New career clothing closet provides professional attire for students
April 21, 2022 — When a Grinnell College student unexpectedly dropped by the Center for Careers, Life, and Service (CLS) last fall to borrow a dress shirt for a conference, it reinvigorated an effort to start a professional clothing closet.
Opened in February, the closet in the John Chrystal Center provides students with free professional attire. Any student can pick from an assortment of donated professional clothing, and the items are theirs to keep.
“Students are finding out about it, and we even had several stop in during spring break,” says Robin Bourjaily, CLS program and communications coordinator. “Students have needed clothes for job interviews, externships, and conferences. They are so thrilled when we tell them they don’t have to bring the clothes back. A couple of students have said they just needed the clothes for one day, so in those cases, they have chosen to clean and re-donate the clothes.”
The CLS Career Clothing Closet opened in February and already has a fairly wide selection of clothing items for students to choose from.
Finn Dworkin ’22 dropped by the closet recently for a quick look and walked away with some suitable professional wear. “I tried on and took a suit jacket and tie, which I plan to use for job interviews,” he says.
Clothing donations have come in from alumni, faculty and staff members, and community residents. Alumni Council member Phillip Hales ’02 has helped get the word out through GrinnellPlans, social media, and his Reunion Committee. With the inauguration of President Anne F. Harris, Commencement, Reunion 2022, and Young Alumni Weekend all occurring in May or June there are many upcoming opportunities for attendees to drop off clothes. Donations also can be mailed.
The College has made major strides in providing resources for students in how to interview and network as well as assistance in finding and obtaining internships and jobs, Hales says. The clothing closet is a natural extension.
“Depending on socio-economic circumstances, students might not have access to professional clothing,” he says. “And regardless of background, professional dress code is something that some students are not fluent in. It’s an important piece of the puzzle in terms of developing a personal brand or how you show up when you’re interviewing or your first day on the job or internship. Relative to the ethos of Grinnell, students can also utilize the clothing closet for a variety of gender non-confirming expressions. It’s a safe and confirming space in that regard.”
A number of ties are available for students for interviews, internships, career fairs, conferences, and other professional settings.
Bourjaily sees the clothing closet as the Life part of Careers, Life, and Service.
“It emboldens the careers part,” she says. “Some of our students are incredibly savvy and know exactly what to wear while some have really no idea. Either way, students don’t always have access to clothing or it’s difficult to find things like this in Grinnell on short notice.”
After the student dropped by for a dress shirt in the fall, the idea for creating a closet was discussed at a CLS meeting. Bourjaily was excited by the concept and volunteered to help. She reached out to several other college career centers to learn about their clothing donation programs.
“I was really struck by the passion of people who do it,” Bourjaily says. “It could be conceived as a hassle because you are organizing clothing, dealing with donations, and going to get stuff that won’t work. I got some good tips such as not to keep inventory. It’s not worth it. The things that have come in have been wonderful. Very few things have been unsuitable.”
The CLS asks for clothing donations in a range of sizes that are clean, new or gently used, and appropriate to wear in business formal or business casual situations. Bourjaily and student employees Beck Lambert ’25 and Sarah Wilts ’25 sort through the donations and put clothes on racks. The racks are portable so they can be taken elsewhere on campus for pop-up events.
Bourjaily says they could always use more suits in every size. Additional blazers, white shirts, and items in smaller sizes are needed as well. “We would love a donation of new dress socks,” she adds.
The Alumni Council’s Alumni Student Connections Committee, which is chaired by Hales, went to see the closet on April 8 during the Council’s spring meeting. Council members were impressed by the variety of donations and how the closet has been organized and utilized in short order.
“It’s a really easy way for alums to support students,” Hales says. “I think Grinnellians are always excited to help current students any way they can.”
— by Jeremy Shapiro