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The field of career development in higher education has transformed over the past two decades. University career services went from being a primarily transactional space synonymous with resume reviews to centers that support the holistic needs of students preparing for their post-graduation plans. With this evolution came a diversification of resources available to students.
Broader socioeconomic factors also played a role in the expansion of services, as the rise in tuition and cost of living also rose for incoming students. Units across campuses moved to meet the needs of students that extended beyond the classroom. As career professionals encountered students looking for professional attire to wear to career fairs, interviews, networking events, etc., it became evident that there needed to be designated spaces on campus where students could find the necessary clothing items. Career closets emerged in answer to these needs.
In a previous role, I updated and managed a career clothes closet, and it was an extremely fulfilling experience. It means so much to make an immediate and tangible difference in a student’s journey, and the confidence that comes from obtaining professional clothing items cannot be overstated. There are several key questions to consider for programs or departments looking to introduce a new space or renovate an existing location.
Question #1: How is the space designed?
Space on a college campus can be hard to come by, and the temptation may be to find any small, available location and “make it work.” However, taking this approach does a disservice to both the career center and the students who need the resource. The Center for Career and Professional Development (CCPD) at Clemson University will be moving to its new location on campus in spring/summer 2025. Caren Kelley-Hall, senior associate director for university professional internships and manager of the Career Closet at Clemson University, notes two key factors when determining a location for a closet:
- Student accessibility: “Select a high-traffic area that is easily accessible to students.”
- Space allocation: “Ensure ample space for proper item display, inventory storage, and fitting areas.”
Kelley-Hall also noted how the new location for the CCPD at Clemson was “intentionally designed with the career clothes closet in mind, offering students a boutique-style shopping experience.” Such intentionality transforms a student’s experience with the resource.
In community service and outreach, there is the concept of “client choice“– style spaces that allow for those in need of resources to engage in a shopping experience. This approach allows them to maintain agency in what they can select and takes away negative feelings that may be associated with the interaction. Institutions should consider this when designing a career closet for students. Doing so lets the students feel empowered, rather than guilty or embarrassed, for using the resource.
Question #2: How do you make the closet inclusive?
Another point of consideration when conceptualizing a campus career closet is how inclusive it is. The space should serve all students, which means being considerate of the available size ranges, as well as gender expression and identity. An excellent example of what an inclusive closet looks like in practice is the Suit Yourself Closet at Virginia Commonwealth University.
In writing for the National Association of Colleges and Employers, Samara Reynolds and Ash Taylor-Beierl discussed how the center at VCU took proactive measures to make their offerings more inclusive. Rather than separating the clothes along a gender binary — women’s clothes in one place, men’s clothes in another — the team organized by type (shirt, pants, jackets, etc.) and indicated cuts that were masculine, feminine, and gender-neutral. The change, they explained, “gives students a chance to curate outfits based on how they want to be perceived and will feel most confident, rather than a predetermined identity others have set for them.”
Some career centers may be in places or at institutions where there may be challenges for implementing a setup similar to VCU’s. If this is the case for your unit, consider at least providing guides and resources that address the broad spectrum of student identities. For example, in addition to the physical space, the website for the Suit Yourself Closet includes style guides for students who need assistance identifying the types of items they should acquire.
Question #3: How do you build inventory for the closet?
Another important component of managing a clothes closet is how to build and maintain inventory. Career centers take various approaches to this, from applying for grants to collecting fiscal and clothing donations. Partnering with alumni offices expands the promotional reach and taps into an invested audience. Donating to the clothes closet gives alumni an easy and tangible way to give back. This creates a win-win scenario, wherein career services build their closet inventories and the alumni offices foster engagement.
However, it is important to be specific in the items you collect. “Request new or gently used professional clothing,” Kelley-Hall recommends in order to avoid the donation of random non-professional items. It is also important to review the donated items to ensure that they are not too worn or in need of additional cleaning. Teams may also want to catalog the inventory each year and remove items that seem like students will never gravitate towards. Centers want to maintain a positive impression among the students who visit the space, and keeping the inventory stocked, well-maintained, and up-to-date is important for this.
Question #4: How do you promote the closet?
One of the largest hurdles for a career clothes closet, and career resources in general, is making students aware that it exists. With each new academic year comes a new wave of students who need to be educated on everything available to them on campus. Centers should utilize their typical communication strategies — newsletters, social media, e-mails, etc. Student groups and campus partners are also an important resource not to forget. They will have additional methods to communicate with their members or departments that extend beyond the traditional reach of campus offices, such as a centralized career center.
Timing is another factor to consider when promoting the career closet resource to students. While it is available during the entire academic year, it may be beneficial to promote it heavily when signature events take place, such as career fairs or interview days. Students will be thinking more intently about how they should prepare, and many of them may be stressing about how they will find professional attire amidst their schedule and within their budgets. Realizing that a career closet exists provides immediate relief to financial stressors.
Final Thoughts
It may feel overwhelming to consider introducing or updating a career closet space on campus, but it can be transformative for students. These spaces empower students to feel confident in their next career steps, thus fulfilling the ultimate goal for career centers and practitioners.
