Tumaru (pictured) said that because of the Career Closet, she felt more confident for her internship interview. (Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm)

A new service through Vancouver Island University’s Career Studio is helping students dress for success for interviews, events and presentations.

University can be a busy time as students prepare to enter the workforce, and the Career Closet is helping VIU students worry about one less thing.

Whether it’s for a work-experience interview or networking at a career fair, VIU students can access free, gently used professional attire that will help them look and feel their best.

The idea for the closest came from a former Master of Business Administration (MBA) student who interned at the Career Studio and saw a large number of students struggling to find affordable professional attire.

Peggy Janssens then stepped into the role of a career peer at the Career Studio and focused on bringing the idea of the closet to life.

As an MBA student herself, Janssens said she understands the importance of first impressions.

“Building a personal brand is a very important topic, and it's not only about how you show up on social media like LinkedIn or Instagram,” Janssens said. “But it's basically how you show up with every single interview, with every single opportunity that you have to build relationships.”

The career closest features various styles and fits of blazers, suits, and dress shirts; skirts, dress pants and dresses; as well as shoes, accessories, and personal care kits.

The clothing isn’t for loan; students can pick up to one full outfit per visit and keep it.

Peggy Janssens (left) and Danielle Johnsrude (right) showing off the the Career Closet inside building 255. (Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm)

“It is expensive if you're going to go and have a look and buy a new blazer jacket. People charge $150 to $200 bucks. I mean, that's a lot of money. The donations we're getting are very high quality, which is really nice,” Janssens said. “I've seen students come in, and they put on a really nice jacket, and you just see the smile on their face, and it's like ‘hey, this looks really nice. It feels really good.’ So, I think that's the most important reason why we do it.”

Kirsten Tumaru, a fourth-year kinesiology student, used the career closet to find an outfit for an important interview for her internship.

“I'm pretty thrifty, and as all students are, kind of on a strict budget,” Tumaru said. “So learning about the Career Closet and how they're basically bypassing that problem of having to shell out money and build your own wardrobe from your own pocket. I really liked that you could come in and basically do shopping, grab anything you need, and you didn't have to pay a cent.”

Tumaru said that because of the Career Closet, she felt more confident for her internship interview.

“I always come to my interviews feeling prepared and my best, but now I also get the opportunity to look my best without spending my money, which is pretty neat,” Tumaru said.

Tumaru said she is now celebrating receiving the internship and is excited to start it in the spring.

Danielle Johnsrude, director for the Center for Experiential Learning and Student Engagement, oversees the Career Studio.

She told CHLY that all the clothes in the career closet are donations from the broader community, as well as VIU staff, faculty, and students.

“We've seen involvement from the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce and other organizations in town that are actually collecting donations for us,” Johnsrude said. “It speaks to, as a university, we're part of a community, and the community is supporting our students transitioning into the workplace, and I think that is wonderful, because we exist here to support our local economy and to support our local needs on the island.”

Clothing donations can be dropped off at building 255 at the Nanaimo campus of Vancouver Island University, or by emailing careerstudio@viu.ca to arrange a drop-off.

Johnsrude said that, in addition to clothing donations, they also accept monetary donations to purchase items, ensuring all sizes and styles are represented in the closet.

She said the closet was first established with seed money from the VIU Foundation Access Fund. As part of Giving Tuesday on December 2nd of this year, the VIU Foundation is raising funds to support the Career Closet and the Career Studio’s other work.

“So every dollar is matched, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000; we have something called the Career Studio Fund,” Johnsrude said. “So monies that want to be donated directly to the closet can go through the Career Studio Fund, and we would use it to add items into the closet, new items, as well as the personal care–or confidence kits that Peggy calls them into that space, in addition to other things that we operate at the Career Studio.”

Monetary donations for Giving Tuesday can be made at giving.viu.ca/giving-tuesday.

Students can book an appointment for the Career Closet through the Student Employment Experience Hub.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.