The door is open to the Career Closet

Clark’s newest campus outreach project, the Career Closet, is all about helping students succeed — and look the part.

The Career Closet provides free professional attire to students through a collaboration between the Clark Community Thrift Store and the Career Connections Center (CCC). A rack of blouses, slacks, dresses, and more will be available at the thrift store following a launch event in the Alumni and Student Engagement Center (ASEC) lobby from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19. Students can get a LinkedIn headshot taken at the event by photographer Natalie Hoang ’25.

The initiative was designed to improve the career trajectory and confidence of Clark students as they prepare for interviews, internships, and job fairs.

“This project makes it less painful for students to go through the process of shopping for professional attire, especially given how expensive it is,” says Sawsan Berjawi, senior associate director of operations and communications at the CCC. “This initiative helps address this gap between students’ needs and resources and provides them the opportunity to acquire the clothing that they need right on campus.”

The CCC and Thrift Store held drives to collect lightly used clothing from Clark employees. They’ve been working diligently to sort the wares for the launch.

The Thrift Store opened in 2011 and serves both Clark students and the Main South community, providing a sustainable and affordable option to buy gently used clothing and student-made items. The store is part of the School of Business’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation program.

“It’s nice to be able to put a more formal spin on an outfit. That’s something that people may not have the budget for, though,” says Henry Reyes ’23, M.S. ’24, an assistant program manager for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “It’s good to have a targeted effort to collect this clothing for those who need it and provide the ability to shop affordably in person. It’s very full circle.”

After the launch event, the Career Closet will be open during regular Thrift Store hours, Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The CCC and store will continue to hold clothing drives to keep the closet full for students.

“The Career Closet is here to support students,” says Berjawi, who is also a professor of Arabic studies in the Department of Language, Literature, and Culture. “Students are the bottom line for us, as is ensuring that they have what they need to succeed professionally. It is all about creating an inclusive environment where all students have equal access to opportunities.”