George Washington University students attending the annual fall Career Expo will have the chance to access free professional clothing as they meet with top employers in search of internships and jobs. The Center for Career Services is partnering with the Office of Sustainability’s free clothing exchange, The Loop, to host a professional clothing drive. The Center is encouraging all members of the GW community to participate—faculty, staff, students and alumni.
Joe Genens, an industry career coach at Career Services, said the office is launching its first-ever clothing drive to make professional attire more accessible for students.
“This clothing drive is intended to get business casual or business professional clothing to students for the Career Expo,” Genens said. “Our partnership with The Loop is really focused on helping students who are facing financial barriers. Knowing how expensive things can be, we wanted to help alleviate some of those burdens.”
The clothing drive will run throughout the summer to ensure racks of professional attire are available to students attending the Career Expo.
This year’s Career Expo will be Sept. 12 in the Grand Ballroom of the University Student Center. The event connects students with employers and provides an opportunity to practice elevator pitches, hand out resumes and learn about internships and full-time job opportunities.
Genens said having access to professional clothing can make a significant impact on students’ confidence and preparedness as they speak to employers.
“I genuinely think that when somebody feels confident in the clothing they’re wearing, interpersonal interactions tend to go better,” Genens said. “They’re not distracted by wondering if they’re fitting this professional part through their clothing.”
The clothing drive is accepting donations of new or gently used professional attire, including suits, blazers, dress pants and skirts, dress shirts and blouses, dresses, ties, belts, accessories and professional shoes.
Genens said this partnership with the Office of Sustainability helps meet students’ needs while also supporting environmentally responsible practices.
“We’re supporting the students while also at the same time being able to clean out closets of things that have just been kind of languishing there,” Genens said. “And it’s a really great thing to have a campus partner who’s also excited about making sure people not only have clothes, but clothes they feel good in.”
Donations can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Center for Career Services on the fifth floor of the University Student Center. An additional donation site is available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays at The Loop in Academic Building Room 122 on the Mount Vernon Campus.
Students can register for the Career Expo and get more details about the event by visiting Handshake.
“The biggest impact these donations will have is alleviating some of the costs associated with trying to find a job and helping students feel more confident while promoting sustainability efforts,” Genens said.
