Suiting Up for Job Interviews
 When Elizabeth Masuhr ’05 started the job-hunting process, figuring out what to wear to the interviews was stressful.
Since she’d worked previously in offices that had casual dress codes, “interviewing in a formal environment was a big change,” says Masuhr, an American studies major from Ocean, N.J.
Recognizing that most undergraduates don’t have a wardrobe full of business attire, the Office of Career Development (OCD) started the Suitable Suits program in January 2004 to help students like Masuhr, says Cara Smith, associate director of internship programs.
Using a grant from Goldman Sachs Inc., career development staff members purchased 21 black suits from Casual Corner. “Anyone can wear black,” Smith says. The suits, available in sizes 0 through 16, consist of a skirt, a long and a short jacket, and a pair of pants. Students can borrow a suit for up to a week, and sign a contract stating that they will have it cleaned before returning it. So far, about 75 students have borrowed suits to wear not only to job interviews, but also to career fairs, networking events, and graduate school interviews.
As Kim Barberich ’92, associate director of programs for senior year, points out, “We help students to prepare résumés and cover letters, and to be ready for interviews. So if we’re going to tell them, ‘Wear a suit,’ we can’t expect them all to purchase suits.” Providing them with a suit “is something our office wants to help them with as well.” The OCD also offers seniors a set of 50 business cards for $5.
Being able to borrow a suit has certainly helped Masuhr.
“I was so grateful to have the closet full of suits just waiting for me on campus,” she says. “The program is fantastic, especially for students who know they are going to need a suit only once or twice for an interview.”
For more wardrobe tips, check out www.barnard.edu/ocd/dress/home.htm.
—Merri Rosenberg ’78
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