Approach and appearance are both key to success in the business world. It helps if one can look the part and act the part. But it’s tough to pull off both ends when you’re a broke college student.
Students line up for the “Suit Up” event Sunday, Sept. 9 at the JCPenney store in Okemos
The Eli Broad College of Business is doing its part to fill students’ brains with knowledge and then give them the confidence in expressing their smarts through professional, well-fitted suits in the college’s first-ever “Suit Up” event.
The event, facilitated by the Broad College Career Management Department, was hosted by JCPenney at the Meridian Mall in Okemos on Sunday, Sept. 9.
During a three-hour window that day, any MSU student was able to get a 40 percent discount on professional attire with an MSU ID card. The turnout demonstrated the need.
“With no prior history, we were expecting 250–300 students, but we ended up with 433,” said Tony Mara, senior associate director of the Broad College Graduate Career Center. “It was scheduled for 6–9 p.m., but students started lining up at about 5:30 and some were shopping until well past 9.”
Students are greeted at the “Suit Up” event Sunday, Sept. 9, at the JCPenney store in Okemos
“It was common to see students with armloads and sometimes carts full of clothing,” Mara said. “We hope new career attire helps students with upcoming career fairs and interviews.”
Mara said Broad College partnered with JCPenney “because they have successfully offered this event to other universities around the country.”
The event was just ahead of the Fall Career Days: Careers in Business event (formerly known as the Career Gallery) at the Breslin Student Center 4–7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, at which students and employers will meet and greet one another in search of the right internship and first job fits.
To prepare Broad Spartans for that event, the college will hold “Career Fair Crash Course: Practice with the Professionals” 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. each day Monday–Wednesday, Sept. 24–26, in the first floor hallway of the Business College Complex.
The mock career fair will give students a chance to hone their skills with professionals before the main event. Students can register for the event on Handshake.
