Arc's Career Closet will (literally) dress you for future success

What exactly is Arc's Career Closet?

From offering free lunch and support services to Stress Less Week and an array of wellness initiatives, Arc is all about ensuring UNSW students are feeling supported while having the best university experience possible.

Now Arc has an exciting initiative for students about to step into the professional workplace: Career Closet.

With the cost of living increasing, buying professional clothing can be an additional burden for students with tight budgets who are already juggling tuition fees, rent and day-to-day expenses. It's tough to factor in a business suit or dress when you're stretched thin for food.

Arc Career Closet aims to help ease that financial burden students may feel by providing access to clean and rarely-used professional workplace clothing. The idea is that students who need professional clothing for an upcoming job interview or career event can simply pop on down to Arc Career Closet and borrow from a wide range of inclusive clothing.

“Here in Arc Career Closet, our purpose is for the students,” Mitchell McBurnie, Arc General Manager (Marketing, Strategy & Experience), tells Inside UNSW. “We want them to feel their best, look their best and be empowered for their future. Dressing students for success is our main goal and we want every student that uses our service to leave with their best version of themselves.”

“Beyond just clothing, we want to create an experience for students to feel much more confident and make a strong impression when preparing for interviews, internships and career fairs. Each donated item contributes to a larger effort in ensuring that every student has the chance to pursue their dream career without being limited by financial constraints.”

How to borrow clothes

Arc's Career Closet has a variety of professional clothes on display at the Second Life Hub, located at the Quadrangle. Students are welcome to swing by and browse through the closet's selection during opening hours. There are two ways to borrow clothes:

On-the-spot borrowing

Students can borrow on the spot by filling out a form in-person during opening hours. When borrowing on the spot, students can only borrow articles of clothing that are not reserved for online orders.

Online borrowing

Students can also simply fill out an online form and then pick-up their clothes from the Second Life Hub.

How you can help out

As Arc Career Closet is primarily a donation-based program, they're more than happy to accept any donations of neat and gently used professional clothing. If you have something to donate, you can drop it off at the Second Life Hub during regular operating hours.

Other locations where there are Arc boxes for you to drop off clothing donations include:

• Dean's Unit – Level 6, UNSW Business School at the reception desk;
• Career Accelerator Office – Room 1028, Level 1, Quadrangle; and
• Main Library, Level 2 (lift foyer area).

What to donate

The program is always on the lookout for professional clothing such as blazers, skirts, shirts, blouses, suits, jackets, dress pants, shoes and accessories (belts, ties, etc). Patterned items are acceptable as long as they are subtle and appropriate for the workplace.

Graphic designs, clothing with slogans and casual or informal wear, such as jeans, khakis, jewelry or bags, are not accepted. These can be donated to the SRC Clothing Hub.

Clothing guidelines

Ensure that the clothing is relatively clean, neat and ideally free of significant damage, such as holes, tears and/or stains.