Free Interview Clothes For Unemployed Women - London

lucylucas

I am currently unemployed and taking a (free) jobhunting skills course in London with JGA Group. When I told them that I had secured an interview, they referred me to a wonderful charity called Dress For Success, which helps disadvantaged women with interview clothes. The clothes are in excellent condition and are donated by ladies who work in the city. I was amazed at the way I was treated - with so much dignity and compassion. I came away with a woollen Next suit, a TM Lewin Shirt, a designer cashmere coat, a designer belt, a scarf and a bag for nothing...and a Bobbi Brown beauty book and Dress for Success t-shirt.

And to top it all off - they said that once I've got a job, I can come back and get some clothes to wear to work.

You are also allowed a pair of shoes/boots.

It is totally dependent on what they are given, but they are pretty fantastic!

I think you need to be referred to them though - but Dress For Success probably has connections with different organisations that the Jobcentre is using to help people to get back into work.

ps - The course at JGA Group is great! And you don't have to be referred by the jobcentre apparently? You can call them up/email and ask about it. Have a look online!

ps no 2 - I explained that my interview was with a recruitment agency, and they were fine with that. Dress for Success also can help with mock interviews, though I didn't have one.

Go for it ladies!

cannyClaire

What a brilliant charity, and how nice of those ladies to donate clothes too!

Best of luck with your interview, I hope those lovely new clothes give you the confidence to shine!

OliversMummy

Sounds like a great idea.
Good luck with your interview! x

mrcol1000

Can I be the one to put forward its a bit sexist to only provide clothes for unemployed women for interviews? Surely they should be providing clothes for all reaches of society?

Doubledrop

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Can I be the one to put forward its a bit sexist to only provide clothes for unemployed women for interviews? Surely they should be providing clothes for all reaches of society?

The job centre gives you up to £200 for new clothes, I signed on for last year for the first time, but whilst my claim was being processed. The day I went to sign on I also signed off and they gave me a voucher worth £200 for new work clothes.

pippitypip_2

mrcol1000 wrote: »

Can I be the one to put forward its a bit sexist to only provide clothes for unemployed women for interviews? Surely they should be providing clothes for all reaches of society?

I get your point, however they are specifically a charity to support underpriviliged WOMEN, so bit much to expect them to also offer the same to men. One would hope there's a separate charity out there that does fulfill the same need for men too but this one simply doesn't.

They do an amazing job and it's a brilliant idea.

Oh and good luck OP!

pippitypip

geordieracer

pippitypip wrote: »

I get your point, however they are specifically a charity to support underpriviliged WOMEN, so bit much to expect them to also offer the same to men. One would hope there's a separate charity out there that does fulfill the same need for men too but this one simply doesn't.

They do an amazing job and it's a brilliant idea.

Oh and good luck OP!

pippitypip

Aye but can anyone find one? The Job Centre give you money for clothes for interview anyway - regardless what sex you are

aarrgghh

I hope lots more ladies donate their clothes, all their clothes.

J-Man_4

geordieracer wrote: »

Aye but can anyone find one? The Job Centre give you money for clothes for interview anyway - regardless what sex you are

Its been said when I asked about this a couple of months ago that its no longer available. Also asked last week to see if the first woman was telling porkies.

They used to provide a type of voucher/credit note i assume for a suit for you for an interview when youve been signing on longer than 6 months..apparently government changes mean they have stopped it.

lucylucas

Originally posted by J-Man:
Its been said when I asked about this a couple of months ago that its no longer available. Also asked last week to see if the first woman was telling porkies.

They used to provide a type of voucher/credit note i assume for a suit for you for an interview when youve been signing on longer than 6 months..apparently government changes mean they have stopped it.

Like J-Man, I asked about clothes from the Jobcentre too. Was told the money has run out...which was why I mentioned the Dress For Success help. I've been looking at MSE for ages, but never felt I had anything special to offer it on the forums - I thought the Dress For Success was worth a look though, which was why I joined the forum.

I buy most of my stuff off ebay or from charity shops, sample sales (Long Tall Sally has a fantastic one - skirts are £3, I think dresses are £5). And of course, you can always shorten things (which is what I do). And 'swap shops' with friends is something good too - bring clothes you don't want/fit, see what others have and if you like anything. And you can all have a cup of tea and a chat.

I appreciate that it's tough for everyone looking for work, sorry I don't have the answers for everyone who needs interview clothes. I've borrowed interview suits and had my sister do my hair and makeup for one before.

I think that part of it is knowing that someone cares - and believes in you. We need to believe in ourselves, though it's not always easy. But just one person who can remind us - even if we haven't shared much of our life with them - that we are special and are capable of getting a job and succeeding - helps. I might have borrowed clothes for an interview, but knowing that someone is rooting for us, can make a difference.

I know that everyone's circumstances are different -and that some may feel quite alone in their jobsearch - but please, let's keep encouraging each other to keep going.

Keep trying for jobs everyone !! We can do it



Someone was telling me that if you ask to be referred to Reed via the Jobcentre, Reed can give you different sorts of help when getting back to work, incl ASDA vouchers? I haven't found out much about it but again, worth a try?

Now, I'd better continue my jobhunt...yeesh. Mind you, the course is helping!

StumpyPumpy

I think you only need to look around some charity shops and boot fairs to realise why this is a "women's only" scheme. There is probably not the stock to support a men's version. At a rough guess, going on my local charity shops, only around 5% of the clothing is male. I think this has less to do with an unwillingness to donate than the fact that men tend to have a different relationship with clothes than women and that men's fashion, especially in the work place, changes at glacial speed. Men's clothing is more likely to be worn out before they become outmoded (or still being worn, even if outmoded!) And I say this as a bloke who has actually been known to throw clothes out.

SP