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 City/town area in the Midwestern US
What Candidates Should Wear
Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?
√ Yes, absolutely! It shows respect and professionalism
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.
Show that you have done some homework—find out what is acceptable or the dress code where you will be. Dress for the job you hope to have one day….
Do you expect different levels of formality of dress, depending on the position you’re hiring for?
√ No
Which jewelry may candidates wear: (Please select all that are acceptable)
√ Extreme piercings or tattoos put me off:
Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:
√ All of them, even pink
The way a candidate dresses should:
√ Reflect professionalism
How does what a candidate wears affect your hiring decision?
I like candidates who show some ambition and professionalism—looking your best is always good.
What This Library Wears
How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?
In a suit, minimum makeup, little or no jewelry.
On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:
5
What’s the dress code at your library/organization?
√ Business formal
Are there any specific items of clothing, etc. that are forbidden by your dress code?
√ Jeans
√ Flip flops
√ Short skirts/shorts
√ Tank tops
√ Logos/band insignia/slogans
√ Sneakers/trainers
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: 87/365 by Flickr user Lauren Powell-Smothers
Hiring Librarians 