A career closet pop-up style event is coming to Madison College for degree students on the Fort Atkinson, Watertown, Reedsburg, Portage, South and Truax campus at the beginning of October.

Once a semester, degree students will be able to get up to four items of clothing for networking, interviewing and working with employers. 

All of the clothing is to be kept and “It’s meant to provide students a way to visually put their best self forward, and boost their confidence, when interacting with employers,” said Career and Employment advisor Nina Catterall.

Students are often on tight budgets, and it can be difficult for some to afford the extra cost for proper clothing for their career.

Catterall saw career closets at other college campuses and thought it would be great to implement at Madison College.

“Given the findings from the food insecurity survey, and after talking with the Student Senate president, I determined there was definitely a need for a professional clothing service,” Catterall said.

Madison College’s Pop-up Career Closet shop will be one of the more unique shops, being mobile and traveling districtwide. Catterall said “I think the pop-up closet will be a great opportunity for our students to feel better prepared for interacting with employers and securing employment in their career fields.”

This is a donation-based effort. Pop-up Career Closet will accept anything that is either new or like-new business attire. The attire does not only consist of dresses, dress pants and dress shirts, but also things such as welding aprons.

Donations can be dropped off at the Truax Campus Career and Employment Services office, located in Room D1624.