A Small Thing Makes a Big Difference

Dress for Success (DFS) volunteer Prerna joined us last year after migrating from India. She began her volunteering journey seeking local experience that would help her find employment. Eventually, she not only gained the experience she needed, but also learnt a lot and transformed into a more confident version of herself.

Originating in India, Prerna worked as an agriculture professional for several years. She and her husband decided to move to New Zealand after their marriage and settled in Wellington. Prerna faced several challenges during her search for work and was confronted with rejection everywhere she looked. Realising she needed local experience in order to get local work, Prerna turned to DFS.

How did you hear about DFS?

Having recently migrated to Aotearoa with her husband, Prerna was applying for jobs but continued to face rejection. “I was networking with my friends,” she recalls. “Through one of them, I got to know about DFS.”

Why did you come to us for assistance?

As a new migrant to Aotearoa, Prerna found it difficult to get any kind of job despite her several years’ experience. “I was looking for jobs and I couldn’t get an interview. Everyone told me I needed local experience.” So Prerna applied for DFS.

How did we help you?

“I’d never worked as a retail assistant before. DFS gave me an opportunity to learn everything about retail and was very supportive. Gradually, my confidence improved.” She also says that working in our business support team helped her improve her communication and organisational skills.

How did our volunteers make you feel?

“The way they taught and guided me was really supportive,” Prerna remarks about the volunteers who trained her. It was that support that helped her build confidence.

Did our programme(s) meet your expectations?

“Yes, definitely.”

What was the result?

Prerna stresses that her biggest takeaway from her time at DFS was the confidence she gained from her interview styling session.

“I was low on confidence because of my styling especially. I had a styling session at DFS, which taught me a lot about understanding my style and boosted my confidence.”

She recalls how she felt walking around the store after her styling session with her newfound confidence. “I saw myself in the mirror. That really made me smile. A small thing can make a big difference.”

How would you define success?

“Completing a goal or even just achieving small steps is a success,” says Prerna. “Building confidence for my job search is a success for me.”

What advice would you give others?

“If you are a migrant or if you're just looking for some local work experience in New Zealand, DFS is definitely the right platform. Though I have professional experience in my field, I still struggle. DFS is like a stepping stone. It’s a bridge to new opportunities.”

What next? Have you set any goals?

“I'm moving to Auckland now,” says Prerna. “I was a bit nervous about it because I thought I had to start again after settling in Wellington. But I'm not seeing it as a new start. With my newfound confidence, I can continue my progress in Auckland.”

Since moving to Auckland, Prerna has scored a role as a brand ambassador for BrandSpanking. We are proud of her progress and hope she continues to thrive!