Makeovers Bringing Confidence To Job Seekers

At the Dress for Success office in York, Pa., a frustrated Marcy Reberdy arrives. The recently divorced mother of two sons is looking for a job for the first-time in a decade and has come to live with a cousin in Pennsylvania after a fruitless six-month search in Colorado.

Her resume is packed with volunteerism. But on the airplane to Pennsylvania, Reberdy, 35, knew she needed help.

"I realized I was going to need to repackage myself," she said.

Back in Harrisburg at Dress for Success, Pabon selected a navy blue blazer with matching skirt and a white blouse. Volunteer Gail Steinmetz gave Pabon advice on when to button the blazer and how to tie a scarf around her neck.

"Turn, hold, wrap around the neck," Pabon repeated.

Pabon's journey began when she was laid off as a warehouse supervisor. It always had been easy for her to find work — she has experience as a medical assistant and nurse's aide — until now.

Temp jobs, welfare cash assistance and food stamps have helped in the meantime. Now she is preparing for interviews with two insurance companies, each looking for an administrative assistant.