Despite laissez faire dress codes in some workplaces, personal appearances of job applicants still count in the recruitment process.

An employer can create and maintain an image for their organisation that best suits their industry and their clients’ needs by setting reasonable standards of dress, appearance and behaviour, according to NSW industrial relations in their guide workplace policies and procedures.

Until recently, disadvantaged Australian women overcoming a hardship had few services available to them when looking to dress the part for their crucial first job opportunities.

But Megan Etheridge founder and chairperson of Dress for Success Sydney is doing her best to help disadvantaged women get a foot in the door.

Speaking to Human Capital, Etheridge explained that the dressing service is a charity which first started 19 months ago when it became part of the global affiliate Dress for Success, having previously operated for six months as ‘Suited for Work’.

Now with branches in Brisbane and Melbourne, the service is quickly gaining speed. Through the charity, women are referred to the service from any number of partnering organisations, including women’s refuge centres, disability employment services, the department of correctional services, refugee agencies – and indeed any agencies that work with women experiencing disadvantage.
Once referred to Dress for Success, appointments are arranged with a dresser, and women attend their Marrackville showroom for fitting and outfit allocations.

In terms of assigning clothing, Etheridge said the volunteer dressers gauge needs on a case by case basis, but women usually receive a suit, two shirts, a pair of shoes and accessories as needed.

“Generally speaking, we provide women with clothing that that would take them through a full week at a work,” she added.
Women aren’t required to have a job interview lined up, but clients must be actively seeking employment. Etheridge said the service sees it as important to help women prepare for potential interviews, so that when an opportunity does arise, clients feel prepared to move forward.

The charity said it receives a generous number of high quality clothing donations, from both individuals as well as clothing companies, which are gently used or new.

Etheridge said the charity is excited to look forward into 2012, and have just articulated their major programs for next year. “Our dressing service will continue to be at our core and over the next three years we hope to dress around 1,500 women per annum.” They also plan to expand their career support program, and have already established a career training centre in their Marrickville showroom sponsored by Accenture.

Further, the charity hopes to extend their career outreach program which will see their services extended to women in correctional services outside of Sydney.

Dress for Success is also partnered with the Metro Migrant Resource Centre which offers suits and dressing services to men.