YWorks helps women gain in job market

"I made some really poor choices," Phillips said. "I spent three years in time-out, thinking about what I could have done differently, and when I got out, I started doing those things."

Desperate to put her past behind her, the mother of three contacted her state Child Protective Services counselor, who recommended she call the YWCA Tucson.

Since June, Phillips has worked as an intern and now as a volunteer with the YWCA. She has also made the most of her resources by taking part in many of the organization's programs.

The YWorks program, in which she currently participates, offers women classes and workshops, such as the Skills for Successful Employment Workshop, where participants learn how to build confidence and develop basic career-development and job-search strategy skills.

"We don't have any barriers to entry at all," said Janet Marcotte, executive director of YWCA Tucson. "It's for any woman who's unemployed, underemployed, or dealing with any transition in their work life."

Phillips says YWorks has increased her self-esteem and knowledge.

"It's given me a clear understanding of what you need to do in today's job market as a woman," she said.

Women come to the program in a wide range of circumstances, such as being laid off from a job or having the desire to switch careers, Marcotte said.

"We find that works really well because they learn a lot from each other," she said.

The YWorks program has a 93 percent success rate. "We define success as the women getting a job either full or part time, achieving an education goal or receiving specialized job training," Marcotte said.

She attributes the program's high success rate to her employees' ability to stick with their participants and listen to their individual needs, and to the program's self-reflective structure.

"We structure the program around three basic questions - Who are you? What do you want? And what do you have to offer?" Marcotte said.

Many women have never asked themselves these basic questions before and in return, they bounce from one short-term job to the next, she said.

"To stop that cycle, you really have to figure out how to match your skills to a particular employment field," Marcotte said.

In addition to building self-confidence, women in YWorks also learn how to clearly present themselves through their résumés and interviews.

The Skills for Successful Employment Workshop is offered the second Tuesday of every month, and each workshop is open to 14 new women. After completing the workshop, participants continue to work with YWorks career-guidance specialists for up to six months, or longer if necessary.

There is a one-time registration fee of $25, which can be waived in certain circumstances, Marcotte said.

As for Phillips' future, she's decided to go back to school to get a degree.

"I'm really excited because here I am going back to school again," she said. "That's a huge part of having been in that program and the process itself."

Another key component to boosting confidence and getting women back in the work world is teaching them how to dress for success.

The YWCA Tucson addresses this need with the help of Your Sister's Closet, a program that offers women appropriate interview attire free of charge.

Liz Rabago, director of women's economic advancement at YWCA Tucson, said the program's impact is evident by the women's reactions to their reflections in a mirror.

"They'll say things like 'Just looking at myself gives me confidence to go to the interview,' " Rabago said.

Maggie Giuffrida is a University of Arizona journalism student who is a Star apprentice. Contact her at starapprentice@azstarnet.com