Exciting news from the Purdue University Center for Career Opportunities Career Closet!

Nestled within Purdue University's Center for Career Opportunities, the Career Closet stands as a vital resource, offering a valuable and complimentary service to all Boilermakers. The Career Closet ensures that students in need have access to appropriate, professional clothing for crucial occasions such as job interviews and career fairs. Stephen Roach, the Interim Director of the Center for Career Opportunities, described the Career Closet as “a transformational and timely service that has helped numerous Boilermakers. It overcomes the practical issue of what to wear to a career fair, even for those who visit on the day of the event!”

The popularity of the service among thousands of students has led to a soaring demand for attire, sometimes surpassing the available donations. In a positive development, the Purdue CCO Career Closet has recently formed a partnership with Millie's Thrift Stores, now recognized as its official sponsor. This collaboration guarantees a well-stocked closet with diverse clothing options, all available at no cost to the students.

Stephen Leitch, a Clinical Professor at Purdue who sits on the board for Millie’s Thrift Stores said that “Millie’s, as a federally recognized public charity, has been serving the Lafayette community for over 40 years. Our mission is to support education within Indiana. Our work is mainly focused on K-12 but see the opportunity to help Purdue students as a very important and complementary part of our mission. We are just thrilled to be able to make a difference in a Boilermakers life by helping them in their professional development by ensuring they feel confident going into a job interview, career fair and other professional events. If that gives them the boost, they need to be successful, we know that the work we do will make a difference.”

(picture provided by Millie's Thrift Store of their south side location)

This sponsorship will have a positive impact on both the Center for Career Opportunities and the students they serve. When asked about the sponsorship, Career Closet Coordinator Kristin Dill said, “not only will this help the Career Closet better serve the Purdue population, but students will be more likely to walk away with attire they can feel comfortable and confident in for that next career fair or interview.”

The Career Closet offers students the opportunity to find a completed professional outfit appropriate for career fairs of interviews for those who do not have access to professional attire. Students who have an appointment with the closet are allowed up to one outfit per academic year at no cost. The best part? It’s theirs to keep. With the click of a button, making an appointment through BoilerConnect is the first step for students to walk into their next professional situation feeling confident and prepared.

Since the Career Closet’s establishment in September of 2014, the CCO has made it a priority to help provide equal opportunity to resources for those who are under-supported and in need across campus. The CCO can now benefit the professional journeys of countless students through the generous – and fashionable – support of Millie’s Thrift Stores. If you find yourself in need of a blazer, a sleek tie, or even an entire professional outfit, the CCO Career Closet is here for you.

Want to learn more about the career closet? See our previous blog post!