This anonymous interview is with a Public Librarian who has been a a hiring manager and a member of a hiring or search committee at a library with 10-50 staff members in a rural part of the Southern US.
What Candidates Should Wear
Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?
√ Probably, yes (but it’s ok if the candidate wears something a little less formal)
An outfit with a coordinated blazer and trousers:
√ Counts as a suit
Bare arms are inappropriate in an interview, even in the summer.
√ Other: How bare? Some sleeves are appropriate, no sleeves are not.
If a woman wears a skirt to an interview, should she also wear pantyhose?
√ No, but it’s not a dealbreaker
Women should wear make-up to an interview:
√ Other: That’s too sensitive an issue. Allergies, etc. are key here.
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.
Candidate came in wearing a suit & tie. Took off the jacket, loosened the tie, rolled up the sleeves, and then sat down for the interview!
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
√ Earrings
Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:
√ All of them, even pink
The way a candidate dresses should:
√ Show personality
What This Library Wears
How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?
I dress up as respect — I wear what I would consider appropropriate dress if I were being interviewed.
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
√ Logos/band insignia/slogans
Librarians at your organization wear: Please check all that apply
√ Name tags
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 
I love the story. I knew people at work who did this…. They came in impeccably dressed, then looked like a slob all day, and reversed the process before leaving.
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