Career Services introduces professional closet for students

The Career Services at Oklahoma Christian University recently launched a free professional clothing closet for students to utilize.

Charlotte Hamil, the director of Career Services, said other universities offering a closet inspired her. 

“The professional clothing closet was something I had seen done at K-State and thought could be a considerable way to help our students as well,” Hamil said. “I thought about students who might not have a car to drive to buy professional items, perhaps even lack funds, or were on a time crunch. I just wanted to offer a way to help all situations which may arise.”

After the initial spark of inspiration, Hamil said her personal connection to a close friend helped begin the closet’s formation. 

“I had just started my position in mid-December, and it was on my list of things to add, but I wasn’t sure, being so new to the area, if I could get enough donations to fill it. I had lunch with a new friend and told her my idea,” Hamil said. “She thought it would be a great addition and hoped something like this would happen. She then told me once I got it going to let her know and she would gather donations from her company. The rest is history. Becky Heilman and CEC were a huge help, as well as our faculty and staff, Alumni, and Memorial Road Church of Christ.”

While the closet is free, Hamil said there is a point system to help students develop professionally while also gaining access to professional clothing.

“Every student gets one free outfit to begin with. They can schedule an appointment on Handshake to visit the closet. Then, after the initial outfit, they can earn points by attending career services events, career fairs, completing their resume, etc. We have a points system in place,” Hamil said. “It’s a great way to learn more about professional development and be rewarded with the clothing you need for your future career or internship.”

Junior Houston Goff is one of the first students to utilize the closet, which he said he first heard about from the weekly student announcements email. 

“I heard about [the closet] from the student announcements, and I heard some more information from some of my business friends,” Goff said. “I just started up my secondary major of accounting, and I decided before this semester, I needed to get a suit so I can be more presentable for events like the Career Fair and potential interviews in the future.”

In addition to using the closet for his own needs, Goff said this resource could help other students who are worried about the expense of professional wear. 

“I think this gives students a way to get their first steps into starting their professional careers by giving them a way to be more presentable without costing them a lot of money. My biggest concern was my limited amount of spending money I have for this semester and having to get real business clothes which would have cost more than I could afford, and I know some other students are probably in the same boat,” Goff said. 

While the collection has only recently started to grow with generous donations, Hamil said it already has a wide variety of the attire a student may need.

“The Professional Clothing Closet is a valuable resource for students, providing access to quality attire suitable for interviews, career fairs, networking events, and professional development opportunities. We understand presenting yourself professionally is key to making a positive impression, and we want to ensure all students have the attire they need to navigate the professional world confidently,” Hamil said. “Our collection includes a variety of business attire, such as suits, blazers, dress shirts, skirts, dresses, shoes, and accessories. We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to dress for success and proudly showcase their professionalism.”

Major Gifts Officer Amanda Noblin, who helped start a fashion Instagram page for Oklahoma Christian with Hamil, said dressing well is a way to communicate something valuable to others. 

“Dressing well, whether professionally or casually, communicates to others that you want to present the best version of yourself in all situations. You really create your own brand by what you wear, and sometimes it communicates more about you than even your words do,” Noblin said. “Whether in professional settings, going to Church or just hanging out in the Brew, dressing well gives us the opportunity to encourage others and glorify God.”
Students interested in the professional-wear closet can book an appointment through Handshake.