I tried the life-changing Leeds service helping women conquer the job market - and left empowered

The mission of Smart Works Leeds is simple: provide women with the coaching, clothing, and confidence they need to secure employment and thrive in the workplace.

The charity helps clients prepare for job interviews by providing a career coaching session and bespoke dressing service, all free of charge.

Now, as the latest figures reveal that 16.2% of 16-24 year olds are unemployed, the work of Smart Works Leeds is particularly relevant to my generation.

That’s exactly why I decided to try it out - as I visited the Leeds centre to get a taste of the comprehensive service.

What is inside Smart Works?

Smart Works Leeds is based on the fourth floor of Unit 1 of Mabgate Mills, which is around a fifteen-minute walk from Leeds city centre.

When I walked in through the charity’s doors, I felt instantly welcomed. The space is bright, inviting, and full of friendly faces. Seeking career support can be intimidating because it requires you to put yourself out there, but Smarts Works Leeds creates an environment to put you at ease.

My first task was to complete a questionnaire, which included some details about my demographic background and why I was seeking support. I filled out the short answers with a comforting cup of tea in my hand.

The comprehensive approach ensures that the appointment is tailored for you and I think this is what makes it so effective.

The Smart Works Interview Dressing Session

From there, it was on to my one-hour dressing appointment with volunteer dresser Stefanie Shaw. We headed to the office’s wardrobe section, where you can see rails upon rails of donated clothes from brands including Boden, New Look, and Whistles. What stands out is the variety, as clothes of every colour, size, and style hang across the room.

To make sure I found an outfit which would fit my style as well as size, we began by talking through what kind of clothes I think best suit me and for what kind of interview I would need them for. Stefanie made mental notes and quickly got to work while I got to sit, relax, and sip some more tea.

She returned with a personalised rail and let me pick and choose what I liked and what I didn’t like (and no offence was taken by the rejected suggestions). After picking my favourite options, I went to a private space where I could get changed and see if the clothes on the hangers lived up to the hype.

In this space, I noticed a box of toiletries with an instruction to take whatever you need, which I felt was a lovely and subtle extra helping hand.

Trying on the clothes was a really interesting experience and the results surprised me. As I stepped out to the big mirror to see how I looked, I had a chance to slowly evaluate how I feel in myself and what clothes give me the most confidence.

My favourite clothes weren’t what I expected.

Going into this, I thought I’d leave with something in blue or black, like most of my wardrobe, but a pink dress pushed me out of my comfort zone and, strangely, I enjoyed this. It felt like me.

Once I’d picked my dress, we played around with accessories to complete my outfit. This consisted of shoes, a blazer, and a bag to make me fully interview-ready. Picking and choosing was a playful and fun experience that really gave me the opportunity to try completely new things.

Another surprise was that after the dressing service, each Smart Works Leeds client is invited to pick a pamper-style gift. The charity recognises that looking after yourself is a crucial part of interview preparation and this small gift is a fantastic way to show this. Smart Works Leeds celebrates self-care - as to be your best self in an interview, you have to feel like your best self.

The Smart Works Career Coaching Session

After choosing some cleaning mitts from Revolution Skincare London (though I was heavily tempted by the Lush bath bombs), it was on to my career coaching session with volunteer interview coach Karen Rolinson and shadow coach Gemma Heron-Brown.

We sat in a soundproof booth to create a relaxed environment, so I felt at ease. I think this is important because even practising interview questions with someone can be a vulnerable experience as you talk about your greatest strengths and weaknesses. It was great how Karen and Gemma ensured this setting felt approachable so I could learn as much as possible.

We began by talking through my CV, which I’d sent over in advance. This was really useful to identify where I was underselling myself and how exactly I could improve. In high school, I remember having one class about writing a CV back when I’d only had one Saturday job, but as times have changed since then and my experiences have too, I’ve never learned how to update my structure.

Karen and Gemma advised that the best CV is tailored to the job you’re applying for and shows off how you are the candidate they are looking for. As well as this, a great CV should highlight your achievements rather than shy away from them. In short, if you are proud of something, shout about it. Smart Works Leeds gives you the confidence to do this.

We then moved on to exploring what an interview might be like and how to best present yourself. In the booth, we practised questions so they won’t be as frightening in the future. Karen and Gemma used what they’ve learned from their experiences to help me.

They gave an invaluable tip: the best interview answers for questions that ask for anecdotes use the STAR method, where you detail the situation, the task, the action, and the result. They also gave great advice on body language and active listening to ensure that even when you’re not speaking, you are still making a great impression.

What felt most apparent in my career coaching session was that it was a supportive setting. Their insight always came with compliments to ensure I could recognise what I was doing well, as well as what I needed to improve on. This is what made the session the ultimate confidence boost for my next job interview.

When the session finished, I was able to take home an interview guide with more top tips and tricks that I could look back on closer to an interview date.

The impact of Smart Works Leeds

After completing a post-service questionnaire, I left Smart Works Leeds with a feeling that the world is my oyster. In just two hours, the charity had given me a renewed faith that the job market is mine to conquer.

Over the past 10 years, 35,000 people supported by Smart Works have secured employment. The charity has a formula that works and it was really insightful to see how it works first-hand.

Smart Works Leeds accepts client referrals from any service that helps a woman into employment - including job centres, employability schemes, refuges, and other charities. It doesn’t matter if you’re recently unemployed or are looking to return to work after a long career gap; this is a charity in the heart of Leeds which is looking to help you succeed.

It was a joy to visit Smart Works Leeds and I truly believe the career coaching and dressing session will have a lasting impact on my working future. In just two hours, they provided me with tools that may just change my life.