WILKES-BARRE -- Dress for Success is an organization providing women in need professional outfits for job interviews.
Now it's going a step further.
Dress for Success just finished a pilot run of a multi-week program training women to find sustaining careers.
“We work hand-in-hand with Dress for Success. They're one of our most valued partners. We have the same goals, which is to empower you to become what you can become,” said speaker Christine Jensen as she addressed a classroom at Luzerne County Community College’s Wilkes-Barre Center.
The women there may just be taking the most important class of their lives; that's because they are there to take back their lives.
“It’s a little scary so you just want to make good decisions,” said Jensen.
The women are in a new program offered by Dress for Success Luzerne County, the charity organization that provides free professional clothing to women in need for job interviews.
But this program, called "Going Places Network by the Walmart Foundation" is taking that effort a big step further.
The free five-week course is attempting to get those women back to work.
“To get our women from, 'OK you haven't worked in a long time. Shake it off and here's your self-esteem,'” said Linda Armstrong, the executive director of Dress for Success Luzerne County. “Let's talk about our finances and now let's get you those tangible skills you need to get back into the workforce.”
Nataki Bhatti from Wilkes-Barre is a community artist by trade and hasn't worked in three years.
“I came with humility and an open mind to try something different and that's a lot. That's something new for me. I haven't done that before because I always thought I knew what I needed to do for myself,” said Bhatti.
But this isn't just about finding a job, it's about finding these women a sustaining and satisfying career.
Jensen, who led the class, is with Pennsylvania Career Link and says even if the women complete this program, that doesn't guarantee they'll find employment immediately. The women must continue to work for the position they want.
“So it's absolutely not a one and done. You don't come and walk out with this necessarily with all your problems solved. It's a process,” said Jensen.
“I'm hoping to learn more about what I need to do to take it to the next level,” said Bhatti.