Grand Opening for Career Closet, Oct. 3
September 21, 2019
Contact: Office of Government and Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
The University of Baltimore Career and Internship Center's Career Closet—a place where students and alumni can select from gently used professional clothing and accessories to complete their look for that all-important job interview—will receive its official grand opening event on Thursday, Oct. 3 beginning at 11:30 a.m. in Room 306 in the UB Student Center, 21 W. Mt. Royal Ave. Immediately after the ceremony, the CIC will host an open house from noon to 3 p.m. in the same suite. The ceremony and open house will showcase the newly designated space where the UB community can access professional attire at no cost. An R.S.V.P. is requested; details are listed below.
CIC Director Lakeisha Mathews describes the UB Career Closet as "a student success and retention service that aims to help students enhance their employability and increase access to jobs and gainful employment opportunities."
"The Career Closet addresses the financial challenges that many college students face, decreasing the pressure to purchase professional attire which is needed to succeed at interviewing, participating in internships, and launching a career,” Mathews says.
The UB Career & Internship Center implemented the first Career Closet Pop-up Shop for UB students in October 2018. The organization of the original shop included a donation drive to collect gently used clothing from internal and external constituents, followed by efforts to provide UB students with a retail-like experience in acquiring interview attire. Last year, the Career Closet received 915 clothing donations; to date, 151 students have benefited from the services provided at the temporary pop-ups.
The response to this first iteration of the Career Closet was positive. Subsequently, UB students began to seek out similar professional wear throughout the entire academic year. This need, Mathews says, prompted CIC staff to consider opening up a permanent Career Closet. In spring 2019, the center, along with the Office of Institutional Advancement, launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise $5,000 towards start-up costs for a permanent Career Closet. To date, approximately $1,000 has been raised to support this new service.
Donations are steadily pouring into the CIC, and with the current funds raised the CIC has announced that the Career Closet will open officially in October 2019 as a permanent service for UB students. The benefits of a steady Career Closet are numerous: easier access; more connections for UB students with CIC's employability services; increased assurances that students are interview ready; and opportunities to engage internal and external supporters in the success of UB students.
To R.S.V.P. for this event, go here.
Learn more about the University of Baltimore's Career and Internship Center.