Volunteer Stylist – Dress for Success Hamilton
Have you ever needed a bit of reassurance before something big? A job interview, a first day, a life-changing opportunity? Now imagine being the person who gets to offer that support to someone else.
We’re looking for women who want to lift up other women, not with speeches or grand gestures, but with kindness, practical help, and a warm, encouraging presence.
As a Volunteer Stylist at Dress for Success Hamilton, you’ll work one-on-one with clients to help them feel confident, comfortable, and ready, whether they’re preparing for a job interview, starting a new role, or facing another big life step. It’s not just about clothing. It’s about showing up, listening, and helping someone leave feeling stronger than when they walked in.
What You’ll Be Doing – Day to Day
This role is hands-on, people-focused, and incredibly rewarding. You’ll be part of a small, supportive team that makes women feel seen, valued, and ready to take on whatever comes next.
When You're Dressing Clients:
- You’ll help each woman choose an outfit that suits her, whether it’s for a job interview, her first day at work, a course, or another important moment. It’s about making her feel confident, not just dressed.
- You’ll gently guide her with tips on styling, makeup, and accessories if she wants them, nothing over the top, just practical, thoughtful advice.
- If she needs it, you can help with things like reading over a CV, chatting about how interviews work, or giving her a bit of reassurance. We’ll make sure you’ve got helpful resources to lean on.
- The goal is always the same: help her walk out feeling more confident than when she walked in.
When You’re in the Boutique:
- You’ll help sort through clothing donations making sure everything is clean, in good shape, and ready to be worn with pride.
- Some days you might help with things like steaming, ironing, or small repairs. Other times it’s just making sure the space is neat, calm, and welcoming.
- We tidy up the boutique each day, it’s part of creating a space that feels safe and respectful for every woman who walks through the door.
- From time to time, we might need an extra hand with things like pop-up events or clothing sales (both in person and online), these help keep our work going.
We’ll Show You the Ropes
You don’t need to be an expert or have a background in fashion, we’ve got you covered. Everything you need to know, we’ll teach you step by step, in a way that feels supportive and easy to follow.
Here’s how it works:
- Orientation / Induction – You’ll start with a friendly intro session where we’ll walk you through everything and give you all the info you need to feel comfortable and ready.
- Observing – You’ll spend time watching experienced stylists in action so you can see how it all works and ask questions as you go.
- Assisting – Once you’re feeling ready, you’ll work alongside a trained stylist and start getting involved in real appointments.
- Leading – When the time feels right, you’ll take the lead with a client, but don’t worry, a stylist will be nearby to support you.
- Final Observation – Before going fully solo, your Boutique Team Leader will do a final check-in to make sure you feel confident and set up for success.
- Plus, we offer extra workshops now and then, so there’s always the chance to learn more if you want to.
What We Care About Most
We’re not about perfection, but we are about creating a space where every woman feels safe, supported, and respected. These are a few simple things we ask everyone on the team to help uphold:
- Health & Safety: If anything goes wrong or doesn’t feel quite right (even a near miss), let the Executive Manager know within 2 hours. We’ve all got each other’s backs.
- Presentation: We aim to keep the boutique looking consistently tidy and welcoming, this helps every woman feel valued the moment she walks through the door.
- Appointments: Try to stay on time with client dressings, so each woman gets the full care and attention she deserves.
- Team Culture: Help us keep the boutique warm, inclusive, and kind. It’s a space where women can be vulnerable, so protecting that energy is something we all share.
Our Way of Saying Thanks
As a little thank-you, Volunteer Stylists can purchase selected items set aside for our clothing sales, just a small perk for being part of the team.
Who You’ll Be Working With
- You won’t be doing this alone, we’ve got a lovely, supportive team around you:
- You’ll report to our Boutique Team Leader, who’s there to guide and support you in your role.
- Day-to-day support also comes from the Team Leader, Boutique Coordinator, and Executive Manager, they’re all here to help you feel confident and comfortable.
- You’ll be working alongside an amazing mix of people, fellow stylists, volunteers, staff, and board members and of course, the wonderful women we serve.
- You’ll also connect with referral agencies, donors, and others who support the work we do.
Keen to Join Us?
We’d love to hear from you. If this sounds like something you'd enjoy being part of, just send through:
- A short cover letter telling us a bit about you
- Your up-to-date CV
- A completed application form
- Email: admin@dressforsuccesshamilton.co.nz
We’ll be in touch soon and we can’t wait to welcome you to the team.
