AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

One of my juniors disappears at 9.30am on the dot every morning to get her iced coffee fix. She spends the next hour clunking ice, topping the cup up with water when the coffee is finished, to be sure she gets max use of the ice. It sets my teeth on edge every day. She’s absolutely brilliant at her job though, bright, hard working and reliable so I am trying very hard to not let it annoy me.

Honestly I think it’s fine. I’d take my water bottle to an interview. I’ve been offered water, tea, coffee, fizzy drinks in interviews.

Mid 40s, senior finance leadership role.

I don't think bringing an iced coffee is worse than a hot beverage. But I do find bringing your own beverage to an interview odd and unprofessional.

@user1471553275sp true with the constant water obsession!

Why on earth would I care if someone brought a coffee to an interview? I guess there might be some obscure job where it would indicate that they might be too caffeine addicted for it, but otherwise the only thing I care about is can they do the job.

Agree with this.

Absolutely not. I’m 50s, education

As an interviewee no. You normally get a glass of water. I wouldn’t ask for a hot drink as I’d probably spill it!

What is wrong with drinking tango on a video call? I have drank cans of pop many times on calls or during meetings , never occurred to me that it would be an issue.

(I wouldn’t take one to an interview)

Or maybe a tango ice blast…two flavours. The final boss is one of those caps where you put a can on either side and drink from a straw. They seem to feature less than they did in the 90s. Wearing one of those at an interview AND being offered the job is my new life goal

You sound utterly exhausting.

What if it's a hot coffee though, not an iced one?

Or they accept a coffee offered at reception?

Personally I judge these people that log massive water bottles around with them everywhere, every meeting, activity etc... Just why?! There is fresh water and glasses available all around the building.

But I wouldn't hold whatever someone is drinking/doing/wearing against them, unless it's something quite extreme, like dressed in head to toe latex or drinking alcohol. Everyone has their quirks.

Work in fashion.

Agreed, I like a tea or a coffee a day but don’t feel like I’m gasping for a brew.

I didn’t understand the office tea runs where people have 5 or 6 teas a day and I don’t understand the queues for a flat white.

Surprised how many people seem to care about this. It does seem to be a generational thing. I wouldn’t think it unprofessional at all, really. Especially not with the summer we have had and the quality of air conditioning in lots of office buildings. The only thing I’d probably think is: “I like iced coffee, too, that’s something we have in common.”

What kind of iced coffee? If its one of those frappes that resemble a giant milkshake with cream and sprinkles on top then yes it would look unprofessional and an odd thing to take to an interview.

Investment banking, absolutely not. I wouldn’t turn up to a client meeting with one either. Professional meetings, I take my handbag, phone switched off and in my bag, notebook, pen and any client presentations required. I will usually accept an offer of coffee/water and it’s always offered to visiting clients.

This would be amazing. I think a slush puppy with a curly straw maybe a discrete note to HR about your wellbeing, especially if being drunk in the morning 😂

The exception to this at my work is if they ring someone and get them to take coffee orders from rest of the team. Then they’re elevated to hero status

What about a hot coffee? 😅

That’s fair enough. I was just curious about whether you had a view on this

Water only.
Also when people arrive late to work with a takeaway cup - cannot help but judge.

I feel like I want to challenge myself to have increasingly unhinged drinks on video calls just to see at which point it gets noted and commented on. I feel like the next step from tango is a massive can of Monster followed by drinking from a 2L bottle of Lilt. Going to work my way up to a 6 pinter of milk. I wonder where a slush puppy in a refillable novelty bottle with a curly straw would come on the list

I don't get where the obsession with constant drinking came from. At primary school we had metal jugs of water and you maybe had a wee flask of squash. No one was drinking constantly. You had a drink in the morning, lunch and then what you wanted once home.

I'd always have water available at interviews for candidates. Most never touch it. The average interview in my workplace (university) is 45 mins.

I have had people turn up in jeans which I thought was unprofessional. It was pushing smart/casual a bit too far. I'd probably not be so bothered now as it's much more casual post COVID but I do expect people to make a little bit of effort.

One of the professors who was appointed to my team looked like she'd rolled out of a hedge at her interview. I was not impressed. You don't have to be polished to within an inch of your life but some effort is important.

It's a formal process so leave the drink for after.

Mid 40s
University

Why would clients care if they brought an iced coffee into their workspace?