Gender Equality United States Project #2524

Help 80 Women Find Jobs & Financial Independence

by Women's Employment Network

Help 80 Women Find Jobs & Financial Independence

Project Report | Dec 18, 2012
"With a little help from my friends..."

By Sophie Klein | Grant Writer/Development Coordinator

Women come to the Women's Employment Network to recreate themselves professionally and forge a new path to success through sustained employment. By the time many of our women arrive, they have been out of work for an extended time, their resources are dwindling, and they have lost their sense of self-worth and they are questioning their skills and value in today's job market.

The women who come to WEN for our five-week training program benefit from a structured job-search training program, individualized coaching, case management and WEN's professional clothing bank. But there's another component of the training program that cannot be forgotten: the tremendous support the women receive from the others in their class. At the graduation ceremony for Class #252 on December 14, 2012, the women thanked not only staff, but each other, for being there for them through the program.

Even after finding employment, WEN graduates still find ways to support one another, going as far as to hire other graduates. In 2012, three WEN graduates Paige (2010 grad), Mickey (2012 grad) and Kristie (2008 grad), who are now hiring managers at their companies, remembered WEN as a resource for qualified candidates. Between the three of them, they hired eight women from the program as employees. Mickey even hired women from her own training class!

As the 12 women of Class #252 begin the job application process in earnest, they do so knowing that they have the support of a vast network of women who have walked in their shoes. In the words of one of these graduates, Gale, as she accepted her diploma and thanked the class for being there for her, "I was lost but now I'm found."

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Sep 18, 2012
Learning from each other

By Sophie Klein | Grant Writer/Development Coordinator

Jun 19, 2012
Invest in YOURSELF... great things will happen!

By Mindy Wilson | Grant Writer

CAK and Client

Meet Joyce* (her name has been changed). She is an unemployed mom of two school-age children. Joyce had been unemployed for four long years. During that time, Joyce tried out a few local employment-prep programs and courses, but she never saw or felt their value. They left her disheartened, uninspired, drained - and worst of all, still without employment.

Then, one evening on-line, she happened upon WEN’s website. It seemed different. She called, came in, had her assessment and enrolled. The turning-point.

Joyce learned that WEN’s program would deliver, but she also realized she couldn’t just sign up and go through the motions. Joyce found that, at WEN, she had to invest in herself and commit to working hard on her process, that WEN expected a great deal from its clients. Invest in yourself – there will be a return.

Joyce showed up at WEN every day for the five-week curriculum. She did some real soul-searching, developed a realistic action-plan for her job-search and goals, created a strong resume and cover letter template, polished up her interview skills, got a new suit from the WEN clothing bank, and was ready to hit the pavement and find employment.

She identified her “dream employer.” And, with the help and support from the dedicated staff – and from the other women in her WEN class – Joyce was ready to make things happen. And she did. Within 3 weeks after graduating, Joyce was hired by her dream employer. She did not get her “dream job;” but she seized the opportunity to get her foot in the door. The job she accepted offered her the flexibility she needed to manage her family’s schedules and needs, a paycheck that would support them, and the opportunity for her to grow within the company for which she most wanted to work.

Joyce came back to WEN a few weeks later to speak to the new WEN clients. She addressed the class and told them the importance of having realistic goals – that where you start is not where you will end up, to always believe in yourself. Joyce actually put her foot in the doorway of the classroom to demonstrate her point. The message resonated!

Joyce’s story does not end here. As it turned out, Joyce would not receive her first paycheck until 3 weeks after she started. Joyce needed, but could not afford, supportive shoes for her new position – a moderate expense for some, but untenable for Joyce. Thanks to a Special Assistance Fund at WEN, we were able to purchase these shoes for Joyce so that she could manage and succeed in her new position.

Joyce is still employed with her “dream employer.” And she’s well on her way to her “dream” job there as well. Most importantly, Joyce is taking care of herself and her family. This is not the “end of the story” for Joyce; it’s just the beginning of a new and happy chapter. All of this is possible because of Joyce, her hard work and her diligence. But none of this would be possible without WEN.

Big, systemic change can start by helping one woman secure employment and become financially and emotionally self-sufficient; WEN is the agent for this change. WEN’s core program endeavors to awaken, increase, and maximize our clients’ abilities to earn and maintain a living. WEN believes – and has proven – that, through our programming, helping women help themselves greatly improves the communities in which we all live, one woman at a time.

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