VOLUNTEER
Dress for Success San Jose is a volunteer-driven organization. We simply could not operate without the time and effort of our volunteers.
Interested in becoming an individual volunteer? Please follow the steps below:
1st - Fill out our Individual Volunteer Application
2nd - Register for an upcoming Individual Virtual Volunteer Orientation via Zoom
3rd - Pick up shifts on our Individual Volunteer Calendar that work with your schedule
*** Our Individual Volunteer Calendar is sent only to the volunteers who have attended the Individual Virtual Volunteer Orientation.
Individual Volunteer Orientations are held virtually, once a month. We have upcoming individual volunteer orientations on:
February 13, 2026
March 20, 2026
April 3, 2026
May 1, 2026
For inquiries regarding individual volunteering at Dress for Success San Jose, please email marlena@sfdress.org.
Interested in Corporate or Group Volunteering with Dress for Success? We’d love to partner with your team! Visit our Corporate Volunteering Page.
“We get a lot of clients who have either never had a resume or else they have one but don’t know exactly what to do with it. As volunteers, we’re there to motivate, inspire and support them - we get them to think outside the box when they think they don’t have any skills. Everyone is different - we can all learn from each other. I can listen. I can learn from the women we serve and they can learn from me.” -Desiree B.
Desiree has been volunteering with us for the past 5 years, after being a clothing donor for over 10 years. She volunteers as a Career Coach, helping clients with their resumes, and in the boutique as a Personal Shopper. Since the Career Center appointments are mostly virtual, she is able to volunteer one day in person in the boutique and then another day from home. Desiree loves seeing the noticeable confidence boost in the women she’s helping, as they put on that first new interview outfit, or see the improvements in their resumes. “When they put on that first outfit - it’s possible. They feel good about themselves, they feel confident. They’re ready to take on whatever is thrown their way.”
Thank you, Desiree, for volunteering your time with us and supporting so many women!
Individual Volunteer Spotlight: Desiree
Individual Volunteer Jobs Overview
Below is an overview of volunteer opportunities available within our organization. To learn about what we are doing right now, complete the volunteer application on this page and register for the next volunteer orientation. After you attend your orientation, you will have access to our Volunteer Calendar to schedule your first shift!
Our offices operate Monday - Friday from 9 am-5 pm. Most volunteer opportunities take place during that time, with the exception of occasional evening opportunities.
Personal shopping and Inventory: Personal Shoppers assist clients in choosing their professional attire and provide support and encouragement, and help keep the boutique tidy and well-stocked.
Career coaching: Serve as a career coach and work 1:1 with women who are looking for assistance in career assessment, resume/cover letter writing, mock interviews or building/utilizing LinkedIn and other social media profiles. Career coaching appointments are based on client request. Frequency is dependent on the assistance the client needs and the mentor’s scheduling capacity.
Virtual Job Search Program: Serve as an expert speaker for our job search mentoring program. Inspire and encourage women who are seeking employment. Virtual job search sessions are held on Wednesday from 10 am – 12 pm. *Interested speakers are recommended to attend one virtual job search program session prior to hosting a topic.
Inventory and donation drives: Assist in sorting/organizing inventory.
Salesforce: Are you Salesforce Savvy? We’d love your help with our Salesforce data!
Professional Women’s Group (PWG): Serve as an expert speaker for our employment retention program to help PWG members retain their positions and advance their careers. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month from 6 pm – 8 pm. *Interested speakers are recommended to attend one PWG session prior to hosting a topic.
Committees: Want to make an even bigger impact? Join a Committee to help plan our fundraising events, recruit clients, share our story and more. To learn more, please email Erin Badillo.