This anonymous interview is with a Public librarian who has been a hiring manager. 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.
√ False
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:
√ Always
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.
Short shorts, flip-flops, spaghetti straps, much more cleavage (butt & otherwise) than I ever want to see, dressing like a vampire, any skintight clothing, bare bellies, excess of chains, dog collars (although I wouldn’t be against a flea collar for some), the goth look, excess of makeup
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)
√ A few simple necklaces, bracelets, and/or rings
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?
The way we dress affects the public’s perception. If we are seen as businesslike, we probably will be treated as such. We will also be treated more respectfully.
What This Library Wears
How do you dress when you are going to conduct an interview?
A nice dress or pant outfit, tasteful jewelry, a bit of makeup, nice heels,
On a scale of one (too dressed up for my workplace) to five (too casual), khakis and a polo shirt are:
4
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)
√ Jeans
√ Flip flops
√ Visible Tattoos
√ Short skirts/shorts
√ Tank tops
√ Logos/band insignia/slogans
√ Sneakers/trainers
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: Me after a job interview. by Flickr user Foxipher
