The last time we looked at stats and graphs for what candidates should wear was October 2012.  We’ve had a few more responses trickle in, but mostly I just want to revisit these stats.

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.

Also I don’t use probability sampling, so what happens in the survey can’t be assumed to be what happens in the larger population.  And this survey mashes together the responses of academic, public, special, school and other library organizations (although you’ll see that the majority of responses are from Academic librarians).

These responses have been collected between the survey’s launch, on 9/3/2012 and 11/30/2013.  We are still collecting responses!  If you want to take the survey, go to: http://tinyurl.com/hiringlibOUTFITsurvey 

The survey was co-written by Jill from Librarian Hire Fashion.  Want to talk more about interview outfits?  That’s the Tumblr to do it on!

And now the

RESULTS!

What Candidates Should Wear

Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?

Yes, absolutely! It shows respect and professionalism		48	20%
Probably, yes (but it’s ok if the candidate wears something a little less formal)		132	54%
Probably not (but it’s ok if the candidate does wear one)		36	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		181	74%
Is totally different		22	9%
I do not know and/or care		30	12%
Other		13	5%

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

True		99	40%
False		66	27%
I don’t care		46	19%
Other		35	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		84	34%
Either pantyhose or tights. Bare legs are inappropriate		49	20%
Yes, true professionals always wear pantyhose		11	4%
Other		92	37%

Women should wear make-up to an interview: 

Always		13	5%
I don’t care, as long as it’s not over-the-top		108	44%
I don’t care what’s on the face, it’s what’s in the brain that counts		103	42%
Never		0	0%
Other		22	9%

 

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		190	77%
No		38	15%
I don’t care		9	4%
Other		9	4%

 

Which jewelry may candidates wear:

Single, simple necklace, bracelet, and/or ring		181	75%
A few simple necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings		177	73%
All of the simple necklaces, bracelets, and rings he or she can load on		43	18%
Arty or more elaborate necklaces, bracelets, or rings		139	57%
Nose Ring (nostril)		86	36%
Eyebrow Ring, Monroe piercing, septum piercing, or other face piercing		61	25%
Earrings		188	78%
Multiple Ear Piercings		136	56%
Large gauge ear jewelry (stretched ears)		49	20%
Other		76	31%

Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:

All of them, even pink		129	52%
Natural colors (black, brown, red, blonde, gray)		89	36%
Other		28	11%

 

The way a candidate dresses should:

Show personality		60	24%
Be fairly neutral		99	40%
I don’t really care how a candidate dresses		26	11%
Other		61	25%

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		177	72%
4		37	15%
5 –	Too casual for my workplace	15	6%

 

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

Business formal		8	3%
Business casual		146	59%
Casual		51	21%
I don’t even know what any of that means		2	1%
Other		39	16%

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

Jeans		65	28%
Flip flops		113	49%
Visible Tattoos		28	12%
Short skirts/shorts		94	41%
Tank tops		98	42%
Logos/band insignia/slogans		78	34%
Sneakers/trainers		36	16%
N/A: We wear what we want!		50	22%
Other		135	58%

Librarians at your organization wear:

Name tags		102	61%
Badges		46	27%
Uniforms		1	1%
Shirt, waistcoat/vest, or other single piece of clothing issued by the library		6	4%
Other		57	34%

Demographics

What type of institution do you hire for?

Academic Library		134	54%
Public Library		80	33%
School Library		2	1%
Special Library		12	5%
Archives		9	4%
Other		9	4%

Where are you?

 

Northeastern US		61	25%
Midwestern US		65	26%
Southern US		60	24%
Western US		37	15%
Canada		9	4%
UK		5	2%
Australia/New Zealand		1	0%
Other		8	3%

Where are you?

 

Urban area		80	33%
Suburban area		56	23%
City/town		74	30%
Rural area		31	13%
Other		5	2%

How many staff members are at your library?

 

0-10		61	25%
10-50		115	47%
50-100		31	13%
100-200		22	9%
200+		15	6%

Are you a librarian?

 

Yes		222	90%
No		6	2%
It’s complicated		18	7%

Are you now or have you ever been:

a hiring manager (you are hiring people that you will directly or indirectly supervise)		179	74%
a member of a hiring or search committee		207	85%
human resources		8	3%
Other		6	2%

What do you think?  What should we have asked?  I realize we don’t talk about religious garb, or neckties… what else did we miss? Please comment below or email hiringlibrariansATgmail.