What To Wear on College Career Days

Appropriate College Career Day Clothing For Boys

So, your college is having a career day and you aren't sure what to wear?

Lets break it down to some simple basics and you should be ready in no time.

First, we would like to mention that if you're not a junior or senior and just want to poke around, the dress code is a bit different for you than if you are a senior who needs to land a job offer.

Why do we say that there is a difference? - Easy, if you're a senior you need to make the best impression that you can, as quickly as you can.  In this case - you need to look your best.

If you are not a senior, and just want to see who attends and what the career fair has to offer, wear clean casual clothing.  Clean casual clothing is best described as business casual - a term you will hear quite often once you're in the business world.  Corporate casual at it's basic is a polo shirt, khakis and a nice pair of loafers.

If you're serious about getting a job offer from the college career day, you want to wear a suit.  Never mind that those who are interviewing you might not be.  You need to impress your interviewer with you resume and appearance.

Generally, career day fairs are well organized and targeted.  The recruiters that attend college  career days typically already know that they want to hire from your college.  Recruiters have done their research, know the curriculum and specialty that your college offers, and know that students from your college are generally a good match with their positions they want to fill.

Having said that, take college career day seriously.

Have a notebook, pen and your resume ready.  Keep your resume neatly pressed in a folder and get ready to start handing it out.

More importantly - dress like your future is at stake.  Wait - your future is at stake.

Regardless of the dress code that you may perceive that the organizations at the career day fair have - you can never go wrong with dressing like a professional.

First - we would like to make sure that you understand what not wear:

No sneakers
No flip-flops
No t-shirts
No jeans
No body odor
No unkempt hair
No visible body piercing

Remember, you do want to show that you are serious, and you do want to show respect for the recruiter, their organization, and the time that they take to meet with you.

So what should you wear?

Wear a suit
We always recommend a navy blue, dark grey or black suit.  Make sure the suit is freshly dry cleaned, has no frays, or loose buttons.

Wear a white button-down shirt
A white shirt is the best color because it will work wonderfully with any tie.

Wear a tie
Select any moderately priced neckties from our Arcobaleno, BCBG, Claiborne or Jones NY collections.  Notice that we said moderately priced? Don't go overboard with your tie.  Buy a simple regimental striped tie or something with a small neat pattern.

Wear a belt
Always wear a black leather belt.

Shoes
Wear real dress shoes.  We recommend a nice black clean and polished pair of laced up shoes.

Socks
Wear a simple pair of clean black socks.

Grooming
Arrive freshly showered.  Grooming is essential.  Your hair should be neat and recently cut.  Ensure that your hands and fingernails are neat as well - you will have to shake hands so you'll want to make sure that your hands and fingers are clean.

In closing, dressing for a college career day is no different from a regular interview.  You want to make sure that your look is impeccable because your future really will depend on it.