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Iced Coffee in Interviews? Recruiter Sparks Gen Z Etiquette Debate
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News18•23-09-2026, 13:15
Iced Coffee in Interviews? Recruiter Sparks Gen Z Etiquette Debate
- •A recruiter with 16 years of experience advises against bringing iced coffee to job interviews, especially for initial meetings.
- •Caitlin Wehniainen observed Gen Z candidates arriving with iced drinks, suggesting it gives a casual impression to Fortune 500 companies.
- •She believes carrying a drink can make the interview seem less important, implying it's just another stop in a day of errands.
- •Wehniainen recommends finishing drinks before the interview or saving them for afterward to maintain a professional appearance.
- •The advice has sparked debate, with some agreeing it looks unprofessional, while others argue it helps ease interview nerves.
Key Questions Answered
Recruiters like Caitlin Wehniainen suggest that carrying a drink into a professional interview can make the candidate look too casual, giving the negative impression that the interview is merely a stop on their daily errand list.
Applicants are advised to finish their iced coffee well before the interview begins, or save it for after the meeting, instead of walking into the room casually holding a drink.
The topic sparked mixed reactions online; some users agreed that sipping a drink or swirling a cup looks childish and unprofessional, while others argued that a favourite beverage can help calm interview nerves.
