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Nicole Giambusso
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Twelve Salem State University juniors and seniors were awarded $250 stipends from the university to help cover the cost of purchasing professional attire as they launch careers and internships. The stipends were created as a socially-distanced way to help reduce the cost burden on students in need of professional attire to attend job fairs, interviews, and internships – whether virtually or in person.
The 12 selected students received their stipends just in time for the university’s annual Job and Internship Fair, which was held virtually this year, on March 4. The career services team also hosted the annual JCPenney Suit Up event, a discounted shopping experience held in partnership with Salem State that occurred online this year between February 8 and 15. These opportunities were planned to help students secure more affordable professional attire for their job and internship search.
“The Career Services team was very happy to be able to support our many deserving students as they begin their careers and job search,” said Sandy Rochon, career services coordinator at Salem State. “Opportunities like the professional attire stipend and annual JCPenney Suit Up event allow us to continue to assist our students despite having to pivot to physical distancing events.”
Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the stipend serves as a physically distanced way to achieve part of what was done through last year’s Career Closet, in which over 2,000 pieces of professional attire were donated for students to “shop” for at no cost. Salem State’s career services department plans to resume this event when it is safe to do so.
The stipends were organized by Salem State’s career services department and sponsored in part by the Salem State Alumni Association. Student applicants answered questions about their career aspirations and were invited to submit resumes for feedback.
Learn more about Salem State University’s career services opportunities at salemstate.edu/careers.