Dress for success: New Career Closet aims to up students' professional game

Heidelberg students now have access to a new resource designed to help them dress for success.

The Career Closet – located in the HYPE Career Ready® and Placement Office on the second floor of Beeghly Library – was once just a closet but has been transformed into a fully stocked collection of professional attire.

Last year, the HYPE team of Dr. Carole Thomas and Kristen Snyder recognized a need among students for professional clothing and began collecting donations. Their goal was to ensure that students had access to business attire for job interviews, internships, and new careers. The Career Closet now offers everything from suit jackets and dress shirts to shoes and accessories, all available for students to borrow or keep.

The idea for the Career Closet was sparked when Enactus students struggled to find appropriate attire for their annual conference. “There had been talk about it for a while,” said Carole. After relocating the HYPE Office to the library, she and Kristen saw the perfect opportunity to bring the idea to life.

Since then, donations have filled an entire closet and half of another. The collection includes jackets, shirts, belts, shoes, socks, and accessories for men and women. To ensure quality, the Career Closet partners with a Fremont dry cleaner to ensure the clothing donations are clean, fresh and ready for students to take home. 

“I see this as a way for alumni to give back to the institution,” said Kristen, by allowing former students to donate the very clothes that helped them start their own careers, passing them along to support the next generation of professionals.

The Career Closet is open to all students, regardless of gender or size. Whether someone needs just one piece or a full outfit, they can walk in whenever the HYPE Office is open and find the right fit. The goal is to remove financial barriers and ensure every Heidelberg student has access to professional attire, Kristen said.

A great introduction to professional dress is the HYPE Networking Reception and Etiquette Dinner, where students can learn about workplace expectations while dressed in their new business attire.

Donations are always welcome, and contributions can be dropped off at the HYPE office. The Career Closet is still growing, and items such as hair accessories, undershirts, and men’s dress shoes are especially needed.

Looking ahead, the hope is that every Heidelberg student will own at least one professional outfit. They also envision a dedicated space where students can browse and shop with ease.

Later this semester, HYPE will host an open house where students can explore the Career Closet, get cover letters and resumes reviewed, and ask career-related questions.

“The HYPE Career Ready® and Placement Office is here to help you as a student… in your internship, work, and beyond,” said Kristen. 

– by Kaidan Mathias ’25