Dress for Success San Diego serves a vital purpose in our local communities by “picking up where social service and job readiness programs leave off” – extending a lifeline of programs that help economically disadvantaged women acquire jobs, succeed in the mainstream workplace, build careers and achieve the ultimate goal of an improved quality of life for their children and families. Clients are referred to Dress for Success San Diego by local health and human service agencies at a critical and vulnerable juncture in their quest for economic independence. Having completed basic job readiness training, rehabilitation and other government-sponsored programs, clients can rely on Dress for Success San Diego as a supportive ally during interview preparation, workplace acclimation, career planning and life management.

It starts in the private DFSSD boutique, where clients receive consultation and a complete outfit of business attire as they prepare for a job interview that can change the course of their lives.  This visit is the first link in a chain of DFSSD services devoted to social and economic development, including:
Business Attire: once employed, clients receive up to a week’s worth of additional workplace-appropriate attire to ease their transition into the new work environment.
Professional Women’s Group (PWG): a monthly client forum for networking, problem-sharing and education. Guest speakers address subjects such as financial literacy, debt counseling, workplace etiquette, affordable housing and childcare.
One-on-One Mentoring: Clients are teamed with successful businesswomen in the community for guidance and personal consultation on employment-related challenges and career building.
Linkage to DFFSD partners and resources: Clients capitalize on DFSSD relationships with One-Stop Career Centers and Robert Half International for job search, resume writing, career planning, skill assessment and software training.
Assistance in overcoming personal barriers: to self-sufficiency: DFSSD introduces clients to partner and agency services that help address childcare, housing, transportation, domestic violence and other barriers to independence.

Dress for Success San Diego has served over 5000 local women since 1998, referred from over 60 job readiness and human service agencies. For further information on our mission, programs, events and volunteer opportunities, visit the San Diego affiliate page at www.dressforsuccess.org

Generously sponsored by: Qualcomm, Incorporated; Co-sponsored by: Avail Medical Products, D.A. Whitacre Construction, The Talmadge Sisters, and Sapphire Event Marketing.