Choosing what to wear to an interview or professional event may seem like a trivial task to decide, but from experience, I can tell you it’s not.

I have two interviews scheduled in the next two weeks, and it is necessarythat I go shopping for business clothes for those interviews. I had a mock trial invitational this past weekend, and I realized two things during my trials. 1, there’s a hole in my only professional dress, and 2, there’s a hole in my suit pants. I spent all of my trials trying to make sure that my back wasn’t facing the judges and I stood in a way that the holes would be concealed.

That whole fiasco could have been avoided if I had just taken a few seconds the night before or the morning of to inspect my outfits. Unfortunately, I didn’t, and I was uncomfortable the entireweekend.

I digress. The point I’m trying to make is that it is important to dress professionally, so you look respectable and make a good first impression, but also so that you’re comfortable and not constantly worrying about a piece of clothing moving, or your pants being too tight.

I also recognize that buying professional clothing can be expensive. I’m a college student, working on a college student’s budget, so I understand how difficult it can be to find affordable clothing that will last you for a long time.

Still, that’s not an excuse. During my last trial, one of the attorneys on the opposing side was wearing jeans and a blazer during our round. I know it’s a mock trial, but that was just bizarre. When you walk into a professional setting, you have to look like you belong in a professional setting.

So, where can you go to get cheap clothing? Well, the Career Center offers you a better alternative- free clothing! On Thursday, March 30th, and Friday, March 31st, the Career Center is hosting its annual UMBC Suits You! You can stop by Harbor Hall and select a few business attire pieces for yourself, absolutely free! We want you to be and look confident when you walk into a professional event, so we make sure all the clothing we offer you looks great!

Deciding what you want to wear to an interview may seem like a simple enough task, but it’s still important to try your outfit on before you get ready to leave. You can make sure you’re comfortable and that everything fits properly. Interviews are nerve wracking enough; you don’t need to add on being worried about what you look like.

Are you a graduate student interested in working with the Department of Student Affairs during the semester? Check out Graduate Assistant Preview Day on March 9th, from 4 PM to 6 PM in UC 310!

This is your opportunity to learn about graduate assistantships and graduate hourly employment positions in the  Division of Student Affairs for the 2017- 2018 school year.

These opportunities give graduate students the chance to work closely with faculty members and undergraduate students while teaching or researching. This is your chance to apply what you’ve learned throughout your school years and teach it to students, or conduct further research. You can hone and enhance your research skills in an educational setting, or work on your teaching skills in college level classes.

Graduate assistantships also receive stipends, tuition remission, and other benefits. If you’re interested check out the Preview Day on March 9th! You can talk to representatives, faculty, and other graduate assistants about any questions you may have.