AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

We always offer people tea/coffee/water. Either it’s in the room if the interviews are back to back, or in the kitchen area and we make polite small talk whilst making it. I prefer the latter, it’s good to see and speak to the candidates in a less formal way.

it's hardly judgemental to not want to hire someone with neither critical thinking skills, nor any initiative (seriously, why not just google it if you honestly didn't know?) whom you'd have to walk through and spoon feed every single task.

If you can't work out that an iced coffee is a coffee with ice in it, (and, worse, feel comfortable telling people you don't know that) how would you possibly cope in the workplace if asked to get the 'Smith file,' or the 'annual accounts' or the 'headed paper,' etc.?

I don't see the problem. (Forties, IT consulting, not HR, but I sat more interviews as the interviewer than interviewee side)

Calling it "unprofessional" sounds like some imaginary, made up rules to me.
If it makes the candidate feel better or more relaxed, more able to proof what they can do, who cares?

What’s unprofessional about a drink??

But why is it unprofessional and lacking in insight?

Is taking a bottle of water unprofessional?

What if they offer you a hot drink? Is that a trick question and if you accept you lack insight?

I think as long as the drink isn't distracting and just quiet, discreet sips whilst listening to the question, I don't understand the concern.

I've interviewed numerous candidates for jobs and someone bringing a drink in wouldn't concern me.

Ive also sipped water in interviews myself, helps with dry mouth due to nerves (wouldn't accept coffee for fear of needing a wee!)

I would never do it, but it's always welcomed when I'm offered water as interviews make me nervous and my throat always gets dry.

I nearly wrote "I wouldn't notice" in my answer. I genuinely almost wouldn't notice. It would be a non event.

Short skirts? No
Jeans? No
Dirty finger nails? No
Being unprepared? No
Bringing in an iced coffee? Why not?

I'm definitely in another world or of a certain age.

Wow this is interesting. I work in tech and interview a lot and I don't think I would even blink an eye if a candidate did this. Have definitely had people show up with takeaway coffee cups before. Our office is really near a super nice coffee place. Good to know not everyone thinks this is normal though ... will make sure I don't do this in any interviews in the future 😂

I think it’s a massive lack of judgement to be so aggressive asking about what a support worker is.
The kinds of jobs they might do- take people to the toilet, push people around in wheelchairs, support people with going out and about, help people to get dressed, help fill in forms.
How have you never heard of a support worker who are literally the backbone of society yet care so much about someone drinking iced coffee?

but an interview isn't the workplace!

It's pretty standard that you present yourself differently in an interview compared to when you're actually working somewhere. You speak differently, dress more formally, usually don't make jokes, use different body language and generally try to present the absolute best version of yourself you can.

For me it's one of those cost/benefit scenarios.

The possible benefit to you is you drink an iced coffee slightly earlier than you would if you waited until after the interview to drink it.
Possible negatives are if you accidentally spill it you look clumsy and unprofessional, or even if your interviewer happens to be one of the many people who just think it's inappropriate - it could cost you the job.

So the potential negatives seem to vastly outweigh the positives. It seems a silly thing to stake a job on when you could just wait half an hour and have the coffee then.

No very unprofessional. Doesn’t matter what the job is for. First impressions count a lot.

You wouldn’t notice? How could you not?

Maybe they had done their research on who your biggest customers were and wanted to show solidarity

Yes, there should have been water provided.

I heard a story once from an old colleague - could be BS, but knowing them I suspect it was true.

They were the hiring manager for a grad scheme at a big company in London. Being a decent company, and a grad scheme they paid for train fare too and from London for all the candidates. Someone phoned to say they were running late due to an issue with the trains. not a huge issue, these things happen and at least they called.

The interviewee showed up two hours late, carrying some Harrods bags. Turns out, they had never been to London before, and combined the interview and free train with some shopping and sightseeing and thought they could cross London a lot quicker than than they actually could

We always provide water for candidates, but sometimes I have a coffee, I could be doing 7 hour long interviews back to back and score during my lunchbreak, a candidate is there for an hour

I work in the media and would think nothing of it. In fact, I once had a job interview in a London cafe. Coffee was drunk by both of us if I remember correctly - and I got the job

Completely unprofessional and lacks insight. Of course it’s fine once you get the job. I work in a senior professional role and have my breakfast at my desk every morning! But an interview is different

People do get quite weird about takeaway coffees, speaking as a non-imbiber. Mind you some people have attitude about bottles of water too.

Quite, and that's why I questioned it because I still don't see the issue with a cold coffee. This all sounds so wank.

You seriously have never heard of support workers?

A coffee (usually latte style) with ice in it - it’s really not that hard to work out from the description 🤣

I assume the issue with specifically iced coffee is that it seems frivolous/young. I don't tend to buy coffee out and would only be drinking a takeaway iced coffee as a treat, so I certainly wouldn't be wasting my enjoyment taking it to a job interview, I'd have it afterwards!

I am employed at a university and honestly I think the reaction you'd get would vary department to department so I think if you're at all worried about appearing unprofessional then I'd probably skip it!