This anonymous interview is with Special 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 an Urban area in the Midwestern US.
What Candidates Should Wear
Should the candidate wear a suit to the interview?
√ Other: It is okay to wear something else other than a suit as long as it looks dressy and/or professional. A guy should always wear a suit–no shorts and always a tie.
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?
√ Yes, true professionals always wear pantyhose
Women should wear make-up to an interview:
√ I don’t care, as long as it’s not over-the-top
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.
Anything that can be construed as provocative…too short, too tight, to low, too showy, etc.
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
√ Earrings
Which hair colors are acceptable for candidates:
√ Natural colors (black, brown, red, blonde, gray)
The way a candidate dresses should:
√ Be fairly neutral
How does what a candidate wears affect your hiring decision?
It can be the difference particularly in a close race. If there are two candidates who have great personalities and experience and credentials I would be more apt to pick the one who took the time and effort to dress up than one who dressed down. It shows to me that the person is truly interested in the job and can bend a little to dress up for something important.
What This Library Wears
How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?
I have always worn either a suit or a professional type dress with stockings and pumps.
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?
√ Flip flops
√ Short skirts/shorts
√ Tank tops
√ Logos/band insignia/slogans
This survey was co-authored by Jill of Librarian Hire Fashion – submit your interview outfit to her blog!
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