Bobcat Career Closet

Dress to Impress

The Bobcat Career Closet provides MSU students with free professional clothing and resources to help them feel confident and prepared for interviews, internships, career fairs, networking events, jobs, and other professional opportunities. Run by students for students, the Career Closet offers professional and business-casual clothing through appointments and designated drop-in hours.

Donate Clothing
View the donation guidelines

Hours: Monday –Thursday, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Location: Strand Union Building (SUB), Room 137, near the MSU Bookstore

What Is the Bobcat Career Closet?

The Bobcat Career Closet ensures that MSU students have access to clothing that helps them present themselves professionally. Financial barriers should never prevent a student from pursuing an interview, internship, career fair, networking event, or other opportunity.

Students can visit the Career Closet to find clothing that fits their needs, personal style, and upcoming occasion in a welcoming and inclusive environment.

How It Works

  1. Visit: Come to the Bobcat Career Closet at your scheduled time.
  2. Shop: Browse our selection of professional and business-casual clothing.
  3. Leave Ready: Select up to two complete outfits and leave prepared for your next opportunity.

What Can I Get?

Professional Attire

  • Suits
  • Blazers
  • Dress pants
  • Dress shirts
  • Blouses
  • Professional dresses
  • Ties

Business-Casual Attire

  • Polo shirts
  • Sweaters
  • Khakis
  • Skirts
  • Business-casual dresses

Inventory changes frequently. Specific items, styles, and sizes may not always be available.

Who Can Use the Closet?

The Bobcat Career Closet is available to all currently enrolled MSU students at no cost.

Dress for the Occasion

Not sure what to wear? Find the occasion and view recommendations and examples.

Job Interview

Choose clothing that reflects the position, organization, and workplace culture. Your outfit should appear polished without making you look out of place in the work environment.

Career Fair

Wear professional, comfortable clothing that helps you feel confident when introducing yourself to employers. Choose comfortable shoes because you may be standing or walking for an extended period.

Internship

Consider the organization’s everyday dress code and the work you will perform. When in doubt, begin with a slightly more professional outfit and adjust after learning the workplace expectations.

Networking Event

Choose polished but approachable clothing that allows you to move comfortably and focus on making connections.

Presentation

Wear comfortable, professional clothing that supports your credibility and keeps the audience’s attention on your message.

How to Dress for an Interview

What you wear contributes to the first impression you make. The goal is not always to wear your most formal outfit. Instead, dress professionally while considering the position, organization, industry, and workplace culture.

Follow the “Dress One Step Up” Rule

A helpful rule is to dress one step more professionally than you would normally dress for the job.

If employees typically wear jeans and a T-shirt, consider khakis or dress pants with a polo, blouse, or button-down shirt. If employees typically wear business-casual clothing, consider adding a blazer or choosing a more polished outfit.

More formal is not always better. A full suit may be appropriate for some industries but feel out of place in others. Before your interview, research the organization and consider what its employees typically wear.

In-Person Interviews

  • Choose clean, well-fitting, and wrinkle-free clothing.
  • Wear clean shoes appropriate for the workplace.
  • Keep accessories and fragrances simple.
  • Select clothing that is comfortable and allows you to move naturally.
  • Prepare your outfit ahead of time to avoid rushing on interview day.

Online Interviews

Treat an online interview with the same professionalism as an in-person interview—even if the interviewer only sees you from the waist up.

  • Dress professionally from head to toe.
  • Choose clothing that is visible against your background.
  • Avoid distracting patterns, graphics, and accessories.
  • Check your appearance, camera angle, and lighting beforehand.
  • Make sure your face is clearly visible.
  • Use a clean, quiet, and distraction-free background.

Not Sure What to Wear?

Research the organization’s workplace culture, review employee photos on its website or social media, or ask the recruiter about the expected dress code.

Remember: dress for the workplace, then take it one step up.

Need something to wear? Drop by the Bobcat Career Closet to find free professional clothing for your next opportunity