Look professional with style

Fashion show teaches students how to take style to the business world

In preparation for the upcoming internship and career fair on Sept. 29, Career Service & Student Employment has outlined various activities this week to help prepare students physically, socially, academically and professionally. One of the activities, a professional-dress fashion show, is scheduled to take place on Sept. 23 at noon at Center Stage.

The fashion show will display various outfits that are appropriate for professional settings, including job interviews. Alison Gray, the employer relations specialist, explained that “Our department has the responsibility to teach students how to dress professionally and be competitive. One way we have found … to tell students about what to wear is through fashion shows.”
The fashion show will be sponsored by Dillard’s.

“Dillard’s mentioned that when applicants come for interviews in jeans and other inappropriate attire, they become very concerned, so they are offering to help,” said Gray.

Gray passed along the following tips to dress for success.

Appropriate Attire

Women
– Suit or skirt/slacks with nice blouse
– Professional, neat, conservative hair style
– Moderate make-up and perfume

Men
– Suit and tie or slacks with collared shirt and tie
– Neat, trimmed hair and fingernails
– Avoid sideburns, long hair and facial hair

Inappropriate  Attire

– Denim or shorts
– T-shirts
– Sweats/work-out attire
– Hoodies
– Tennis/running shoes or flip-flops
– Pajamas
– Hats/bandanas
– Sloppy, unkempt appearance
– Flashy hair, jewelry, and makeup
– Revealing clothing, including short skirts and low-cut tops

Gray added that they have talked with employers and asked what is important in the job market today. They mostly responded that one way they rule out a candidate is if he is not dressed properly. “To be competitive and get a job right now you have to know how to dress and look professional,” said Gray.

In conjunction with the fashion show, the department is sponsoring a contest and every student that attends the Career Fair dressed professionally qualifies to enter a drawing to win an iPod.

“I am excited,” said Gray. “I feel we will have great attendance; there will be lots of fun music and it is also going to be on Wolverine Wednesday, so we will eat. Come to the fashion show and the Career Fair, meet employers and learn some tips … that can make a difference in your career.”