Dressing for success in the workforce
Finding a job is not as easy as it seems especially for women who are unprepared to face the Australian job market.
The Career Support Programme, run by Dress for Success Inc, assists disadvantaged women in need as they try to enter or re-enter the workforce.
“The type of client that attends can have a number of barriers [to employment]; from being long-term unemployed, a trauma in their life, bullying in their last workplace, indigenous, change in family situation or where they recently arrived in Australia and they don’t understand the local workplace culture,” said Kirsten Junor, Acting Executive Director for Dress for Success Inc.
Some topics covered during the Career Support Programme include writing resumes, interview tips, image and presentation for an interview, and workplace communication essentials. Workshops run for nine weeks and are free to registered participants.
Last year 353 women signed up to participate in their Career Support Programme. Part funding to help with the continuance of the program came from Canterbury League Club who donated $10,000 through their ClubGrants scheme.
“The generous support from Canterbury has meant that we have been able to expand the programme by adding mock interviews and increasing the number of training sessions with the coaches. All of this helps to improve the self-esteem and confidence in the women we see,” said Ms Junor.