Suit Up! HIRED Partners With Men's Warehouse National Suit Drive

John Klem, HIRED senior program manager, knows the value of a quality suit.

"So often, succeeding in an interview can come down to the details. It's these details that make the difference between coming in first, or coming in second. For our clients, having a good suit can make that difference."

Klem and HIRED, recently named a partner for Men's Warehouse National Suit Drive, are in the midst of collecting donated suits and organizing distribution to low-income men seeking self-sufficiency. Now in its second year, Men's Warehouse initiated the program hoping to address the needs of thousands of men who are unable to secure employment because they lack this initial – yet vital – tool for looking presentable for a job interview.

"We're thrilled to be working with Men's Warehouse on the National Suit Drive campaign," said Klem. "Proper professional attire really makes a difference for our clients as they move through the interview process. With these donations, men will have the opportunity to walk into an interview with confidence and assurance – an essential step toward securing employment and future economic stability."

The collection phase of the National Suit Drive runs from September 1–30, although the distribution will continue into the coming months. "Right now we're focusing on collections," said Klem. "We need shirts, ties, shoes, belts, socks, everything. Quality clothing resources for men are really difficult to come by, and we're hoping our friends and supporters will spread the word and generously donate."

Klem's outline for distribution includes establishing a "store" at HIRED's Griggs-Midway location on University Avenue in St. Paul. "The store will be open to all HIRED clients, as well as other Twin Cities job seekers," Klem said. "Our goal is to not only gather as many clothing items as possible, but to also increase awareness about the importance of confidence and a positive attitude as our clients overcome barriers to gainful employment."

If you are interested in supporting HIRED and the National Suit Drive, drop-off your gently used suits, dress shirts, sport coats, slacks, ties, belts and shoes at any Men's Warehouse location. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit www.nationalsuitdrive.com. For more information about HIRED's role in the National Suit Drive, contact John Klem at John.Klem@HIRED.org.

Tennant Foundation Propels M-Powered Program to New Heights

There's no question HIRED's M-Powered program is a success. Boasting a 95% graduation rate, a placement rate of 89% and an average entry-level wage of $11.86 per hour, HIRED is helping its clients achieve their employment dreams through its award-winning, internationally recognized manufacturing training program. With all the success M-Powered has attained, it's hard to imagine what steps, if any, could be taken to improve the program. But help from the Tennant Foundation, a long-time supporter of HIRED's workforce development initiatives, has propelled M-Powered to a whole new level, and the result has made a tremendous impact on the client experience.

With support from the Tennant Foundation, HIRED added a new member – Andrea Peterson – to its M-Powered team. Peterson, who works out of HIRED's Hopkins office, serves as a single point of contact for M-Powered participants and job seekers interested in the program. Nancy James, director of employer services, said, "Typically, M-Powered participants haven't attended a college-level program. Before they enroll, Andrea helps potential participants to prepare for the rigors of M-Powered. She also assists participants with issues facing adult learners, like transportation and childcare. She's there every step of the way as participants complete the program, which is why nearly everyone graduates. And, as participants graduate, Andrea helps them create customized resumes and prepare for interviews with our partner employers. It's incredibly challenging to offer this level of assistance to so many individuals. But Andrea is full of energy and incredibly dedicated to the success of our M-Powered participants."

James continued, "We absolutely could not achieve this level of success without support from the Tennant Foundation and Andrea's tireless efforts. M-Powered has grown significantly in the past couple of years and the support Andrea's position provides to the program has made a real difference to ensure that no detail falls through the crack and each and every client receives the one-to-one interaction HIRED is known for."

M-Powered, which won a prestigious Recognition of Excellence Award from the U.S. Department of Labor, trains lower-income job seekers for in-demand jobs in the metals manufacturing sector. Graduates of the program have gone on to have successful careers as welders, sheet metal fabricators, metal stampers and CNC operators.

For more information about M-Powered contact Nancy James at Nancy.James@HIRED.org.