WHAT NOT TO WEAR: MLA INTERVIEW EDITION Susannah Cleveland Mark A. Puente Misti Shaw
Mar 29, 2015
WHAT NOT TO WEAR: MLA INTERVIEW EDITION
Susannah Cleveland
Mark A. Puente
Misti Shaw
DON’T BE “ONE-DATE DEBBIE.”
“One-Date Debbie,”
Sixteen Magazine, 11,
no. 2 (July, 1969): 21.
GUIDELINES
Have at least
two interview-
ready outfits
available at all
times.
Be dressed for the
interview from the
moment you arrive.
(You are probably
not Michelle
Obama.)
GUIDELINES
GUIDELINES
Dress for the
climate.
GUIDELINES
Select clothes that are
tasteful and that don’t
distract from your
professional qualifications.
GUIDELINES
very fit bodybuilde
r(
)
Check your fit.
THE BLAZER
QUESTION
Ladies, you don’t
have to wear a
blazer. For reals.
GUIDELINES
Practice wearing your
interview clothes.
GUIDELINES
“But I’m a
cataloger.”
-pettyartist, http://pettyartist.deviantart.com/art/I-may-be-
frumpy-149813394
GOOD (OBVIOUS) ADVICE
Before you have an interview scheduled, consider:
1. Do you have clothing appropriate to the position,
industry, company, and department in which you
are seeking a job?
2. Is this clothing in excellent condition: clean,
neat, in impeccable repair, and not obviously
“dated”?
-Marco Dorio, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Job Interview ([New York: Alpha Books, 2009): 52
SO-SO ADVICE
“In the real world…an employer’s decision to hire is
to a significant degree influenced by feelings—and
one of those feelings is that you will ‘fit in.’ So go
ahead: walk in the door already suited up as a
member of the team.”
-Marco Dorio, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Perfect Job Interview ([New York]: Alpha Books, 2009): 53
DANGEROUS ADVICE
“Dress as if you
already work
there.”
( actual librarian at work)
DANGEROUS ADVICE
“Dress for the
job you really
want.”Dressed as dean
BETTER ADVICE
“You want to dress one level above
what you would normally wear on the
job every day.”
-Katy Pietrowski, Career Coward’s Guide to Interviewing (Indianapolis: JIST Works, 2007), s.v. “Build Your Confidence Inside and Out,” e-book.
FOR REFERENCE
Find some good and relevant advice in:Barkley, Daniel. “Live and In-Person: Get Ready to Meet the Entire Library Family.” In How to Stay Afloat in the Academic Library Pool, edited by Teresa Y. Neely and Camila A. Alire, 83-96. Chicago: American Library Association, 2011. e-book.
AND FOR INSPIRATION
http://www.pinterest.com/panashstyle/alternative-job-interview-attire/
JUST SAY NO!!!!
To pleated, too-
long Dockers
with a blue
polyester blazer
SLEEVES TOO LONG
Get a tailor!
WELL- FITTED
SHOULDERS
“Her name is Rio
and she dances on
the sand…”
WATCH YOUR
PATTERNS!
Don’t be afraid
to show a little
bit of flare
WATCH YOUR
PATTERNS!
Novelty ties are
NEVER
a good idea
FACIAL JEWELRY/T
ATOOS
Depends on
context, but
consider balance
SHOW YOUR FLAIR
Scarves: Not
just for Art
Librarians
SHOW YOUR FLAIR
“Professional”
does not mean
“boring.”
PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT
FORWARD
Invest in some
shoe trees
PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT
FORWARD
Invest in some
shoe trees
WARDROBE AND OTHER TIPS
http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/09/25/good-fit
ted-suit-visual
/
http://www.pinterest.com/livecareer/interview-outfi
ts-for-gents
/
http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/how-dress-your-j
ob-interview
/
WARDROBE TIPS
POTENTIAL PITFALLS:SWEAT
If you sweat a lot, avoid polyester
Choose natural fabrics when possible
Clinical strength deodorant is NOT prescription
strength
Choose Certain Dri for OTC prescription strength
If you do sweat through your sleeves, relax.
It happens!
POTENTIAL PITFALLS:LEGS
Slingbacks are dangerous.
Unlined skirt with tights creates static.
Wear a slip!
Wear your dress/tights combo to work for a test
run on static.
Nude sheer hosiery is JUST FINE. Lawyers,
CEOs, and other professional women still wear
them.
If it’s good enough for Princess Kate…
It’s good enough for us.
POTENTIAL PITFALLS:ILL-FITTING CLOTHING
Avoid the “shmedium”
shirt
Slim-fit shirts aren’t the
only option
Or: size up, and have the
shirt tailored.
This is a standard job for a
tailor
POTENTIAL PITFALLS:ILL-FITTING CLOTHING
Avoid bosom button gap.
Solution 1: Have a tailor sew
invisible snaps for reinforcement.
Solution 2: Leave unbuttoned,
wear cami underneath.
Solution 3: Size up, have a tailor
take in with darts and reseaming.
A SHIRT TAKEN IN…
Seams were added in back…
Could also be done in front, under bust
POTENTIAL PITFALLS:ILL-FITTING CLOTHING
Poufy voluminous tuck-ins can be fixed with
tailoring!
before
after
POTENTIAL PITFALLS:ILL-FITTING CLOTHING
Fix floppy collars with collar stays
POTENTIAL PITFALLS:ILL-FITTING CLOTHING
If your shirt comes with plastic stays, swap them
for metal
If your shirt doesn’t come with inserts for collar
stays, get them “installed” by a tailor
If you really want to look sharp, use stays with
magnets
This is best for the shirt-no-tie look.
COLLAR STAYS WITH MAGNETS
FINISHING TOUCHES
Iron your clothes, especially the knee creases from the hanger.
The shower method doesn’t work on most wrinkles.
If you wear aftershave, bold deodorant, or lotion, apply it at
least 20 minutes before your first interview meeting. Let it
fade…
If perfume makes you feel great, wear it sparingly.
Use the Outside Grandma method: Grandma says if you can
smell yourself outdoors, it’s too much perfume. Don’t hurt
Grandma.
Tide sticks work.
White handkerchiefs for brow sweat, spills, scuffs,
vampire bites, and more.
Carry a scarf to hide giant food globs or beverage
stains.
In winter, consider packing bottle of Static Guard.
Consider packing dry shampoo (spray kind) to add
body/life to limp hair in event of bad water pressure.
MITIGATING DISASTERS
MITIGATING DISASTERS
A small travel umbrella.
If you have pets, pack a lint roller, or be extra vigilant in
de-linting before you pack.
Women: pack a spare pair of hosiery if you’re prone to
snags.
If you guzzle coffee and tea, pack breath mints. NEVER
GUM DEAR GOD NEVER GUM.
For your interview, carry a bag with a few pockets to stuff some key items:
MITIGATING DISASTERS
Consider a travel emergency kit, which
includes: • safety pin• needle, black/white thread, black & clear
buttons• 1 each of Tylenol, Benadryl, Immodium, Pepto• Tide stick• Wisp disposable toothbrush & breath mint• Band-aid• Multipurpose towelette
EMBRACE YOUR INNER BEYONCÉ/JAMES BOND
Confidence reigns supreme. Wear what makes you
FEEL like a winner, like a baller, like you deserve
that job.
No one loses the job because of button gap or
floppy collars.
Play that motivating song, look in the mirror, put
your hands on your hips, flash your best Blue
Steel, and stomp down the hallway that you
definitely own.
FEEL *THIS* CONFIDENT