After years of wearing sweatpants and T-shirts to class, many college students struggle to adjust to professional environments. The “Make It Big Career Night” looks to address this problem.

The Center for Advising and Career Development (CACD) is teaming up with the Women’s Resource Center at 5 p.m. on Jan. 30 in the CUB Senior Ballroom for a combination fashion show and three-course etiquette dinner. Students interested in the event can register on the CACD website.

“Make It Big” participants will learn how to behave at a professional dinner and how to dress in various professional environments. They also will be eligible to win Macy’s merchandise.

The event organizers hope teaching etiquette can help students avoid missing out on otherwise attainable job opportunities.

“Too often, candidates do not represent themselves well during dining because of poor table manners,” Women’s Resource Center Director Turea Erwin said in an email. “The etiquette program is the ‘boot camp’ for table manners training.” 

Although the event is potentially helpful for all students, it is specifically designed to prepare students for the Feb. 4 Career Expo also facilitated by the CACD.

The event is designed to allow students to get comfortable in a professional setting. It’s an opportunity to ask questions before dining with a prospective employer, said Christie Motley, an assistant director at the CACD.

Both the Women’s Resource Center and the CACD have hosted etiquette dinners in the past, but this year is the first to integrate a fashion show.

The fashion show coordinators feel attire is just as important as a resume.

“There is really an unwritten code for what employers expect,” said Sharon Ericsson, an assistant director at the CACD. “The students that dress appropriately to the Career Expo are the ones who are getting the interviews, and the ones who dress appropriately for the interviews are the ones getting the jobs.”

Registered students should arrive at 5 p.m. to check in.  Students can still sign up, but space is limited.