Dress Professionally for Professional Success

Women who are entering or re-entering the professional work force may have a bigger hurdle to overcome than the resume and job interview. Without the right clothes, and a comfort level in those professional outfits, that interview may close the door to the job. For women in the low-income bracket, this may appear to be an insurmountable hurdle.

There is help available, though. Three organizations in our area are helping low-income job seekers "look and feel" the part so they move from "interviewed to hired." They provide help in several ways, but finding the "right" professional look and comfort level to get through that interview process is the more unique aspect of their services.

Tailored For Success, Inc. (Malden, MA) specializes in providing career development services to low-income women who are attempting to enter or reenter the workforce. They distribute free interview clothing, provide professional image consulting, and conduct individual interview coaching and career development workshops. Their services are designed to bridge the gap between domestic violence shelters, welfare-to-work, job training programs, and the professional workplace. By increasing self-confidence through image consulting and career coaching, Tailored For Success, Inc. prepares women to enter the workforce and enable them to move from dependency to self-sufficiency.

The Women's Alliance is a national organization of independent community-based members who provide professional attire, career skills training, and related services to low-income women seeking employment. The services they provide ensure that low-income women have the professional attire and career skills coaching they need to make the right impression on job interviews and to succeed in the workplace. TWA provides marketing assistance to Tailored for Sucess.

Dress for Success Worldwide is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women located in 78 cities across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and New Zealand. Their professional clothing, employment retention programs, and ongoing support symbolizes their faith in every woman’s ability to be self-sufficient and successful in her career. They have a Boston location.