolitan areas in the US as well as virtually from anywhere. Let us know what you think!