UNC Charlotte, IKEA Charlotte partner to help job-seeking students

UNC Charlotte and IKEA Charlotte have joined forces to provide college students with a dedicated clothing closet; a unique space in the University Career Center, where students can receive professional attire for job interviews at no cost.

“Our office is about preparing and connecting students to opportunities. The right clothing can go a long way to making a person feel great, confident and ready to show the world what they can do. It is an exciting opportunity to partner with our community on building out this new Professional Clothing Closet,” said Patrick Madsen, director of the University Career Center.

Staff from UNC Charlotte’s Career Center approached IKEA Charlotte with the idea for the new space. The University requested more than 200 items for the project, including storage shelves, drawers, rolling clothes racks, mirrors and hangers.

IKEA Charlotte saw the partnership as a natural fit for their community outreach efforts.

“We previously worked with UNC Charlotte several years ago on a project with the Student Health Center, turning an old boiler room into a Collegiate Recovery Center (CRC) room where students could hold drug and alcohol support group meetings,” said IKEA Charlotte spokesman Brian Gott. “Because the project was so successful and has helped so many people, we immediately jumped at the opportunity to once again work with UNC Charlotte on a project that would help improve the lives of students.”

The space will be open to students beginning when classes begin on Aug. 20.

Photos: University Career Center and IKEA Charlotte employees work together to construct the Professional Clothing Closet.