I hope you’ve been enjoying reading the individual responses!  I know we’ve had some controversial ones, which just confirms my understanding that pantyhose is serious business.

We’ve had some more responses from non-academic libraries, but academic librarians do remain the majority respondents.  I hope to be able to break out responses from public librarians for you soon.

I also want to add my standard disclaimer that I’m using Google forms, and the charts it generates cut off some of the answer choices.  It takes me a while to do a post like this, and even longer to make it prettier in Excel, so I’ll ask you to please just excuse how sloppy it looks.  This is a labor of love, and I’m a busy lady.

And now the

RESULTS!

What Candidates Should Wear

Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?

Yes, absolutely! It shows respect and professionalism		43	18%
Probably, yes (but it’s ok if the candidate wears something a little less formal)		127	54%
Probably not (but it’s ok if the candidate does wear one)		35	15%
No way! It shows a lack of understanding about my library and/or the nature of librarianship		2	1%
I don’t care		12	5%
Other		16	7%

An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:

Counts as a suit		173	74%
Is totally different		22	9%
I do not know and/or care		28	12%
Other		12	5%

Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.

True		94	40%
False		65	28%
I don’t care		43	18%
Other		33	14%

If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?

Never, pantyhose is for my grandmother		10	4%
No, but it’s not a dealbreaker		78	33%
Either pantyhose or tights. Bare legs are inappropriate		47	20%
Yes, true professionals always wear pantyhose		11	5%
Other		89	38%

Women should wear make-up to an interview:

Always		11	5%
I don’t care, as long as it’s not over-the-top		102	43%
I don’t care what’s on the face, it’s what’s in the brain that counts		99	42%
Never		0	0%
Other		23	10%

Do you expect different levels of formality of dress, depending on the position you’re hiring for?

Yes, the higher the position, the more formal I expect the candidate to dress		181	77%
No		37	16%
I don’t care		9	4%
Other		8	3%

Which jewelry may candidates wear:

Single, simple necklace, bracelet, and/or ring		172	74%
A few simple necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings		168	73%
All of the simple necklaces, bracelets, and rings he or she can load on		41	18%
Arty or more elaborate necklaces, bracelets, or rings		131	57%
Nose Ring (nostril)		80	35%
Eyebrow Ring, Monroe piercing, septum piercing, or other face piercing		56	24%
Earrings		181	78%
Multiple Ear Piercings		131	57%
Large gauge ear jewelry (stretched ears)		48	21%
Other		77	33%

Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:

All of them, even pink		123	52%
Natural colors (black, brown, red, blonde, gray)		84	36%
Other		28	12%

The way a candidate dresses should:

Show personality		56	24%
Be fairly neutral		96	41%
I don’t really care how a candidate dresses		26	11%
Other		57	24%

What the Library Wears

On a scale of  1 to 5, where one is too dressed up for your workplace, khakis and a polo shirt are:

1 -	Too dressed up for my workplace	1	0%
2		4	2%
3		169	72%
4		36	15%
5 -	Too casual for my workplace	14	6%

What’s the dress code at your library/organization?

Business formal		8	3%
Business casual		138	59%
Casual		48	20%
I don’t even know what any of that means		2	1%
Other		39	17%

Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code?

Jeans		64	29%
Flip flops		108	49%
Visible Tattoos		27	12%
Short skirts/shorts		89	40%
Tank tops		94	43%
Logos/band insignia/slogans		76	34%
Sneakers/trainers		35	16%
N/A: We wear what we want!		47	21%
Other		128	58%

Librarians at your organization wear:

Name tags		96	61%
Badges		41	26%
Uniforms		1	1%
Shirt, waistcoat/vest, or other single piece of clothing issued by the library		5	3%
Other		55	35%

Demographics

What type of institution do you hire for?

Academic Library		129	55%
Public Library		76	32%
School Library		0	0%
Special Library		12	5%
Archives		9	4%
Other		9	4%

Where are you?

Northeastern US		61	26%
Midwestern US		64	27%
Southern US		56	24%
Western US		33	14%
Canada		9	4%
UK		5	2%
Australia/New Zealand		1	0%
Other		6	3%

Where are you?

Urban area		73	31%
Suburban area		56	24%
City/town		72	31%
Rural area		30	13%
Other		4	2%

How many staff members are at your library?

0-10		57	24%
10-50		112	48%
50-100		30	13%
100-200		20	9%
200+		14	6%

Are you a librarian?

Yes		212	90%
No		6	3%
It’s complicated		17	7%

Are you now or have you ever been:

a hiring manager		168	72%
a member of a hiring or search committee		197	85%
human resources		8	3%
Other		6	3%

If you have questions, comments or concerns, we’d love to hear them. You can either comment below, or email hiringlibrariansATgmail.