VOLUNTEER
Dress for Success San Jose is a volunteer-driven organization. We simply could not operate without the time and effort of our volunteers.
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Please follow the steps below:
1st - Fill out our Volunteer Application
2nd - Register for an upcoming Virtual Volunteer Orientation via Zoom
3rd - Fill out our Client Confidentiality Agreement
4th - Pick up shifts on our Volunteer Calendar that work with your schedule
*** Both the Client Confidentiality Agreement and Volunteer Calendar are sent in the recap email after you’ve attended the Virtual Volunteer Orientation.
Volunteer Orientations are held virtually, once a month. We have upcoming volunteer orientations on:
Nov 12, 2024
Nov 22, 2024
For inquiries regarding volunteering at Dress for Success San Jose, please email miracle@sjdress.org.
“We get a lot of clients who have either never had a resume or else they have one but don’t know exactly what to do with it. As volunteers, we’re there to motivate, inspire and support them - we get them to think outside the box when they think they don’t have any skills. Everyone is different - we can all learn from each other. I can listen. I can learn from the women we serve and they can learn from me.” -Desiree B.
Desiree has been volunteering with us for the past 5 years, after being a clothing donor for over 10 years. She volunteers as a Career Coach, helping clients with their resumes, and in the boutique as a Personal Shopper. Since the Career Center appointments are mostly virtual, she is able to volunteer one day in person in the boutique and then another day from home. Desiree loves seeing the noticeable confidence boost in the women she’s helping, as they put on that first new interview outfit, or see the improvements in their resumes. “When they put on that first outfit - it’s possible. They feel good about themselves, they feel confident. They’re ready to take on whatever is thrown their way.”
Thank you, Desiree, for volunteering your time with us and supporting so many women!
Volunteer Spotlight: Desiree
Volunteer Jobs Overview
Below is an overview of volunteer opportunities available within our organization. To learn about what we are doing right now, complete the volunteer application on this page and we will contact you directly to sign up for the next orientation.
Our offices operate Monday- Friday from 9am-5pm. Most volunteer opportunities take place during that time, with the exception of occasional evening opportunities.
Questions or to learn about group volunteer opportunities please contact 916-776-6356 or email Miracle Gumabo at miracle@sjdress.org.
Personal shopping and Inventory: Personal Shoppers assist clients in choosing their professional attire and provide support and encouragement., and help keep the boutique tidy and well-stocked. Personal Shopping Appointments are scheduled Tuesday – Thursday, 10am–3pm and as needed.
Career mentoring: Serve as a mentor and work 1:1 with women who are looking for assistance in career assessment, resume/cover letter writing, mock interviews or building/utilizing social media profiles. Career mentoring appointments are made based on client request. Frequency is dependent on the assistance the client needs and the mentor’s scheduling capacity.
Going Places Network (GPN): Serve as an expert speaker for our job search mentoring program. Inspire and encourage women who are seeking employment. We offer two GPN cohorts per year. The next cohort begins on September, 6th from 10am-11:30am. *Interested speakers are recommended to attend one GPN session prior to hosting a topic.
Professional Women’s Group (PWG): Serve as an expert speaker for our employment retention program to help PWG members retain their positions and advance their careers. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month from 6pm – 8pm. *Interested speakers are recommended to attend one PWG session prior to hosting a topic.
Inventory and donation drives: Assist in sorting/organizing inventory.
Salesforce: Are you Salesforce Savvy? We’d love your help with our Salesforce data!
Committees: Want to make an even bigger impact? Join a Committee to help plan our fundraising events, recruit clients, share our story and more. To learn more, please email Erin Badillo.