Page 18 | AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

MasterBeth · 2026-09-23T18:45:03+00:00

Apparently, the world is debating this topic. Let's join in: Is it unprofessional to bring a takeaway iced coffee into a job interview? The answer to me is blindingly obvious, but not to everyone, it seems. Feel free to add your age and industry, in case that matters.

CopiedMyBlottingBook · 23/09/2026 20:40

It wouldn't create a great first impression but if they interviewed well and overall seemed to be the strongest candidate, I wouldn't hold it against them.

AnonyMumAuDHD · 23/09/2026 20:40

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 19:54

I work in the creative industries. In fact, we work with some of the biggest iced coffee brands in the world. Very casual work culture re: dress codes etc.

And if someone came for interview carrying an iced coffee I would think they completely lacked judgement. Why do they need to bring a drink in with them? Why not bring it a snack?

Was it a brand that you have worked with? Perhaps they were trying to show that they’d researched your company and clients?

That said - yep, unprofessional to bring any drinks or food to an interview. You only bring yourself - and a portfolio of work, if that is the norm in your industry.

ETA - mid fifties, prior life was in the City/finance, so accept other industries may differ in their expectations and times have changed. However, my DH is my age, is still in Finance and screens senior hires and I know he would be less than impressed by a candidate arriving with their mocha latte in hand.

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 23/09/2026 20:39

BabblingBiddy · 23/09/2026 20:37

I took an iced coffee to the last job interview I had. And I got the job. It was for a support worker role though.

We are a chilled out group of people.

No judgement with us.

PrideanndPurrjudice · 23/09/2026 20:39

😂😂😂😆 Just thinking about an interviewee coming into an interview holding a cold coffee and using a straw. 🤣🤣

EveryoneUsingOutro · 23/09/2026 20:39

WalterMittysPuppet · 23/09/2026 20:25

Walking into an interview with a breast or a penis peeping out may not impact on a candidates ability to perform a role, nor does checking their phone during an interview or bringing in a takeaway drink (that appears to prioritise comfort and convenience over presentation).

But I'd still think any one of those candidates shows a lack of situational judgement and a failure to calibrate - or even care about - the importance of the occasion.

Mid 50's, financial services.

Only on MN could someone compare an iced coffee to sexual flashing. Hilarious. 😂

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/09/2026 20:38

BabblingBiddy · 23/09/2026 20:37

I took an iced coffee to the last job interview I had. And I got the job. It was for a support worker role though.

whats a support worker?

EveryoneUsingOutro · 23/09/2026 20:38

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:31

Yes, I've heard of IT support workers, customer support workers, technical support workers, mental health support workers, personal support workers etc. All very different jobs.

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You phrased your initial question very badly then. “What type of support worker are you referring to?” would have made a lot more sense in that context than “what’s a support worker?” which means you don’t know what they are as a role.

Edenmum2 · 23/09/2026 20:37

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 19:55

Supporting other people with what? Why so coy?

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Why the interrogation? So weird

BabblingBiddy · 23/09/2026 20:37

I took an iced coffee to the last job interview I had. And I got the job. It was for a support worker role though.

ForeverTheOptomist · 23/09/2026 20:37

So, in the early ''90s, you were offered coffee during an interview. I once got a job because I drank my coffee, leisurely, during the proceedings. I was apparently the only interviewee who did. The rest played with it nervously.

Anyway, I not only got the job, but married the interviewer some time later (and divorced him some time after that, but that's another story).

GreenHuia · 23/09/2026 20:37

I once had an interview where the interviewers were eating cooked breakfasts! I was working in a different region and they happened to be visiting the region so suggested we meet in a cafe in the morning. They arrived slightly later than they'd planned due to traffic, and I arrived slightly earlier than the interview time so they had only just ordered food. We only got through a couple of questions before the food arrived and they tucked in. Felt pretty awkward but I got the job!

OnTheBoardwalk · 23/09/2026 20:36

I would judge, I think it’s slurping on a straw that gets me, especially as I love to do a proper loud slurp at the bottom.

if take some water incase there wasn’t any on offer but works see first. I would judge someone slurping on a big Stanley cup or similar

hmmm yes I think it’s the slurping that would be my issue

spinnerzs · 23/09/2026 20:35

I have always bought water in 🤷🏻‍♀️

Scrimblescromble · 23/09/2026 20:34

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:31

Yes, I've heard of IT support workers, customer support workers, technical support workers, mental health support workers, personal support workers etc. All very different jobs.

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Would the type of support worker inform whether a coffee is acceptable?

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 23/09/2026 20:34

I interview people and wouldn't care a bit if they brought a coffee with them.

I've also never worked somewhere where coffee is against business rituals, whatever they are.

bababamama · 23/09/2026 20:33

does matter what the job is, you arrive appropriately dressed, phone turned to silent in your bag or pocket and you sit waiting to be called - you may be offered a drink in which case it is fine to accept. Typically water is offered in interviews. What you wear is somewhat job dependent but always should be smarter than normal work clothes

RaininSummer · 23/09/2026 20:33

Pretty unprofessional and unnecessary to bring a drink in with you beyond maybe a bottle if water kept in your bag.

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/09/2026 20:33

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:32

They were driving a coffee? What?

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typo- drinking a take out coffee

Original poster

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:32

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/09/2026 20:29

I interviewed today for someone who needs to run a £500m cost cutting portfolio, deal with stakeholders from the companies owner to shareholders to the board to operational managers to divisional FDs to international customers, for 220k pa

do you seriously imagine I’d dismiss someone who was a great candidate for that job because they were drinking a take out coffee?!

Edited

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They were driving a coffee? What?

OP posts:

LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 20:31

belchingalong · 23/09/2026 20:29

And I can’t believe this thread has posts from people who are unashamedly saying that they don’t know what a “support worker” or an “iced coffee” is. Weird!

I started work in 1986 so have been around the block. No embarrassment here. Then again, wank things like iced coffee really isn't on my radar.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:31

EveryoneUsingOutro · 23/09/2026 20:13

You seriously have never heard of support workers?

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Yes, I've heard of IT support workers, customer support workers, technical support workers, mental health support workers, personal support workers etc. All very different jobs.

OP posts:

EveryoneUsingOutro · 23/09/2026 20:30

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:20

Someone who brings their own iced coffee is not the right person because they don't understand enough of the basic rituals of a professional workplace. I want to hire people who will at least consider that bringing in their own iced coffee could be a no-no to some interviewers. Then I want them to realise that the easiest way for them to not raise the tiniest of red flags is to not bring an iced coffee into a job interview.

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The basic rituals of YOUR workplace. We wouldn’t bat an eyelid.
In my 50’s now self employed but was in media.

LuckyHazelFox · 23/09/2026 20:30

Christ, some of this analysis is way beyond controlling. What next - see how the interviewee crosses their legs? You can see who gets off on power trips by some of these posts.

belchingalong · 23/09/2026 20:29

And I can’t believe this thread has posts from people who are unashamedly saying that they don’t know what a “support worker” or an “iced coffee” is. Weird!

Backedoffhackedoff · 23/09/2026 20:29

MasterBeth · 23/09/2026 20:20

Someone who brings their own iced coffee is not the right person because they don't understand enough of the basic rituals of a professional workplace. I want to hire people who will at least consider that bringing in their own iced coffee could be a no-no to some interviewers. Then I want them to realise that the easiest way for them to not raise the tiniest of red flags is to not bring an iced coffee into a job interview.

Show quote history

I interviewed today for someone who needs to run a £500m cost cutting portfolio, deal with stakeholders from the companies owner to shareholders to the board to operational managers to divisional FDs to international customers, for 220k pa

do you seriously imagine I’d dismiss someone who was a great candidate for that job because they were drinking a take out coffee?!