Atlantic Cape Students Learn How to (and not to) Dress for Professional Success; Highlight New Campus Closet Initiative

MAYS LANDING — “Hired!” “Go Home!” “Fabulous!” “Yikes!” Dressing for success or failing to do so often will elicit such verbal or non-verbal remarks from potential employers. Thus, understanding the right way and the wrong way to dress for an important job interview is crucial.

With this in mind, Atlantic Cape Community College’s Hospitality Management Club held a Fashion Show Do’s and Don’ts featuring the college’s students and faculty in the Walter E. Edge Theatre on Monday, December 5.

Atlantic Cape students took to the stage dressed to the nines in their interview best. Suits, ties, dress shoes, coats and wrist watches made the men look the part, while the women impressed for professional success adorned in slacks, business suits, dresses, skirts and stylish shoes. The Atlantic Cape faculty members were decked out in outfits that would not be recommended for a job interview. Following a brief, faux interview, each student and faculty member were serenaded with calls for them to be “hired” or “to go home.”

“The purpose of the fashion show is to create a fun and educational way to emphasize the importance of dressing for success,” said Hospitality Management Club Advisor and Professor Jeanine DiNardo, who encourages self-expression from her trendy students. “Though I remind them that careers in the hospitality industry must match their trendy personalities.”

The evening also highlighted the Hospitality Management Club’s new Campus Closet at Atlantic Cape initiative, which offers donated lightly-worn men’s and women’s business attire to students needing an outfit for an interview with a potential employer.

“This is a place where students will have the opportunity to have clothing that is suitable for an interview and business meeting,” said Academy of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Interim Director Chef Joseph Sheridan. “The Campus Closet is another example of Atlantic Cape’s students and our community serving the community at-large.”

The Campus Closet was recently created to provide clothing and shoes to students currently enrolled at Atlantic Cape who may be in need of casual business attire for professional interviews, class presentations, events and various college-related activities. Educating students on why they should always dress to impress was Sheridan’s message on this night.

“Looking good boosts your self-confidence, it gives a good first impression, and you will stand out and be seen as a person of high character,” Sheridan said. “No one ever regrets being the best dressed person in the room.”

The Campus Closet is accepting donations for gently-used men’s and women’s casual business attire. For more information on how and where to donate, contact The Campus Closet at thecampuscloset@atlanticcape.edu.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape is a comprehensive two-year community college serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. The college offers over 40 career, transfer and workforce development programs to more than 8,000 students annually at three campuses in New Jersey: Atlantic City, Cape May Court House and Mays Landing.