Career Development invites students to "Dress for Success"

A&M-Commerce's Office of Career Development hosted their third annual Dress for Success Fashion Show.

Held throughout the spring and fall semesters, the show began in the spring of 2009 and was the idea of Director of Career Development Tina Boitnott. The purpose of the show is to educate students on how to "dress for success," by offering examples of what to wear and what not to wear to job interviews and within the workplace.

"Everyone has their own concept of what is considered appropriate to wear to an interview or at a job," Boitnott said. "I feel like the fashion show is helpful because we all learn and interpret things differently, so to see what is right and wrong visually helps."

The fashion show consisted of three categories: business professional, which had examples of what to wear to an interview or a job fair; business casual, which had examples of what to wear once hired; and what not to wear, which showcased examples of outfits appropriate for weekend wear.

Belk in Rockwall donated all of the clothes worn by the models. Six students and one employee, three young women and four young men, modeled in the show.

A&M-Commerce junior Carla Montanares participated in the show as a student model, and discussed the importance of showing students appropriate workplace attire.

"I feel like a lot of students and job applicants don't know exactly what to wear to an interview or at a job," she said. "These events help them in the professional world so they don't make fools of themselves."

Career Development Coordinator Gregory Sherley emphasized the importance of the fit of clothing in each of the models.

"Before you buy something walk around and sit in it," Sherley said. "What fits standing up, might not fit sitting down, and you don't want to be in the middle of an interview and have your pants rip."

Career Development hosts different workshops throughout the spring and fall semesters that provide students with the fundamentals needed to survive in a competitive job market.

Aside from the fashion show, events include a job fair workshop, a resume workshop, business etiquette dinner, groundhog job shadow day, and mock interviews.

A complete list of workshops, including dates, is available in the Career Development office, and on the university's website. Individuals interested in these workshops can sign up in the Career Development office or online through Lion Tracks.

For more information on Career Development or upcoming workshops, contact Director of Career Development Tina Boitnott at Tina_Boitnott@tamu-commerce.edu.