The Associated Students of Northern Michigan University kicked off the Seconds to Success Career Closet program with the grand opening events Monday, Oct. 6 in the University Center. This program will continue throughout the year. It offers new and gently used dress clothes and other services to NMU students to promote best practices for interviews and future career skills.

Sophomore nursing major Wesley Hoppe attended the grand opening by the recommendation of his friend Spencer Deering, ASNMU on-campus apartments representative and chair of student affairs.

“It’s a very useful tool to have for us students in order to help us transition into the professional work environment, and that’s something that I don’t think we get enough of here,” Hoppe said. Hoppe also said the Career Closet saved him money by providing nearly an entire professional outfit for free. “It’s like a one-stop shop,” Hoppe said.

Katerina Klawes, ASNMU president, said the event was started to provide NMU students with professional clothing for interviews. The skills presented at the event provide NMU students the opportunity to understand the importance of professionalism and learn how to stand out in today’s competitive job market.

“It could help them secure their dream job and give them the skills they will use the rest of their lives while in the workforce,” Klawes said.

The grand opening also included a workshop by the financial aid office regarding how and when to begin repaying student loans, a job interview preparation session by Career Services and a tutorial on how to tie a tie, professional headshots and tips for dressing for success by ASNMU.

Shear Joy, the NMU cosmetology volunteer organization was also present at the event. Senior cosmetology student and Shear Joy president, Meagen Drummond, said the organization offered individual consultations on how to wear hair and makeup for an interview, how to cover a tattoo and styling for the headshots.

They also offered any student that visited the organization during the event a voucher for a complimentary haircut at the student salon in the Jacobetti Center. Drummond said the organization booked over 20 appointments for the next few weeks at the event.

“I hope to see this event get bigger and better every year because in high school they don’t teach you these really important skills,” Drummond said. “I think a lot of us are getting ready to graduate and it’s becoming a reality. I think this offers a really good cushion for students to feel prepared.”

The Seconds to Success Career Closet was created by ASNMU with help from the NMU Alumni Association. According to Klawes, the clothing was donated by alumni, staff and community members.

“The Fall Job Fair is a short two days after the grand opening, which was done purposefully to ensure that all students had the necessary items and skills to be successful in finding a job,” Klawes said.

The Career Closet will be open four hours per week throughout the school year, said Klawes. It is stocked with professional dress clothes and resources from offices like Career Services. It will be open Tuesdays from 5-7 p.m. and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. in Room 2204 in the University Center.