The JCPenney Suit-Up Event leads up to the in-person career & graduate school fair Wednesday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lee Arena, and a virtual career and graduate school fair Thursday, Sept. 16, 10 a-2 p.m. on Handshake.

Before the fairs, students can check out JCPenney for discounted business-professional/ business-casual wear and scrubs. JCPenney is giving students an added 30% off online and at the JCPenney location inside of the Westridge Mall. This offer ends on Sept. 14.

According to Kent McAnally, director of Career Services, one of the main reasons Washburn does the JCPenney event is to reduce the cost of business attire. This will give students the opportunity to dress their best for the career fair and potential employers.

“Nonetheless, the better you look, the more positive impression you make,” McAnally added.

For the first time in the event’s history, this fall it is mandatory for Washburn WU 101 students to attend this event.

“Career fairs – not necessarily job fairs – are really good ways to explore if you aren’t really sure what you want to do, even if you aren’t looking for a job yet,” said McAnally.

This is the main reason Washburn calls their job fairs “career fairs,” because when Washburn advertises this event to employers, it tells them that the campus wants opportunities for all job entries, including part time, internships and full-time jobs. Washburn wants all students to feel welcome and have an opportunity to connect with a company they may want to work with in the future.

The JCP Suit-Up Event is also open to the public.

“[The] more students who come to this event, the more likely those employers are to return to campus and keep coming back,” said McAnally.
This is especially important for all students to know because they will have the opportunity to reconnect with these employers at the next JCP Suit-Up Event before it is time for them to graduate.

Edited by Justin Shepard, Maggie Cabrera