You’re studying in Olin Library when a Gmail notification banner pops up: “ONE WEEK AWAY: Cornell Career Fair Days All Industries Fair.” Or maybe it’s a hiring representative from your dream company, notifying you of an interview request. Regardless, you know you have to dress the part — after all showing up in gray sweatpants and a hoodie is unlikely to make the best impression.
But how do you know if you’re expected to dress in smart casual, business casual, business professional or full-blown business formal attire? And what is even the difference between those categories? As a post on LinkedIn would say, here’s the TLDR:
Business formal: This is the most traditional and conservative level of professional dress, usually relevant for high-stakes professional situations common in industries such as finance, law and accounting. Though business formal isn’t usually applicable in college, important opportunities like job interviews, career fairs, formal networking events, collegiate competitions or presentations in front of faculty or industry representatives may call for high-quality clothing. A typical business formal outfit can include a matching suit (blazer and pants or skirt), a tie, a button-down shirt or blouse and closed-toe dress shoes.
Business professional: Business professional attire, though slightly less rigid than business formal, is still structured and polished. An outfit on this level might include a blazer paired with dress pants or a skirt, a blouse or button-down and professional shoes. You don’t necessarily need a tie, for example. Full suits are still common, but not always required. At Cornell, this is a common expectation for internship interviews, career fairs and employer information sessions, especially in fields with selective recruitment cycles (finance, consulting, law, etc).
Business casual: A business casual outfit is a more relaxed, but still put-together, style. Many Cornell career fair events call for business casual attire (and the expectation is usually explicitly stated in career fair emails). Students also may opt for business casual at less formal networking events, office internships (depending on the company or office) or campus presentations. The most common outfits in this category are dress pants or a skirt with sweaters, blouses, collared shirts or cardigans and flats or loafers. No blazer required.
Smart casual: This is the least formal out of the four options, and it blends casual clothing with a neat top, sweater or casual blazer. It’s polished without being overly structured. At Cornell, smart casual is often appropriate for informal coffee chats, student organizations with guest speakers or more relaxed workplaces, especially in creative or tech-oriented spaces.
Once you master the difference between levels of formality and what kinds of events call for each one, you must then tackle the challenge of affordability. One of the best resources to take advantage of is The Wardrobe, a student organization on campus that provides free professional attire to all students throughout the semester. Give The Wardrobe team at least 48 hours notice, and you can borrow clothing of your choice. You can request various items in different colors and sizes free of charge. When your order is ready, you can pick it up at Barnes Hall. After wearing your items, you return it to the Barnes Hall location, and the organization will take it from there — you don’t even have to worry about cleaning it!
If you want to invest in some business attire staples without breaking the bank, affordable options include H&M, Uniqlo and Old Navy, as well as department stores such as Macy’s or Nordstrom if you’re looking for a classic blazer or pair of dress pants. Even though a high-end suit may last a long time, white shirts and blouses may not (at least they don’t for me, especially when I often wear down my favorite three items). You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on just a few items, especially when pieces from the stores mentioned above look just as good.
Finally, if you’re pursuing an unpaid internship this summer, you should also consider applying for Cornell’s Summer Experience Grant, as one of the expenses you can request a grant for is professional attire. This is a competitive need-based grant, but if you meet the requirements, receiving a grant that covers the cost of your clothing can be a huge weight off your shoulders. The deadline to apply has already passed (May 1) but it’s good to keep in mind for the summers to come.
It can feel intimidating when you’re tasked with finding an outfit appropriate for a professional event, but with a clearer understanding of expectations and the resources available to you on campus, dressing the part is possible.
Maia Mehring is a member of the Class of 2027 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. She was the Lifestyle editor on the 143rd Editorial Board. She can be reached at mmehring@cornellsun.com.
