by Christine Jereb
Career Wardrobe Board Member
We've all had that moment of shuffling one of our favorite suits to the back of the closet in the hopes that someday it might fit again. For me, the suit in question is black with white pinstripes and a flared knee-length skirt. For about four years, that suit taunted me -- slowly becoming a symbol of other things I had put aside while I reached both professional and personal crossroads.
Then summer of 2012 came along and things started to shift. I joined the board of Career Wardrobe, a nonprofit organization in my hometown of Philadelphia that empowers women to envision their best possible self as they transition back into the workforce. I had knee surgery and began to get my health back on track. And after spending about 10 years working for the same company I joined after graduating college, I took a leap of faith and transitioned into a new job.
Today, that pinstripe suit is back at the front of my closet and into my regular rotation. When I wear it, I feel like I've rediscovered myself -- and the passion that drives me to work hard and give back each day. I feel unstoppable -- the same feeling that our Career Wardrobe clients experience when they come through our doors. Whether they are getting fitted for their next interview suit, or expanding their soft skills by learning how to network or build a LinkedIn profile, they feel that same sense of rediscovery.
They realize that the fire is within and their suit is a symbol of progress along the journey.
That's why I'm proud to be part of the Career Wardrobe family and I invite you to join me in sparking that sense of rediscovery for a woman who needs it by supporting our Crowdrise campaign. For only $50, you can help one of our clients rediscover the power of a suit. Donate here today.