Fit to be Hired

Photography by Aaron Daye, UF Advancement

When entomology student Jacob Hornfeldt (3 CALS) came to Gainesville from Lake Worth, he didn’t think he’d need to pack a suit and tie to study owlet moths.

Then, the Doris Duke Conservation Scholar decided to present his work at UF’s annual Undergraduate Research Symposium. Suddenly, he needed a headshot and presentation-worthy attire.

“I have a shirt and jacket … but I need something better for a headshot,” said Hornfeldt, who visited the Molm Family Gator Career Closet in a T-shirt and shorts.

He honed in on a fitted grey pinstripe jacket and a crisp blue Oxford shirt, paired with a striped silk tie. Then, wearing the borrowed duds but still clad in shorts, he stepped outside to have his headshot taken.

“This place has a lot of variety,” said Hornfeldt, returning to the Closet a few minutes later. “I might come back to borrow something for the symposium.”

Hornfeldt is one of hundreds of UF students each month who rely on the Molm Family Gator Career Closet, a free lending service that supplies “gently worn” business attire for job interviews, academic conferences, networking events and more.

Students with a valid UF ID can stop by the Career Closet boutique on the ground floor of the J. Wayne Reitz Union Monday through Thursday to browse its extensive selection of clothing, shoes, and accessories. Items can be borrowed for up to seven days.

Second year biology major David Joseph needed professional clothing to wear during his Preview photo session. He also plans to use that photo on his resume and some social media accounts.

Addressing a Need

Family Ties

UF students have structural engineer Sue dePaoli Molm (BSCE 81) and her sons Hays (1 Finance) and J.R. (4 Accounting) to thank for the revamped Career Closet, as their gift funded its expansion.

Sue Molm recalled a pivotal moment from her own college days when she heard about the Career Closet’s mission. As an undergrad preparing for a job interview, she realized she lacked anything appropriate to wear.

“That realization shook my confidence,” she recalls. Fortunately, a friend loaned her a suitable outfit, enabling Molm to relax and focus on her qualifications.

“To this day,” says Molm, “I remember what I wore, how I felt about my outfit, and what it was like walking in and out of the interview.”

Five Ways
to avoid common personal presentation missteps

Junior health education behavior major Matthew Sandoval needed a tie to wear for an orientation photo.

1 Focus on fit
Saggy, baggy clothes, too-short pants, teeny skirts and snug tops detract from a professional image.

2 Forego the flash
Focus on your accomplishments, not on your bling, your smoky eye shadow, funny tie or tatted triceps.

3 Don’t forget your feet
Appropriate (and polished) footwear tells your future boss that you pay attention to the details.

4 Pump that iron
The just-rolled-out-of-bed wrinkled look is out. Also, guys and ladies, make sure hair and nails are tidy.

5 Substance over style
You may have great personal style, but for most interviews, neutral colors, simple and understated patterns and classic clothes set a more professional and less distracting tone.

Third year telecommunications major Madison Lange needed an outfit to wear for the Cicerones executive officer elections.

If the Shoe Fits

Think “Uber for fashion” — and it’s free. Older generations may attach a stigma to borrowing clothes, but that’s not how today’s teens and twentysomethings see it, says Dana McPherson at UF’s Career Connections Center. They’re practical and thrifty, and they embrace renting items — from rides to rooms — as a sustainable, eco-friendly way of meeting their needs. Why should dress clothes be any different? “This is a generation that uses Poshmark,” McPherson says.