Alumni tell students the do's and don'ts of business fashion and the reality of entry level jobs

In the final event of Business Week, alumni returned to Van Munching Hall to advise undergraduates pursuing business degrees.            

At least a half-dozen Maryland graduates showed up for the Alumni Fashion Show and Networking Night on Thursday to help illustrate proper business etiquette to more than 30 curious undergrads.            

The evening began with a demonstration of both proper and improper business attire. Student commentators praised sharp-looking suits, tasteful dress shirts and polished shoes, while short skirts and skinny jeans earned poor marks, drawing appreciative laughter from the audience.            

After a question-and-answer session in which audience members, alumni and SUSA representatives brought up more fashion dos and don'ts, a few alumni acted out skits to show how to make a good impression on prospective employers and contacts.           

After the presentation, 2009 graduate Briana Lee said she was inspired by the presenters she saw when she was a student.            

Lee, who earned a marketing degree and now works at Kraft Foods, said she was struck by how many more responsibilities she had after graduating.            

"You realize you have to work hard, especially being an entry-level person," said Lee, who acted in one of the networking skits.            

Fellow 2009 graduate Alyssa U, a marketing and dance major who works at AstraZeneca and performs part-time with the Greenbelt-based Alight Dance Theater, said she came because she thought the experience would be good for her and the undergraduate students.            

"Honestly, I thought it couldn't hurt to … come out and meet young professionals," said U, who lamented not attending more Smith School events as a Maryland student.            

"I thought [the presentation] was really well done," said junior finance and economics major Evan Jong. He added that it would leave students "better prepared" for the professional world.