The Colby Echo

Issue date: 9/16/09 Section: News

Media Credit: kudzu.com

Preparing for a job interview is intimidating. Dressing for a formal dance can cause butterflies in those with nerves of iron and stomachs of steel. However, in the past, most students on the Hill could take for granted that they could find the proper attire for any such occasion in their own closet.

More sobering, the recent economic downturn and the difficult job market mean that many students are more preoccupied with post-graduation employment than with building up their wardrobe. A mandatory senior workshop, now offered by the Career Center, jump-starts the job counseling process in order to help students of the College navigate both the world of job applications and the perhaps overlooked world of interviewing fashion-emergencies.

The College offers a variety of forms of aid for students beginning to think about career paths: resume workshops; cover letter proof reading, networking weekends, for example. This year, however, the Student Government Association (SGA) will also be lending a hand-or more accurately, a suit, through the creation of the Colby Clothing Closet.

The Clothing Closet, which will open sometime this year, will rent out business clothing to students. The clothes will be available not only for job interviews, but also for any occasion that might warrant a formal outfit, such as a presentation or a school dance.

"Not every student has American-style formal clothes," said SGA president Jacob Fischer '10. Fischer began work on the project after Denise Walden, who works in admissions, approached him. "She read about a similar program at Harvard and thought it might be a good idea to have something like that here," he said. Fischer is now working closely with Career Center Director Roger Woolsey to bring the idea to fruition.

For Fischer, the Colby Clothing Closet is a way to afford all students on the Hill the same opportunities.

"Although it may be unfortunate, the reality is that it matters if you look nice and prepared for an interview," he said.
"This will be a way of getting students the kind of clothing they need to be successful in America."

In addition to relieving the financial burden of purchasing formal clothing, he hopes it will make international students who might not have brought American clothing with them feel more at ease.

"If I went to another country, chances are I wouldn't know how to dress formally or what to wear to be stylish."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools