Smart Works blossomed from the desire to equip unemployed women with the tools, clothes and conviction needed to land a job interview. Clothes are donated – but it’s not just about a woman going through her closet and giving something away because she no longer needs it. It’s about looking at that special item you’re holding on to – the memory of that suit or dress that helped you achieve your dream job – and wanting to pay it forward. Not a hand-me-down, but rather a hand being held.
“Client interview prep, focusing on highlighting your skillset and knowing your worth”@SussexRoyal
Those donated clothes make it to a Smart Works centre, where clients receive an interview outfit as a result of a session with a stylist. Next, volunteer coaches ready women for their upcoming interview. Once they score their dream job, they come back for a second outfit, to see them through until their first pay cheque. It’s the enthusiasm of the volunteers, the earnestness of the staff and, most of all, the blushing, bashful and beautiful smile that crosses a client’s face when she sees herself in the mirror, that I have found so profoundly compelling. Because in that moment, she feels special and emboldened.