Losing faith
There it was, on a rack bulging with clothes, my dream come true: a beautiful blue silk suit with a goldenrod yellow blouse made in Scandinavia -- and just my size. I couldn't believe it. I am a large woman, so even at the best of times finding smart-looking outfits isn't easy. And being in my 50s, lots of stylish clothes don't seem appropriate anymore. But my “saleslady,” a volunteer personal shopper, had zeroed in on that outfit. And when I tried it on, I felt such a high. Accessories -- purse, scarf, jewelry, hosiery and even new makeup -- completed my metamorphosis from an unemployed gal down on her luck to an executive assistant in the making. After a fruitless four-month job search, I finally felt my self-confidence begin to surge back.
That was five years ago, but I remember the moment as if it were yesterday. That lovely silk suit and blouse weren't new, but they were the beginning of a new life for me. I found them both at Dress for Success (DFS), a non-profit agency in Vancouver that helps unemployed women look good for job interviews by outfitting us in donated business clothes. Even better, when we get jobs, the organization provides a second outfit to help us along in our new careers. But the agency does so much more. I know because from the day I got that great suit, I have been a working woman and a DFS volunteer.
From dependence to independence
DFS's Vancouver agency is located in an old bank building in the heart of the city's busy downtown core. I found out about it through another agency. I made the appointment for a one-on-one session with the volunteer who was trained to help clients select an outfit for what would hopefully help in the transition from dependence to independence. And was I ready for it!
By the time I got to DFS, I had handed out 300 resumes and still not landed a job. I lost my self-esteem. Then when I got a job interview, I had no idea what to wear. My clothes were old and dated. I needed to look the part of a business woman. And I had no idea how.
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