What Candidates Should Wear
Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?
√ Probably not (but it’s ok if the candidate does wear one)
An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:
√ Counts as a suit
Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.
√ True
If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?
√ Either pantyhose or tights. Bare legs are inappropriate
Women should wear make-up to an interview:
√ I don’t care what’s on the face, it’s what’s in the brain that counts
Is there anything a candidate might wear that would cause them to be instantly out of the running? If you have any funny stories about horrifying interview outfits, we’d love to hear them.
no no no stilettos – heels are great but not stripper or clubbing shoes please!
take out facial piercings (nose, lips, eyebrows) for an interview.
lowcut or unbuttoned shirts that reveal tattoos are not for interviews. If you have ink on your legs wear opaque tights.
Can you share any stories about how a candidate nailed the proper interview outfit, especially if your organization does not expect suits?
well-fitted dark pants, hemmed appropriately, with a simple white blouse, simple pump heels. Classy and professional.
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
Which jewelry may candidates wear: (Please select all that are acceptable)
√ Single, simple necklace, bracelet, and/or ring
√ A few simple necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings
√ All of the simple necklaces, bracelets, and rings he or she can load on
√ Arty or more elaborate necklaces, bracelets, or rings
√ Earrings
√ Multiple Ear Piercings
Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:
√ All of them, even pink
How does what a candidate wears affect your hiring decision?
It’s part of the fit that I am looking for. We work with professionals and we must appear to be professional too. Maybe the candidate can only afford to shop at thrift stores, that’s ok as long as the clothing fits well, appears clean, and professional. It doesn’t take a lot of money to look professional. Simple, classic styles are all you need.
What This Library Wears
How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?
dress pants, blouse and cardigan or jacket, heels and usual amount of jewelry (almost too much but part of my look), medium amount of make-up to model what is expected from my position.
On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:
3
What’s the dress code at your library/organization?
√ Business casual
Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code? Please check all that apply
√ Flip flops
√ Short skirts/shorts
√ Tank tops
This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!
Photo: Stockimages on FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Hiring Librarians 