Prepare
Prepare
Preparing for your career is more than polishing a resume—it’s about building the skills, confidence, and strategy to navigate every stage of the hiring process. The Career Center provides resources to help you develop career readiness competencies, create strong application materials, practice interviewing, expand your network, and confidently evaluate offers. Whether you’re just getting started or refining your approach, these tools are designed to support your success and help you stand out to employers.
Career Closet
The Career Closet is a program initiated by the Career Center, designed to support currently enrolled UTRGV students. Participants can schedule a 'Career Closet' appointment (on Handshake) to rent up to three (3) new professional garments each semester. A secondary option is for students to also receive and keep up to five (5) gently used professional garments each semester.
These items are intended for use during interviews, career fairs, and networking events. Employers, faculty, staff, alumni, and other professionals generously donate the garments to help alleviate the financial burdens associated with launching a career as a young professional.
To schedule an appointment, follow the steps below. If you have any trouble scheduling or have any further questions, please let us know at careercenter@utrgv.edu.
- Log into 12twenty. If you are a currently enrolled undergraduate or graduate student, you already have an active account. Please log in to your current account using your UTRGV credentials at utrgv.joinhandshake.com.
- Navigate to the left and select “Appointments”.
- Select the “Career Closet” appointment type.
- Finally, select the day and time that works best for you and complete any additional questions about desired items and sizing on the booking site.
Brownsville students: A 'Career Closet' appointment will be a consultation with a career advisor in Brownsville to review our inventory and available sizes, and take measurements. Garments will be selected for you based on your desired items and brought over 1-2 days later for pickup/rental.
We look forward to seeing you at your appointment!
We are still accepting clothing donations!
When donating, please consider the following:
All clothing must be professional and interview appropriate and must be clean and free of stains, tears, rips, or obvious malfunctions. Items that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted and returned to the donator.
Professional clothing includes, men/women’s suits, blouses, dress shirts, ties, and belts. Shoes, undergarments, and sports clothing will not be accepted. Professional color options include, black, brown, navy, grey, and tan.
Donation request can be communicated via email. Please contact careercenter@utrgv.edu to submit your request. The Career Center will schedule a time with you to drop off items at the Edinburg campus.
IRIS Booth (Professional Headshots)
The Career Center provides free access to IRIS Booth professional headshot stations for UTRGV students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Located on the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses, the booths allow users to quickly capture high-quality professional photos for LinkedIn, résumés, networking platforms, presentations, and other professional materials.
No appointment is required. Users simply enter a valid email address, accept the terms of use, and follow the on-screen instructions. Photos can be digitally edited and downloaded after the session.
- Brownsville Campus – BINAB 1.105
- Edinburg Campus – ESTAC 2.101
Available Monday–Friday during Career Center business hours, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- One person permitted in the booth at a time
- Booth operates on a first-come, first-served basis
- Average session time is approximately 5 minutes
- Professional attire is encouraged
- Please use the booth for professional headshots only
Professional headshots help strengthen your personal brand and are commonly used for:
- LinkedIn and networking platforms
- Résumés and professional profiles
- Websites and presentations
- Promotional and conference materials
- Enter your email address
- Accept the Terms of Use
- Follow the booth instructions to capture your photos
- Download and edit your images after your session
We recommend using your UTRGV email address for the best access and delivery experience.
Need Personalized Support?
Take the next step with one-on-one guidance tailored to your goals. Meet with a Career Advisor for resume feedback, interview preparation, job search strategies, or offer evaluation. Access these resources and schedule appointments through 12twenty to stay on track and move forward with confidence.