Muhlenberg’s Career Center underwent extensive remodelling four years ago, creating a much more robust presence on campus. The Career Center’s website shares that it offers “free resources to search for internships, jobs, explore careers, network with Muhlenberg alumni and much more!”
On Sunday, Feb. 9, the Career Center participated in an event entitled “Suit-Up” hosted by the JCPenney at the Lehigh Valley Mall, where local college students could receive up to 60% off on business attire upon presenting their Student I.D. Additionally, the Sephora inside the JCPenney offered free make-overs, and the salon offered free hair consultations.
Ryan Smolko, Assistant Director of the Career Center and the campus contact for the event, says, “I think one of the biggest things is when you’re going through the process of applying for an internship or a job and you do all that work and you finally get to the point of getting an interview, a lot of the time clothing might be something that you didn’t necessarily think about. And, if you’re geographically far away from home, it’s tough to get stuff fast. And then comes the cost factor. When you’re thinking about everything that goes into [the] internship and job search, cost is a factor. And to be able to get some basic professional clothing for anywhere from 60 to 90 percent off is pretty nice.”
“When you’re thinking about everything that goes into [the] internship and job search, cost is a factor. And to be able to get some basic professional clothing for anywhere from 60 to 90 percent off is pretty nice.”
Joseph Marcacci ‘23, who was wearing a suit he purchased at the event when he was interviewed by The Weekly, expressed the value of a reduction in cost for college students, saying, “We all have a lot of financial troubles no matter who you are going to college. And so something that’s going to really benefit me in the future, especially like with this suit that I’m wearing right now, I’m going to have it for a while. And so, yeah, I think it’s really beneficial, especially for people that are coming from households that are not as fortunate.”
“I got a suit, a tie and shoes for literally $130 … this suit was like 70 percent off from its original price. So I actually got a good suit for a really, really good price,” said Marcacci. He added that he would not attend this same event again, saying, “I don’t need another suit, but another event where they’re lowering prices for college students, depending on what it is, definitely.”
Smolko added that in the past the Career Center has tried to provide professional attire for students, saying, “A couple of years ago, we used to have a professional clothing closet where students could come and get stuff, but it was one of those things where it was tough to maintain. It took a lot of space, it was a little bit of a hodgepodge.”
An event like this was a first for ‘Berg, and the Career Center plans to continue offering opportunities like this one to students. Smolko says, “This was something that JCPenney has started in the past two years. And it’s something that we will continue to participate in every semester.”
“I’m getting stuff off and this is sponsored by my college puts it in a really good light and I’m really glad it happened”
Of the future, Smolko says, “We’ll be advertising and probably doing a little bit more robust transportation offering in the future and really trying to target underclassmen in that as well, like residential services, student activities, things like that.”
Marcacci said of the event, “Yeah, this was actually really helpful. And I’m really glad this came up. And just … knowing that, oh, I’m getting stuff off and this is sponsored by my college puts it in a really good light and I’m really glad it happened.”
