0 comments
Recruiters are debating on TikTok whether it’s okay to bring iced coffee into a job interview, highlighting discrepancies in professional standards between different generations and industries.
Would you bring iced coffee into a job interview?
A debate has been underway on social media this week as Gen Zers and older professionals consider whether it’s ‘inappropriate’ or an unnecessary restriction that makes new, potential employees uneasy.
It began when TikToker @caitlinrecruiter uploaded a clip advising interviewees to leave beverages at home, as it is perceived as unprofessional and ‘too casual,’ implying that you can’t effectively manage your time. ‘It looks like the interview is just another errand in your day,’ she said in her TikTok video.
@caitlinrecruiter Coffee & interviews … finish it beforehand 😅
The ensuing comments sparked heated arguments between Gen Z workers and millennial recruiters, with younger people pushing back against the negative connotations of being ‘casual’ in a workplace.
‘As a millennial, can we please let go of the weird rules boomers and Gen X imposed on us? Interviews are stressful enough,’ wrote one user. ‘The performance of professionalism is silly; life is too short,’ said another.
A third TikTok user pushed back, however, saying that ‘this comment section proves that this generation has lost the art of professionalism.’
This last sentiment was — perhaps unsurprisingly — echoed on LinkedIn.
‘I absolutely would not bring an iced coffee to an interview or any other drink,’ posted an architect. ‘A drink is one more thing to keep track of when I should be concentrating on the interview, from the time I walk in the front door to the time I drive out of the parking lot.’
Another user said, ‘Drink your beverage before you arrive, keep your feet off the desk, and interview. You are not at home. Critical thinking should tell us this is not about an iced coffee. It is about judgement, situational awareness, and knowing how to show up professionally.’
Of course, we’re not here to tell you what’s right or wrong, but the ongoing back-and-forth makes for interesting reading, at the very least. It shows the general divide between older professionals in corporate settings and younger, more creative workers who are used to a far more casual, relaxed setup.
