At some point in our lives, we will all need a professional wardrobe. That can range from dress pants to blazers. Sometimes, professional wear can be expensive and hard to find on a budget. However, there are many tips and tools for styling your ideal wardrobe on a budget.
1. Look for Companies Who Offer Discounts
This time of the year, many career fairs, interviews, internship seeking, etc. are taking place. Most of us freeze at the idea of having to prepare so much for these fairs or interviews. Especially, when thinking about professional attire that we plan on wearing. Some of this stress may stem from financial concerns surrounding a professional wardrobe. Fortunately, JCPenney has offered an opportunity to get career and professional items at a great price. They have offered an extra 30% discount to ALL Purdue students on the career and professional categories.
2. Figure Out What You Like Then Find the Best Price
Shopping on websites or in stores for professional dress, there are a variety of products to select from. If you take advantage of the JCPenney event, there is essential professional ware. They have all professional clothing pieces. To start this process of searching for the outfit that best suits you, you must figure out what you like. From what colors to size to style, it is important to find pieces of clothing that fit you best. Once you figure out what you are looking for, you can then find the best price for those items. Giving yourself enough time to try things on before a career fair or an interview you have is important and makes you more prepared.
3. Invest in Key Pieces
Finding key, high-quality pieces to bring your business outfit together will be most useful. These key pieces include, blazers, dress shirts, skirts/pants, dress shoes, ties, and maybe even dresses. As mentioned above, it is essential to find what is most fitting for you. Maybe you want to invest in a dress with some close-toed dress shoes or you want to invest in an entire suit with a tie and nice dress shoes with socks that match the color of your shoes. Either of these routes work, and it is your choice to decide what you believe suits you and what you like. You are then able to start investing in higher quality pieces that you can wear in multiple interview situations. It is important to get the staple items to have a solid foundation of the outfit.
4. Keep It Simple
Most of the time, keeping your outfit professional, but simple is a good idea. Most companies are looking for the traditional, professional attire when interviewing candidates. Since this is the case, it is important to keep it simple in terms of colors and pattern. Looking for a neutral color in blazers, pants, dresses, etc. is important when looking for an entire outfit. It is also important to make sure that your professional attire does not have too complicated of a pattern. Adding minimal accessories is helpful as well as avoiding any strong fragrance.
It is possible to dress for success on a budget, by using the tips above. Practicing for interviews, getting your resume and cover letter reviewed, and overall preparing are all beneficial towards your success. However, your professional attire plays a role as well. You not only want to be professional, but you also want to look professional during interviews and career fairs. Use this opportunity to improve your overall professional look, as it will help you prepare, but also give you the confidence you need to succeed!
Check out the JCPenney Suit-Up Event and use your coupon by May 1st. To receive the coupon, you will have to text BOILERS to 67292.
https://www.jcpenney.com/m/suit-up-view-all
To gain more Interviews Tips and learn more about Professional Development skills, check the CCO Blog!
https://www.purduecco.com/single-post/how-to-research-a-company-like-a-pro
Boiler up!
