This anonymous interview is with an Academic librarian who has been a hiring manager and a member of a hiring or search committee. This librarian works at a library with 0-10 staff members in a Rural area in the Midwestern 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: It depends on the climate and what the facilities are like
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.
Bra straps showing. See through clothing. Too much cleavage. Clothes that are too tight. Dirty clothes.
Can you share any stories about how a candidate nailed the proper interview outfit, especially if your organization does not expect suits?
n/a
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:
√ 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
√ Nose Ring (nostril)
√ Eyebrow Ring, Monroe piercing, septum piercing, or other face piercing
√ Earrings
√ Multiple Ear Piercings
√ Large gauge ear jewelry (stretched ears)
Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:
√ All of them, even pink
√ Natural colors (black, brown, red, blonde, gray)
√ Other:
The way a candidate dresses should:
√ Be fairly neutral
How does what a candidate wears affect your hiring decision?
If a candidate is neat and clean then I do not worry about what they are wearing. If they are dirty, then I would show concern.
What This Library Wears
How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?
A suit
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)
√ Logos/band insignia/slogans
Librarians at your organization wear: (Please check all that apply)
√ Name tags
√ Badges
This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!
Photo: Day 262 – 9-18-12 Why is it… by Flickr user IslesPunkFan
Hiring Librarians 