The power of mentoring
At Fitted for Work, our mission is to help women experiencing disadvantage to find work, keep work and navigate their world of work. We are an organisation that is run by women, for women. Our understanding of the unique barriers women face when seeking employment enables us to provide our clients with tailored support to break through disadvantage and secure ongoing employment.
We do this through a range of services including resume help, interview skills development, our mentor program, workplace experience, personal outfitting and much more.
This financial year, 77% of women who have accessed our services have reported they have already found work. With our help, it takes women on average just 64 days to find work.
We focus specifically on helping women gain and maintain employment not only because work provides financial security but also a sense of social connectedness, dignity and pride. We believe that when a woman is fitted for work, she is fitted for life.
To illustrate the true impact of our services we would like to share with you the story of Tamara and her mentor Margaret, who met through our Mentor program.
Please consider donating to our Annual Appeal before July 31stand help us change the lives of women like Tamara in as little as 64 days.
Tamara’s Story:
“I had been unemployed for nearly 10 years. I had life challenges, that meant I was not coping and needed a social worker.
My Outreach Worker told me about Fitted for Work.
I wanted to get back into the workforce, but the barrier was that I was too anxious to go for a job interview because I did not know how job interviews were conducted currently.
So, as I had been told about Fitted for Work I looked into their services, hoping they could help me.
I started by doing a program called WomanKind.
I also had some time with the outfitting service, which was an appointment in the Dressing Room. This is where I was given clothing suitable for interviews and work. The volunteers there were lovely and put me at my ease.
When I completed the WomanKind program I was matched with a mentor who is with you for 12 months, a big commitment!
After our time together, I so value the mentor. She exceeded my expectations and went above and beyond.
My mentor assisted me in so many ways. She met with me frequently. If not able to do this face to face, we did phone meetings and she also texted me sometimes just to see how I was.
She would also map out plans for the year ahead. She would bring her laptop to our meetings to help me search for jobs in my area after she had also helped with my resume, so I could apply for jobs.
In the beginning of our relationship, I got a letter from my government housing provider to say my housing was going to be demolished. This caused me a great deal of stress! My mentor googled and got me some information on the housing project which was so helpful.
The most beneficial thing about the mentee-mentor relationship was the positivity from the mentor and the belief she had in me. It made me feel stronger and more confident.
In May of this year, I started volunteering at a community centre two mornings a week. I am teaching English to refugees. I love it! I was helped to be successful in this because of the resume help I had received from my mentor.
Now I am ready for the next step. I have been accepted to do the Certificate IV in Community Services which I begin in February.
I would recommend Fitted for work to anyone.
If another woman was thinking about contacting Fitted for Work for help, I would tell her, “be open to positive change. Involve yourself in the courses and services Fitted for Work offer and good will happen”.
I would recommend my mentor to anyone. She was full of good ideas and was with me for a whole year. I also wanted to say how grateful I am to Fitted for Work and my mentor and all the staff at Fitted for Work.”
Please consider donating to our Annual Appeal before July 31st and help us change the lives of women like Tamara in as little as 64 days.
Click here to donate now!
*Image has been changed for privacy. Image by Amy Hirschi on Unsplash.
