Mineh Finds Community in Wellington

Mineh spent months applying for jobs after relocating to Wellington, but her attempts were

unsuccessful. Not working and spending long periods of time at home left her feeling stuck.

Mineh wanted to get out of the house, gain experience locally, meet people from different

cultures and get involved in the community. She began searching for opportunities to

volunteer in retail fashion. A search that eventually led her to Dress for Success.

How did you hear about DFS?

“I searched for volunteer opportunities specifically related to retail, fashion and styling and

came across the Dress for Success website.”

Why did you come to us for assistance?

“After relocating to Wellington, I spent around three months applying for jobs and

experienced multiple rejections. I wanted to gain some local experience to strengthen,

improve and expand my job opportunities. I wasn’t used to staying at home for long

periods and wanted to stay active, build confidence, and get involved in the community.”

How did we help you?

“I learned a lot of things when I started my retail shifts, including visual merchandising and

store routines, and I noticed my English started to improve. Later, I began volunteering in

business support, which improved my confidence when speaking with clients over the

telephone. It also taught me how to use a CRM system, which was completely new to me.”

How did our volunteers make you feel?

“I enjoyed the opportunity to meet a diverse group of people from different cultures and

countries, which was something I had always wanted. Everyone was very kind and friendly

and would always support one another throughout our job-hunting process.”

Did our programme(s) meet your expectations?

“Yes, interacting with customers helped improve my English and gain more confidence

when talking to people. The Hub Coordinator, Sasmita, is an amazing person who showed me a lot of support and helped me overcome challenges during my time in the programme.”

What was the result?

“I learned clothing management and became familiar with designer clothes and brands. I

gained experience in customer service from the Retail Supervisor. These experiences

helped me to develop my skills and eventually led to a position as a customer service representative with Contact Energy in Wellington.” My main goal was to secure a full-time administration role, and I am very happy to say that I have now achieved this. The experience I gained through Dress for Success helped me build my confidence, develop new skills and strengthen my resume. I was also very grateful for the strong reference Sasmita provided for me, which supported my application and helped me secure my full-time administration position in Dunedin. I am excited to start this new chapter and continue growing in my career.

How would you define success?

“I would define success as continuing to learn and grow as you achieve your goals. For me,

success is gaining confidence, developing new skills and overcoming challenges while

creating opportunities for a better future.”

What advice would you give others?

“I would encourage anyone new to Wellington and coming from abroad to join this

incredible team as a volunteer. They will gain skills, experience, and benefit from

volunteering in a supportive and encouraging environment that will help them build

confidence and improve their chances of getting a job in this market.”

What next? Have you set any goals?

“I am now focused on getting a full-time job. The work experience I gained through the DFS

programme has helped strengthen my resume and improve my opportunities.”