Clothing for interviews?

AdviceSought

Is there any support available for the aforementioned?

My shoes are on their last legs, and my suit jacket doesn't really fit due to weight gain caused by depression and the trousers I'm having to use don't match the jacket either.

I've no savings and have been unemployed other than a two week Christmas role at Asda since mid-October.

Tabbytabitha

Charity shops can be very reasonably priced for this sort of thing although it might be better to keep your smart shoes to wear just for interviews and wear something else for everyday.

kingfisherblue

I agree - have a look in charity shops. I saw a suit last week, in dark grey and only costing a fiver. It was in great condition. I was very disappointed that it was too small for my son.

You could also ask on Freecycle and local Facebook sites.

AdviceSought

I have nothing else to wear on other days and literally have no spare money at all to buy anything.

BorisThomson

The Jobcentre has a discretionary fund, you should ask your advisor what help may be available as it varies from area to area.

Do you have a local group on Facebook? If you ask on there someone may have something appropriate.

Also ask at your local food bank. They don't have clothes but they will have links to other groups that can help you. The furniture project in my town has a corner with decent clothing, you just need to find out what is available.

Comms69

Whatever you do, you must get a suit. Borrow £50 from somewhere, but it's really a must have.


£50 will get you a discount suit im sure and it really will be worth it

Diamandis

Reed have some work programmes you can join where they help with cv writing, clothing and travel fares.

elsien

A suit isn't a must for many jobs, and certainly isn't worth getting £50 in debt for when you're skint. You can do smart without a suit. My last interview was a charity shop jacket for £3.50 - did the job just fine.
In your position I'd request clothes/shoes in my size from a local FB group for day to day wear for now, then save the best ones for interview.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

AdviceSought wrote: »

I have nothing else to wear on other days.

I don't actually believe this.

Regardless, it's looking like a charity shop or Facebook request is your best bet.

Alice_Holt

http://www.youreable.com/forums/showthread.php/17528-Clothing-allowance-for-job-interview-JSA-WP

"You ask at the Jobcentre. (As post 5 above).

Ask for help from the "Flexible Support Fund".

They don't advertise this of course.
Jobcentres each have their own discretionary FSF funds to pay for interview related costs, because it's flexible each jobcentre will have different guidelines on what they will allow it to be used to pay for.

If your particular jobcentre will not use the FSF for clothing then you could try asking a local charity shop for a 'borrow' of some decent clothes for the interview.
(Try one of the smaller charity shops, they'll probably kit you out without any charge and let you keep it).

A budgeting loan is the usual way of getting help from the DWP for buying clothing, household goods, etc. but this takes a few weeks to apply for and be approved."

Good luck.

[Deleted User]

What type of company or job is it. That's the biggest question.

I've worn trousers, a plain white coloured long sleeved blouse jazzed up with a scarf before now and fairly recently when it comes to weight issues and getting enough coverage and still felt well dressed for a care home to which I'd never have worn a suit. I still felt smart that day and far better then I ever would have trying to squeeze into a jacket that clearly didn't fit and could have restricted confidence in ill fitting clothing.

I started my new job with shoes falling apart, (only because I have bad feet issues, literally couldn't bear to wear anything else apart from my old trusties) got though a whole week and then remembered stroke of luck, stored away was a vibrant colour set of flats which I've taken to wearing this week which no one has said anything about - again it comes down to the role as I'm 'telesales' it is probably passable.