|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/29/2008
Posts: 7
Points: 21
Location: Westminster, CO
|
Hi,
Sorry for bringing up this subject after there are already threads on this, but the forum won't let me reply to them for some reason. So please bear with me!
After reading all the topics on women's clothing, I am getting more and more nervous. I have an interview coming up for a Young Adult librarian position. I have never given much thought to clothes before...obviously, I try to dress professionally, wearing either dress pants or skirt with a nice blouse. But all the topics say that wearing a suit is usually the best idea. I do not own, nor can I afford, a suit, and furthermore (I know I'm being stubborn here) I still don't think it's necessary for a public library interview. If I were applying for an academic or corporate position, sure. Also I'm just not a pants-suit kind of person! Are there any opinions on this? Would my current interview attire still be okay?
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
, Member
Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 348
Points: 922
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
|
I work in an academic library, so I cannot say for public libraries. But even in my environment, I would expect someone to be dressed nice and professional. A suit is always the safest but you can dress professional without a suit. The statement to me that was more concerning was how you thought there was a difference between public, academic, and special. I would not make general assumptions based on what you think a type of library should be like. I have been to many public libraries were the administration expected the employees to be very well dressed. It all depends on the philosophy of the organization and its leadership. Unless you have visited the library already, I would not make such assumptions and stereotypes.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Groups: Member
Joined: 9/29/2008
Posts: 7
Points: 21
Location: Westminster, CO
|
Yes, I realize that different organizations have different standards. But I have worked in public libraries for several years, and no one - save the director, and not even then sometimes - wears a suit to work. I have also taken time to visit the library where I'm applying incognito, and the atmosphere seemed pretty casual. I would not make an assumption like that without doing my research, which I have.
That stated, obviously I want to look professional, but a suit just isn't me.
|
|
Rank: Administration
Groups: Administration
Joined: 11/5/2007
Posts: 106
Points: -851
|
Get a nice jacket and pants -- it doesn't have to be a formal suit. Try someplace like Kohl's -- I have one I wear to do presentations that I got for something like $12 on the clearance rack there, combined with $20 pants from Ann Taylor Loft. It will looks decent but not as matchy-matchy as a suit, and you can mix/match with other things to stretch the investment.
Rachel Singer Gordon / rachel@lisjobs.comFind a library job: http://www.lisjobs.comThe Liminal Librarian: http://www.lisjobs.com/blog
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Job Hunting Tips - Moderator
, Member
Joined: 1/4/2008
Posts: 103
Points: 309
Location: Cairo, Egypt
|
The suit advice was definitely related to academic jobs! Don't wear a suit because people in another kind of workplace say so. I agree with Rachel's suggestion, but also think a dressy pair of pants or a skirt with a crisp blouse can look very professional. There are certain situations where a suit can look like too much.
An extreme example, but I worked for years at an outdoor recreation company, and if people came to our campus wearing suits, we tended to assume they didn't know much about us. The VPs and CEOs wore the same thing as all of us: jeans in the winter, and Patagonia shorts and flip flops in the summer. And this at a place with more than 500 people on staff.
Of course, you're not applying for a job at a rafting company, but your instincts here may be right. Put together the nicest outfit you own, and then get the opinions of a couple of other public librarians. One caveat: a suit "not being you" isn't a good enough reason. Most librarian-friends of mine never wear suits except for job interviews. None of us are suit people. But your other reasons sound good to me.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/3/2008
Posts: 94
Points: 291
Location: kansas
|
The best advice I have ever heard is to dress one step above the daily staff. Since you say you have been to the library, this may mean dressy pants with a professional blouse or shirt--not a tee-shirt. Some public libraries still expect suits from most MLS staff, even if they are not "required."
In the public library where I work almost everyone wears jeans (or close to them, included said director), so coming in dressed to the nines would make you look odd. It wouldn't be bad, but I might wonder what kind of work you thought you would be doing here.....since many times we do end up shifting stacks, and cleaning bathrooms and all that other stuff.
I am much more concerned during the interview that you are clean and can answer the questions coherently! Wearing older clothes because you are poor is something I can deal with. That said, your choice for clothes sounds fine.
And good luck!
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Management - Moderator
, Member
Joined: 1/2/2008
Posts: 348
Points: 922
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
|
It would be very poor for an individual or an organization to question your knowledge of a place because you are in a suit or overdressed compared to their staff. I would never question a person wearing a suit as it is standard interview attire. Everyone says it is safer to wear a suit than not, so I would never assume they have not researched my organization. Someone coming to an interview is not there to participate in the daily duties during the interview (unless the organization has some type of testing process, which some do), so I would not expect them to be dressed as such. I also do not think a suit is a strict requirement and would not expect it of a candidate. It does not hurt, but other outfits are just as appropriate for interviews.
Brian C. Gray Head of Reference & Engineering Librarian Kelvin Smith Library Case Western Reserve University http://blog.case.edu/bcg8bcg8@case.edu
|
|
|
Guest |
