Thank you TracFone for sponsoring this post and for the difference you’re making.
Last week, I joined two of my favorite mom/lifestyle bloggers Audrey McClelland and Vera Sweeney of Getting Gorgeous for an afternoon of empowerment luncheon. Celebrating the Success is Calling program which was created by TracFone and Dress for Success in 2015, the program is designed to help women with employment and navigate the critical first step – the phone interview.
As one of America’s leading no-contract cellphone service providers, TracFone not only has raised funds for the program, they also provide a major resource: a new smartphone and a year of service to support them as they prepare to enter the workplace.
Now in its second year, the program helps women achieve their personal and professional goals and
gives them resources, a cell phone and service as well as curriculum and guidance. 85% of HR managers and working professionals say that first impressions made via phone interviews follow the applicant through the entire interview process and 82% say that phone skills are key to not only landing a job, but also important in maintaining a sustainable career.*
During the lunch we heard from several woman in the program share their experience. Not a dry eye in the audience hearing what these women had to overcome, mainly the roadblocks we put up for ourselves and the confidence and tools that this program gave them to be great.
The other thing I took away was that Dress for Success doesn’t just help women get into the workforce, but also women re-enter the workforceIn fact, Dress for Success also helps women with college educations who have had careers but stopped for any number of reasons, raise a family, take care of loved ones or otherwise, and feel their skill set has expired or are having issues finding a job.
That really struck a cord since I’ve known a lot of women who have gotten divorced (or haven’t because they worried about taking care of themselves) or have been out of work for a while and it’s a real hit on their confidence and self-esteem. Having a program that helps women learn and achieve financial independence is so important and I applaud everyone in the program for making such a difference. As a result of the Success is Calling program in 2015, the majority of the 300 graduates in the program landed jobs (and within the first few months).
Women in the program are at all different levels with varying backgrounds but it was something that one of the graduates, ShaVaughn Holloway said that really resonated with me, “we are all working to be better for the rest of our lives.” Every woman that takes that step is there to take control of their life and better themselves.
During the month of April, TracFone will donate 20% of its handset sales at Walmart, up to $525,000, to Dress for Success to help empower women to enter the workplace. They offer affordable phones from manufacturers including LG and Samsung with service plans starting as low as $19.99 for 90 days – an average cost of just $7 per month.**
For more information on all the great work TracFone and Dress for Success is doing as well as career advice and interview tips visit TFSuccessisCalling.com
*This survey was commissioned by TracFone and conducted by Survata, an independent research firm in San Francisco. Survata interviewed 1001 online respondents between March 07, 2016 and March 14, 2016. For further information, visit www.survata.com.
**Based on 90-day/60-minute/$19.99 airtime service plan. A month equals 30 days.