Graduating students must dress for success
By Ashley Miller Special to the Kansan
She walked into her interview at HOPENET in Wichita with confidence, heels clicking across the floor in a fast rhythm. The wrinkled jeans and untucked shirt she had worn to class that morning were gone. She was wearing the 1990s conservative, professional navy blue suit so common to job-seeking college graduates.
Meet Alison Brooks, a Wichita senior majoring in social work. She is one of 4,600 graduating seniors who will be walking down the hill in May. Like everyone else, she's looking for a job. And like everyone else, her clothes are an important part of the job search.
"There's so much to think about," Brooks said. "Employers expect you to look very professional and ready to work."
Looking mature enough to work at the prospective job is important, she said.
"I wouldn't wear something I'd wear on a date," Brooks said. "Trendy looks immature."
Terry Glenn, director of the University Placement Center, advised job-seeking graduates to go the conservative route.
"Most of them follow traditional interview dress routine," Glenn said. "That should continue to be the case."
He also said students needed to pay attention to more than their clothes. Polished shoes, neat hair and a reasonable amount of cologne or perfume are all important factors, too, he said. Women also need to be careful about how much jewelry they wear,
Local merchants say conservative attire is still the best way to go.
he said. Too much can put them at a disadvantage.
Julie Cunningham, director of the Engineering Career Services Center at the School of Engineering, agreed.
"Most of our students are pretty sophisticated." she said.
But the school gives uncertain students some tips. The services center has a notebook called "Good Looks" that pictures what students can wear for interviews. The book suggests things such as a dark suit, matching shoes, a belt and a nice trench coat.
Students need to conform to a certain degree, she said, but could show their individuality by wearing a less conservative tie or a piece of antique jewelry.
Fred Madaus, director of the Business School Placement Center, said professional dress was best. Don't wear anything too outrageous to begin with, he said.
Madaus suggested conservative clothes for both men and women. A white shirt, conservative tie and dark suit impresses employers, he said.
Patty Gehrt, an employee at Spectator's, 710 Massachusetts St., also said men and women should wear a dark suit for inter-
Women also could wear coat dresses, she said, as long as they look tailored. Women need to look professional, Gehrt said.
views.
"I wouldn't wear broomstick skirts or anything like that," she said.
But Jan Hammerschmidt, manager of Saffees Inc., 922 Massachusetts St., disagreed.
Hammerschmidt said women were looking for something besides the typical uniform of navy blue this spring. They wanted to break out of the mold, she said.
"A woman wants to look more put together and less tailored," Hammerschmidt said.
She said small prints, separates and vests paired with a suit were all hot this spring.
Mike McNellis, business manager of Eastons Ltd., 839 Massachusetts St. had a few suggestions for men this spring.
"Wear what you're comfortable wearing," he said.
Single-breasted suits in gray and navy are popular, he said. Some men wear doublebreasted suits, but the look is still a little fashion-forward for most people, McNellis said. Some also were leaning toward dark olive as a suit color, he said.
McNellis also had a few tips on what not to wear for an interview this spring.
"Don't go in with a sport coat on and don't wear white socks," he said. White socks may be a fashion statement, he said, but aren't interview material.
"And don't wear a button-down shirt with a double-breasted suit," McNellis said.
William Alix/ KANSAN
Juan Vargas, Bogota, Columbia, senior models his sharpest interview attire.
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May 2,1994 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • GRADUATION
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