First Canadian Place and Exchange Tower Offers YP Makeovers to Score the Job

We don’t have to tell you the importance of looking the part when it comes to your career.

But let’s face it, business attire isn’t cheap, and usually requires that you have a job beforehand in order to purchase an outfit for an interview.

That’s why Toronto’s Yonge St. Mission helps disadvantaged young adults fake it until they make it with their Double Take thrift store, offering everything you need when it comes to work clothes – from blazers and business suits to briefcases and shoes. It marks an initiative of the Connecting Youth to Work employment program at YSM, which is designed to transition disadvantaged youth into the workplace.

As a part of First Canadian Place and Exchange Tower’s donation drive, In PURSE-SUIT Of Happiness, two candidate’s from YSM’s Connecting Youth to Work program were chosen to receive a makeover in order to prep them for that big job interview. The two participants were prepped for their interview ready looks by Shopping Consultant, Cathy DeSerranno, an expert in corporate dressing.

The first participant was Nathan Grey, a Scarborough native who said he grew up in less-than-ideal circumstances. His transition began at Tip Top Tailors, where he cleaned up in a fit sports jacket, trousers, tie and shirt, and belt before heading over to Maverick for a relaxing scalp treatment and hot towel shave. Because an outfit isn’t complete without the proper accessories, he then scooped up a fine leather messenger bag from Masssimo Dutti and work shoes from Aldo.

We caught up with him post-makeover to hear a little about the experience and why clothes make such a difference.

“I was going to go shopping for work clothes, but this came out of the blue, so I was really lucky,” he told us. “Now I have interview-ready clothes. I am also a musician, so sometimes I need fancier clothes when I go to a venue to perform.”

Grey got involved in the organization after attending an information session for CYTW. “It’s a great program because it essentially involves a paid placement. The third part of the program is where those clothes come into play because I have to go hand out resumes and start networking and interviewing. I need to look the part,” he said.

He hopes to begin a career in something related to community involvement. “I am not so much interested in the corporate world as I am with being able to make a difference on a local, community level. I would love to work with disadvantaged people in general,” he told us. “Right now I’m working with Central Neighbourhood House in a low-income area, but we have many cool events and initiatives. I am into music too, so I also want to be focused on that as well. I hope to have a balance of both. I’m still figuring it out; I am only 23.”

He tells us that the best part of the experience was trying on the clothes and, of course, the final look.  “I got a blazer, a sports jacket, a dress shirt, dress pants and dress shoes. I even got a polisher,” he said. “Oh, and a full leather satchel. The hot shave was also really nice… very fresh and relaxing.”

The future young professional cites Stevie Wonder as the person he admires the most, and by 30 hopes to continue as a musician and help with the community in a big way. “There are so many ideas that I have,” he says. “I want to create a wider community outreach program in low-income areas that aren’t just Regent Park, but also bleaker, places in Scarborough, and the West End; I want to be able to unite them so that we are all connected.

To learn more about how you can get involved and make a difference, click here.

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