UVU Students Hold Free Professional Clothing Event Nov. 10

Utah Valley University students are holding a free professional clothing event on campus tomorrow, Tuesday, Nov. 10, and the people running it are still collecting donations. The PowerSuit Project runs from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Clarke Building concourse in Orem. Students can take gently used business clothing at no cost, sit for a professional headshot and get help building a resume, KSL reported on Nov. 6.

What the event offers

The PowerSuit Project is run by students in UVU's Department of Communications, KSL's Logan Stefanich reported. Organizers say students can take gently used professional clothing, and the list is broad: blazers, dress shirts, slacks, skirts, dresses, shoes, scrubs and accessories. The inclusion of scrubs matters for students headed into clinical and health programs, where the dress code is different from a typical office.

Two services sit alongside the clothing. A professional photographer will be on site to take headshots, and a table will help students with their resumes. Between the three, a student could walk in with a stack of clothes to try, leave with a new photo for a LinkedIn profile and have a resume reviewed, all in one stop between classes.

The reports we reviewed do not describe a sign-up process, a limit on the number of items, or fitting rooms. Those details can change from year to year, so ask the volunteers at the concourse when you arrive.

Who is organizing it

Sydney Wilson, a UVU junior, helps organize and run the event, according to KSL. Bethany Simko is the PowerSuit Project director, as credited on the event photos in the KSL story.

Wilson told KSL that students often have little room for extras: there is "just not a lot of extra space for getting extra items like clothing." She said the goal is for students to feel "comfortable and confident in their clothing items." On the spirit of the event, she said, "We're here to help each other."

KSL also noted that students already face rising living costs and a competitive job market, and that professional clothing can be one more barrier to entering the workforce. The PowerSuit Project is an attempt to take that cost off the table.

How this event started

The PowerSuit idea is not new at UVU. A UVU news release describes an earlier Power Suit Project event run by the UVU chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America. That event offered gently used business attire at no cost along with free professional headshots from the College of Humanities and Social Sciences marketing and communication team, and it was held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 23. The release does not state the year. KSL's story likewise refers to an earlier PowerSuit event in March run by the PRSSA chapter.

The UVU release says students collected business clothing from working professionals, including UVU President Astrid Tuminez, along with faculty and staff. The items were cleaned and prepared for students getting ready for job interviews and internships. It lists suits, ties, dresses, blazers, slacks and dress shirts as accepted items, and it says the project relies on donations to meet demand. Anyone who wants to give more can contact the UVU Department of Communication, and the PRSSA chapter posts updates on Instagram at prssa_uvu.

The release also quotes a past recipient, Elmer Colón Muñiz, who now works at a Utah law firm: "I was able to dress professionally at my post-graduation interviews without worrying about breaking the bank."

Where to drop off donations

Organizers say they are still collecting. KSL listed four drop-off points on the UVU campus:

• The food court
• Fulton Library, second floor
• Clarke Building, fifth floor, by the faculty offices
• Keller Building, by the elevator

Items should be gently used and suitable for a workplace. If you are cleaning out a closet, clean and pressed pieces are the most useful, and professional shoes and accessories are on the list of things students can take. For anything that is not a fit for the drive, our guide to donating and junk removal in Utah Valley covers where other items can go, and thrift and vintage shopping in Provo and Orem is a place to look for pieces if you miss the event.

Getting to the Clarke Building

The event is on the Orem campus. UVU Parking Services says visitors can use about 15 pay-by-phone lots with the Passport app, and a few lots accept Text-to-Park. Lots L6 and L13 can be reserved in 15-minute increments, and visitors can also buy a Day Pass for yellow permit areas. Payment is required in pay lots between 5 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week, and parking without paying can result in a citation. The page does not list specific rates.

UVU Parking Services also says some lots fill first in the morning, including L3, L5, L6, L8, L14, M21 and M25, and it suggests L9, L10 or M29 when parking is crowded. We could not find a published statement of which lot is closest to the Clarke Building, so check the campus map at uvu.edu/maps or call Parking Services at (801) 863-8188. The office is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 936 South 400 West in Orem.

Transit is an easy option for students. According to UTA's school pass program page for UVU, a UTA pass is built into the UVU ID for students enrolled in at least one credit hour, covering bus, TRAX, FrontRunner and other services, with a tap on and a tap off. Our UVX bus guide and FrontRunner commuting guide explain how to reach campus from Provo and beyond. Our UVU guide has more on commuting and campus life.

Dressing for the interview

Getting the clothes is the first step. UVU's Career & Internship Center has published guidance on what to wear, and it is a useful checklist when you are choosing from a rack.

• Dress one level above the job. The center advises finding out whether the employer expects business professional or business casual, then dressing a step above everyday work attire.
• Keep it simple. Avoid bold patterns and overly trendy styles. Clothes should be clean, wrinkle-free and lint-free, in a fit that will not distract you.
• Business professional basics. For men, the center lists a long-sleeved button-up shirt, pressed dress pants, a belt, polished dress shoes, and a tie and blazer. For women, it lists a conservative blouse or button-up, a blazer or structured jacket, a knee-length skirt or tailored pants, and closed-toe flats or moderate heels.
• Virtual interviews. Dress head to toe in case you need to stand up, use a well-lit, quiet space with a neutral background and look into the camera.

The center also lists mock interviews with a career counselor, booked through Handshake, for feedback on body language, tone and filler words. The Career & Internship Center is in room LC-409 and can be reached at (801) 863-6364. The page we reviewed does not list its hours, so call ahead.

What to do tomorrow

• Go early in the window if you want choice. The event runs 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a donation-based selection can thin out as the afternoon goes on. That is an expectation, not a figure organizers have given.
• Know your sizes. Wear something you can easily layer over or change in and out of, since the reports do not mention fitting rooms.
• Bring a short list. Think about the interviews, internships or career fairs coming up, and look for a jacket, a pair of slacks or a dress that works for several. Our job fairs in Utah Valley page tracks upcoming hiring events.
• Use the extras. Get the headshot and have your resume reviewed while you are there. For longer-term help, see our guides to free job help in Provo and internships in Provo.
• Donate if you can. If you cannot attend, a drop-off box may be on your way to class.

What we could not confirm

We did not find an official UVU event page for tomorrow's PowerSuit Project, so the details here come from KSL's Nov. 6 report. We could not confirm whether guests who are not UVU students can take clothing, whether there is an item limit, or the last day for donations. We also could not confirm the closest parking lot to the Clarke Building. Check UVU's news and events pages, the Department of Communication, or the PRSSA chapter's Instagram account for updates.

Related on Provo.com

• The UVU Guide: commuting, housing in Orem and student life
• Riding UVX in Provo and Orem
• Job fairs in Utah Valley
• Free job help in Provo
• Internships and career resources in Provo