What to Wear! During a presentation During an interview At a place of employment.
What Not to Wear: MLA Interview Edition
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WHAT NOT TO WEAR: MLA INTERVIEW EDITION Susannah Cleveland Mark A. Puente Misti Shaw
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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. Guidelines. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of 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
