what not to wear: mla interview edition

WHAT NOT TO WEAR: MLA INTERVIEW EDITION

Susannah ClevelandMark A. Puente

Misti Shaw

DON’T BE “ONE-DATE DEBBIE.”

“One-Date Debbie,” Sixteen Magazine, 11, no. 2 (July, 1969): 21.

GUIDELINESHave 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

FORWARDInvest in some

shoe trees

PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT

FORWARDInvest in some

shoe trees

WARDROBE AND OTHER TIPS

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/09/25/good-fitted-suit-visual

/

http://www.pinterest.com/livecareer/interview-outfits-for-gents

/

http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/how-dress-your-job-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 tailortake 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