PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) -WVU Parkersburg hosted its first-ever Dress to Success fashion show in the multi-purpose room.
WVUP President Dr. Torie Jackson said the goal of the event was to remind students how to dress appropriately as they prepare to enter the workforce.
“Our career services team is really engaging with students and wanting to make sure that they understand the importance of utilizing their services before they go out for an interview,” Jackson said. “Whether it is just coming in to get resume help or a mock interview, just preparing their presentation for their portfolio, or whatever it may be. It’s also important that they dress correctly. So, we wanted to give them an opportunity to see both good examples and bad examples from the people that they’re used to seeing every day.”
The fashion show is also helping promote the second annual Reverse Career Fair at WVU Parkersburg, scheduled for April 9.
“That’s where we invite the community to come in, and our students will be set up with booths and information about themselves,” Jackson said. “Normally a job fair would be the companies are set up and the students browse around it, this is the opposite.”
WVUP staff members participated in the fashion show, and cosmetology students assisted with hair and makeup.
Students who attended said the show helped them understand how professional dress can look different depending on the industry and job setting.
“I’m in the agriculture field, so it really taught me that I do need to wear the PPE and that it is proper,” said Charlotte Daniels And there is a reason to wear it and not to dress crazy like John.”
“Especially a lot more formal events, like where you’re in a business office setting, definitely wear more suits and ties,” added Carter Crihfield. “In a construction job, you would wear a lot less, but something that’s safe and have your proper PPE.”
Jackson said the show was designed to help students understand what to wear—and what not to wear—when meeting future employers after they finish college.
“Professionalism for skilled trades is a little bit different than the professionalism of a teacher or a nurse,” Jackson said. “They have the opportunity to see that there is a way to be professional in each one of those fields. And so I think that’s an important skill for our students to know because we want to make sure that when they go and represent WVUP and themselves that they’re representing best of both.”
“It shows responsibility, it shows determination for the job that you’re wanting, and it shows that you’re putting in the ethic and the work ethic to show up and to dress appropriate,” Crihfield said.
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