Skip to main content

Professional Dress Night Part of Poole Students’ Preparation for Career Fairs

As students progress through the years of college, one common goal comes to mind. They want their education to lead them to a career that will provide them with a successful future. In the NC State Poole College of Management, career coaches provide students with many tools and resources to reach this goal.

For many students, though, some levels of anxiety still crop up, especially around the time of a career fair. Their resumes have been perfected, and they have developed their skill sets through internships. Many have even perfected the grip and timing of a professional handshake.

So what gets the students so shaken up? Professional dress.

Last fall, Poole College partnered with professional staff at the Belk in Cary Town Center, N.C., to present a program designed to reduce some of the distress over proper attire.

Professional Dress Night provided the undergraduate business students the opportunity to learn about professional dress from Belk’s sales associates who were located throughout the store, share their expertise about professional dress and providing guidance in choosing their wardrobes. A makeup representative was also on site to show female students how to apply makeup for an interview.

Dr. Janet Rakes, career coach in Poole College’s Office of Undergraduate Programs, said this event was a perfect way to allow students to prepare for the college’s Fall Career Fair. Her goal was to teach students how to prepare their wardrobes for a successful future. The same lessons apply for the upcoming spring career fair, she said.

“Many students have the necessary skill set to qualify for a position, and they shouldn’t be denied the opportunity because they don’t have access to the proper wardrobe,” Rakes said.

Megan Tajlili, graduate assistant career coach working with Rakes, said today’s professional attire allows students to add personality to their wardrobe, noting that “Professional dress today seems to be more accepting of personality and color.” For example, she said, a dress with “patterns at the bottom can be topped with a suit jacket and worn in the office.”

Students also shared from their own understanding of professional dress.

Catherine Parker, a business administration major, defined professional attire as a nice fitted suit with a basic button down or blouse. She added personality to her professional wardrobe by selecting a blouse with her favorite colors to wear beneath her suit jacket.

Clare Parker, a fashion textiles student in NC State’s College of Textiles, said excessive piercings are taboo and that those who have tattoos should cover them up when in a professional setting.

“You should show your personality and who you are, but you shouldn’t go overboard. If your favorite color is orange, wear an orange accent, not an orange suit,” Parker said.

Poole College also held an Etiquette Dinner last fall, providing students another opportunity to build their professional image. This is the second year that the college’s undergraduate career staff have offered programs to help students present a professional image during career and internship fairs.