Dressing for Success, Within Reach
Dress for success. It’s an adage we’ve all heard. But sometimes, dressing for success is out of reach, because it comes with a price tag. For many college students, who are at the cusp of embarking on their professional goals, they may not have the paycheck that lends itself to buying the right suit, the right blazer or dress.
Fullerton College Business Management Department faculty have taken note, and they have filled a closet with donated professional clothes that students are welcome to choose from.
“Making the right first impression is crucial to landing a new job or internship,” said Professor Kathy Standen. “We want to make sure that students walk into interviews and other professional settings prepared both intellectually and dressed in a way that helps them build confidence.”
As a service to students, Standen maintains the Career Closet, which offers a variety of gently-used professional business attire for students in need. Students simply need to contact a professor in the Business/CIS Division, and who can assist them with selecting a professional outfit for an upcoming event. The outfit is free of charge and the student can keep all the items.
The Career Closet currently has a good inventory, but is regularly in need of donations. Particularly, men’s dress shoes, women’s blouses, and suits for both men and women are needed. The types of items regularly being sought are: suits, shirts, ties, socks, blouses, skirts, slacks, heels and jackets.
Donations may be brought to the Business/CIS Division Office any time, during normal hours of operations. For those interested in donating larger quantities of clothing, the Career Closet qualifies as a 501c3 charity. Please contact Kathy Standen at kstanden@fullcoll.edu with any questions.
“Faculty in the Business Management Department believe students will benefit tremendously from this service and we appreciate the support we’ve had from donors,” Standen said. “I encourage colleagues and friends to look through their own closets and consider making a donation.”
