Gen Z’s habit of walking into interviews with iced coffee in hand has set off a wider debate over workplace norms and professionalism.
Recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen posted a TikTok saying some Gen Z candidates have shown up to interviews carrying iced coffee. In her view, it makes the interview look like 'one stop on your list of errands for the day.' She said it is 'too casual' for corporate opportunities and advised young workers to get their caffeine before or after the meeting.
Some commenters pushed back, arguing that interviews are only one part of a day and that people should not have to 'pretend we aren’t human.' Others said the reaction showed a normal standard of professionalism.
The debate quickly widened. Content creator Josh Lora said people are trying to rewrite professionalism to suit themselves, and that those who bring coffee into an interview should not expect no consequences. He said, 'That is not the way that the world works.' Another creator, Miss Redacted, said corporate America comes with 'unwritten rules' even when they seem trivial.
The argument even showed up in a TikTok video that reportedly displayed a poll inside an elevator at one 'extremely corporate office job.' In that poll, 92% said it is unacceptable to bring iced coffee to an interview, while 8% said it is fine.
Recruiters are divided too. Ashley Daugherty, market manager at Randstad Professional, said an iced coffee tells an interviewer little about whether someone can do the job. 'It isn’t really about coffee,' Daugherty said. 'It’s about who gets to define 'professional.''
Megan Slabinski, district president at Robert Half, said she would not recommend bringing one into the interview, but she does not think it would usually decide the outcome. She said candidates should keep both hands free for a handshake introduction and avoid anything messy or distracting.
Slabinski said hiring managers are mostly looking at communication, professional skills and how applicants present themselves. If a drink becomes a distraction, she said, it is better to leave it out.
Trent Cotton, head of talent insights at iCIMS, took the opposite view. He said if a drink makes a candidate more comfortable, it should not be a problem. Cotton said the difference between a glass of water and a cup of coffee is not meaningful and argued that companies should not rule out job seekers over something so small.
