Page 6 | 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.

Lakeyloo · 24/09/2026 12:28

Unprofessional .... Early 50's, long time recruiter/Head hunter in a professional services sector.

TheFishFish · 24/09/2026 12:27

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:00

What would you think of a high court judge who brought a takeaway iced coffee into the courtroom as they sentenced a murderer?

What would you think of a newsreader who had a takeaway iced coffee on their desk as they announced a tragedy?

What would you think of a priest who had a takeaway iced coffee on the pulpit as they carried out a funeral?

There are clearly circumstances where bringing a drink in marks you out as not being the best person for a job. The way you present yourself in a job interview is one of these.

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Yes, that is exactly my point.

Obviously, in some professions you need to turn up super formal and present as such.

In other jobs, not so much. If you get it wrong in either direction you show to the interviewer that you have misjudged things.

Turning up to a casual job for a trade in full business attire would be just as weird as turning up for a job at a big 4 in jeans. In some places coming in with a coffee would be fine, in others not.

Well done for getting there.

Butchyrestingface · 24/09/2026 12:26

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:21

How do you know a high court judge doesn’t take an iced latte into the old Bailey?

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I used to work courts frequently as part of my job (Scottish Sheriff and High courts, not the old Bailey). Never saw anyone with a latte but did see a few judges with non-water drinks, eg, bottle or clear cup of orange squash.

Never thought anything of it.

There was that one time a punter was escorted from the public gallery for trying to use a vape whilst court was in session. Good times.

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:25

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:25

Is this a serious question?

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Yes. What do you know about what judges do?

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/09/2026 12:25

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:11

This is a Mumsnet thread, not a job interview for a high court judge.

My whole point on this thread is that people should match their tone to the situation they find themselves in.

A job interview is a serious interaction, even if it can appear informal and casual. So I expect candidates to take that into account.

There is nothing to be gained by bringing a takeaway iced coffee in so... don't?

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And my point is that plenty of perfectly normal and reasonable people don't see bringing a coffee to a job interview as a problem, and that doesn't say anything about their general behaviour or understanding of work.

Just as you had no idea that there's a very commonly accepted use of "support worker" to mean a certain role. Your repeated questions about what a support worker means would make you look pretty dim to some prospective employers, which no doubt you'd think is unfair and ridiculous (while deflecting admitting it with a childish quip). You are in the same position as the people who wouldn't even think about bringing a normal workplace drink into a workplace interview.

You might think everyone knows that coffee isn't professional in a job interview. Others think everyone knows that "support worker" doesn't mean someone working in IT.

That's the bit to reflect on.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:25

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:21

How do you know a high court judge doesn’t take an iced latte into the old Bailey?

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Is this a serious question?

OP posts:

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:21

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:20

Sorry?

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How do you know a high court judge doesn’t take an iced latte into the old Bailey?

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:20

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:19

How do you know?

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Sorry?

OP posts:

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:19

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:19

What a strange answer, @Backedoffhackedoff. Judges are subject to professional standards bodies, peer review, a Judicial Appointments Commission and the court of public opinion.

They don't just appear fully-formed at the Old Bailey clutching a vanilla sweet cream cold brew.

Edited

How do you know?

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:19

What a strange answer, @Backedoffhackedoff. Judges are subject to professional standards bodies, peer review, a Judicial Appointments Commission and the court of public opinion.

They don't just appear fully-formed at the Old Bailey clutching a vanilla sweet cream cold brew.

OP posts:

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 24/09/2026 12:19

The industry is irrelevant - it's unprofessional for any workplace interview. If you are offered a drink, that is different. But you don't walk in with your sippy cup full of takeway coffee.

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:14

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:05

So what would you think if a high court judge brought a takeaway iced coffee into their job interview? Do you think it would suggest the right level of gravitas and seriousness?

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For that to matter you need power or authority over the judge. Which no one has (that’s a great example tbf) so it doesn’t matter what we think about their professionalism or gravaitas.

thats the point- you are using your bit of power or authority over the candidate to install your standards- arguably overstepping the mark- but there is a whole world of people, including potential candidates, where they hold the power, not you.

maddiemookins16mum · 24/09/2026 12:14

It’s an interview, not a catch up with pals over a coffee. Whatever next, a McMuffin! If they need a drink they can ask for water, I always have water available when I interview people.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:11

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/09/2026 12:07

Are these childish responses displaying the gravitas and seriousness you admire?

I see you aren't capable of showing maturity in the thread but I hope that at least privately you'll acknowledge your hypocrisy and do some self-reflection before hiring again (if you are actually trusted to be involved in hiring).

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This is a Mumsnet thread, not a job interview for a high court judge.

My whole point on this thread is that people should match their tone to the situation they find themselves in.

A job interview is a serious interaction, even if it can appear informal and casual. So I expect candidates to take that into account.

There is nothing to be gained by bringing a takeaway iced coffee in so... don't?

OP posts:

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/09/2026 12:07

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:02

No, I can't compete with your laser-like logic.

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Are these childish responses displaying the gravitas and seriousness you admire?

I see you aren't capable of showing maturity in the thread but I hope that at least privately you'll acknowledge your hypocrisy and do some self-reflection before hiring again (if you are actually trusted to be involved in hiring).

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:05

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:03

It wouldn’t matter what I thought of a high court judge. Their employer knows only a few people can do that job well.

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So what would you think if a high court judge brought a takeaway iced coffee into their job interview? Do you think it would suggest the right level of gravitas and seriousness?

OP posts:

milkywayzz · 24/09/2026 12:04

Higher Education senior admin here: wouldn't bother me in the slightest, unless they'd be slurping their straw during the interview.

Daisymae55 · 24/09/2026 12:04

Mid thirties theatre professional here, so a super relaxed/informal interview culture (I’ve been offered wine at interviews before, I’ve declined)

I wouldn’t take any kind of takeaway coffee, iced or not, into an interview. It would feel totally unprofessional, plus I’d be worried about knocking it over (nothing worse than a coffee spill in the costume department haha)

Backedoffhackedoff · 24/09/2026 12:03

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:00

What would you think of a high court judge who brought a takeaway iced coffee into the courtroom as they sentenced a murderer?

What would you think of a newsreader who had a takeaway iced coffee on their desk as they announced a tragedy?

What would you think of a priest who had a takeaway iced coffee on the pulpit as they carried out a funeral?

There are clearly circumstances where bringing a drink in marks you out as not being the best person for a job. The way you present yourself in a job interview is one of these.

Show quote history

It wouldn’t matter what I thought of a high court judge. Their employer knows only a few people can do that job well.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:02

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 24/09/2026 11:50

Are you able to address the point?

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No, I can't compete with your laser-like logic.

OP posts:

Ilovegermany · 24/09/2026 12:01

I’ve had an interviewee that did worse than bringing a coffee in. She wore a hat and kept it on during the whole interview.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:01

FiveEightNine · 24/09/2026 11:57

Hiring and interviewing is a two way street. Both parties are testing each other.

I don't drink coffee, I don't drink iced coffee, but it sounds that bringing one is the easiest way to have any potential employer who let people with your views run hiring remove themselves from my employer candidate pool.

Either you understand my qualities and get over your feelings and "sensibilities", or you won't waste my time further.

Just out of curiosity, would iced tea in a takeaway cup have the same effect? If yes, I wouldn't have to waste a coffee to test you.

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Yes, of course.

OP posts:

Butchyrestingface · 24/09/2026 12:00

putmeonthebackburner · 24/09/2026 11:40

It’s so unprofessional. The entire discourse is mind boggling

I think it might cross my mind to wonder if the person was diabetic.

Obviously I would not ask a candidate this at interview and the possibility would also lead me to be mindful not to write such a candidate off.

Original poster

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 12:00

TheFishFish · 24/09/2026 11:50

It is though, really.

If you are looking for the best person for a given job, them bringing a drink in shouldn't impact on that decision at all. It's just a coffee. To me, depending upon the industry, it would actually be a sign of someone who is relaxed and not uptight about the interview process and for certain jobs that is exactly what you want.

It's not a black and white thing, at all.

Show quote history

What would you think of a high court judge who brought a takeaway iced coffee into the courtroom as they sentenced a murderer?

What would you think of a newsreader who had a takeaway iced coffee on their desk as they announced a tragedy?

What would you think of a priest who had a takeaway iced coffee on the pulpit as they carried out a funeral?

There are clearly circumstances where bringing a drink in marks you out as not being the best person for a job. The way you present yourself in a job interview is one of these.

AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

OP posts:

FiveEightNine · 24/09/2026 11:57

MasterBeth · 24/09/2026 10:19

But you don't seem able to empathise with the possibility that other people might not share your intuition.

Not at all.

On this thread, the current voting says that 79% of people share my intuition.

But that means at least 21% of people don't.

So it's at least contentious.

So the question becomes not whether it's OK to bring in an iced coffee, but whether other people might think it's OK.

The judgement I'm thinking about is whether the benefit of bringing an iced coffee (which is what? "I want to drink an iced coffee right in the middle of my job interview") is worth the risk of being interviewed by one of the 79% of closed-minded, starchy, rules-bound Gen Xers like me who will find it off-putting.

Anyone who thinks it's still worth it when the alternative course of action is as simple and straightforward as maybe not bringing an iced coffee into their job interview doesn't have good judgement.

You could ask exactly the same thing about gum. Why not chew gum in a job interview?

It's something people already do in the office. It doesn't impinge on anyone's ability to do the job. It might even help them focus.

Sure, you might forgive an outstanding candidate chewing all through the interview. But, yeah, it would put me off.

Hiring and interviewing is a two way street. Both parties are testing each other.

I don't drink coffee, I don't drink iced coffee, but it sounds that bringing one is the easiest way to have any potential employer who let people with your views run hiring remove themselves from my employer candidate pool.

Either you understand my qualities and get over your feelings and "sensibilities", or you won't waste my time further.

Just out of curiosity, would iced tea in a takeaway cup have the same effect? If yes, I wouldn't have to waste a coffee to test you.