A new pop-up store at Brandon University this week helped dress students for success by providing free professional outfits and a stylist.
Michelle Williams-Joel, a third-year student in political science at the southwestern Manitoba university, says it’s hard getting the right clothes to feel interview-ready.
She worked with a stylist at the Confidence Closet, Brandon U’s free pop-up, to help capture her “casual corporate kind of girl” vibe, she said.
“I don’t have to overthink about trying to look for something to get … going to the work life,” Williams-Joel said.
The university hosted the pop-up Friday, which organizers say will help students tackle the high cost of work outfits while also promoting sustainable shopping.
Brandon University co-operative education co-ordinator Cora Dupuis says finding the right clothes can be a ‘game-changer’ when job hunting. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)
Brandon University co-operative education co-ordinator Cora Dupuis says helping students find clothes is part of getting them ready to enter the workforce.
Clothes “can be a game-changer” that signal to employers someone is a contender for a position, she said, while also boosting the student’s confidence.
“They help shift our mindset and help us step into our new professional identities,” Dupuis said. “It signals to yourself that you’re ready to take it on.”
Helping students find their professional style is part of a bigger picture when it comes to job hunting. They’ll also be able to wear their new threads at a student-industry event in a couple weeks.
This is the first time Brandon University has hosted an event like this.
Faculty of education field experience director Shawna Philpott, who helped Dupuis bring the Confidence Closet to Brandon University, says it was inspired by conversations with students around professionalism and what to expect.
Shawna Philpott, the director of field experience with the university’s faculty of education, says Confidence Closet organizers wanted to help students while promoting sustainability. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)
Students in demanding programs may not be able to hold paid jobs, making it hard to afford the clothing items they need, Philpott said.
The organizers put out a call for clothing donations, collecting 900 pieces for the pop-up.
“We all remember what it’s like to be a student, and in these economic times, it’s really hard out there,” Philpott said.
“We hope for them that they’re able to have clothing that really represents them … [to] make them feel their most confident,” and ready for their next professional experience, she said.
Building confidence and sustainability
The pop-up also aims to help remove the stigma around thrifting and finding gently used pieces, Philpott said.
“I think students are also respecting that when we are getting these pieces from gently used spaces that we’re able to remove them from the landfill,” she said.
Stylist Shae Worthington says the pop-up shows professional clothes can be found at a good price. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)
Stylist Shae Worthington, who runs the Hippie Thrift retail store in Brandon, helped curate clothes and give students a hand to pick the colours, patterns and shapes that look best for them.
The pop-up was an important part of community involvement, while also supporting sustainability, said Worthington.
“Most people going into the professional world just shop retail,” she said.
“If we can kind of show them what’s out there and what’s at thrift stores or second-hand, then they might be more inclined to go thrifting for their professional wear.”
Stacey Dunning, a third-year biology student, is getting ready for job interviews, but mainly has casual clothes.
The Confidence Closest was a great opportunity to update her wardrobe and get ready to job hunt, she said.
“You want to not only stay true to yourself, but you want to be professional in the field that you’re applying into,” said Dunning.
Brandon University third-year student Stacey Dunning says dressing for success is an important part of feeling confident in job interviews. (Chelsea Kemp/CBC)
“It’s always instilled in us that first impressions are very important. So if you present your best look … [you]re] going to feel more confident in your answers that you give in interviews.”
Dunning said there was a buzz around campus in the lead up to the Confidence Closest, describing it as a sense of relief to have a place to help students look and feel ready for interviews.
She walked out of the pop-up with a new outfit that captures her rural roots while showing off her professionalism.
Dunning would like to see other schools start similar initiatives to help students feel that same confidence when they start job hunting.
Organizers say they plan to host more Confidence Closets or similar events at Brandon University in the future.
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