WS Chronicle

When preparing for a job interview, your appearance can be a determining factor in the interviewer’s decision to hire you. Before you even speak, they may have made the decision on whether to hire you or not, based on your attire.

To make sure their students are prepared for interviews and life after college, last week Winston-Salem State University’s Career Development Services hosted the second annual D.R.I.P. (Dressing Responsibly Is Professional) Spring Business Fashion Show.

Held at the Donald Julian Reaves Student Activities Center, the event featured models from on-campus modeling troupes Mozik and Epiphany sporting business and business casual attire. Throughout the fashion show, Johnathan Morris and Christina Harris, Mr. and Miss WSSU, gave tips on the do’s and don’ts when preparing for an interview. The fashion show also included food and prize giveaways.

WSSU job location and development coordinator, Linwood Skinner, said the idea for the fashion show came last year after meeting with several students and noticing many of them didn’t have the proper attire to wear to an interview. A 2001 graduate of WSSU and a native of Winston-Salem, Skinner said he felt it was his duty to prepare the students for their futures now. He also mentioned that James Johnson, a 1987 WSSU graduate, paid for the entire event.

WSSU’s Career Development Services works with students during all phases of the career development process. Offering a full range of resources and services to assist students in developing the necessary strategies and skills that will distinguish them as a professional. CDS staff members help students learn about their skills and interests and articulate them confidently in resumes, cover letters, interviews, and personal statements; identify and explore career options that students might pursue; and implement an effective strategy to attain their desired career outcomes.