AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

For people who work in caring/helping professions it’s generally understood that saying you’re a ‘support worker’ means your work involves some kind of assistance to people with vulnerabilities which mean they are unable to care for themselves independently. I’ve only ever worked in adjacent fields so it never occurred to me until now that people wouldn’t know that.

What @Scrimblescromble said. My understanding is that someone who says they are a support worker works by helping people with disabilities to go about their lives in their homes and the community.
You would be wearing quite casual clothing. Can't speak to the iced coffee but it's not well paid so maybe not.

Really don't think coffee is the first thing on my mind where it comes to interviews iced or not, personally i would only have water if i was being interviewed but may well have a regular coffee if i was interviewing, now if someone I was interviewing turned up with an iced coffee I couldn't give flying fcuk, nor can i really give a flying fuck about this whole 'good fit for the team' that the recruitment industry keeps banging on about - do they know their stuff, are they enthusiastic about their area of work is pretty much all i need to know.

I'd never do it, mostly because I'd be worried I might a- need the loo in the middle of the interview or b- spill it or leave condensation from the cup on the table, both of which I would class as very unprofessional.

Sorry that was in response to people who thought it was silly to even think about wanting a drink in the space of an hour!

totally ok with me, if they need a drink they need a drink. I would never want someone I interviewed to feel they couldn’t bring a drink with them, we get kids to take water to school for goodness sake.

This surely must be a generational difference, I’m in my early 30s and am senior management in a professional industry. I hire professionals based on their skills and aptitude. I couldn’t care less whether they have an iced drink in an interview (or if they want to immediately work flexible hours!)

I also carry my water bottle with a straw and ice around the office - apparently to the horror of many people!

I think it’s also that iced coffee feels more like an “indulgent treat” that you might take your time sipping, which is a strange choice for an interview. Whereas someone coming in with a half finished flat white feels more like an every day purchase they might habitually make when commuting/travelling around the city.

Even so, I would knock it back and bin it/hide in my bag before meeting the interviewer. Coffee cup in hand feels a bit chaotic, like you were running late or are unable to locate bins.

I think one should generally accept the offer of coffee or tea from an interviewer (it makes you feel more like a professional equal they are having a meeting with rather than a supplicant). Having a BYO drink is a bit of a cock blocker for this strategy.

I interview fairly often, a lot of candidates bring their own water in a flask / bottle now days.

As an inteerviewee, I wouldnt bring in an iced coffee myself.

As an interviewer, unless it was a very particular job where the initial presentation was very important to the role, I wouldnt mind.

The most important questions in my mind are:
Can they do the job? (I.e do they have the skills/motivation)
Do they live within a reasonable commute?
Are the a good fit? In my my mind, this is not about being the same as other team members, but bringing a different and complementary energy or skill set.

My bug bear are candidates who dont research the organisation. It's not hard! Just browse the website and memorise a few facts.

what is it about an iced coffee that offends you more than a water would?

I would hate to hire the robot you've described. No thoughts of their own, just following the steps and doing whatever their boss says.

I wouldn't even register a candidate or interviewer having an iced coffee.

I would think it’s a bit weird but it’s not a deal breaker. Depends on how the rest of the interview goes and their general demeanour (let’s assume their CV and experience is perfect).

I think the issue is that it can signal a nonchalance to the interview. Like you just popped out to do some errands, get your iced latte and oh yeah, show up to that interview. Most interviewers want you to really care about the role and prepare for it (for context I’m a lawyer so roles are competitive and we look for corporate appropriate candidates).

if you show up crashing around ice in an iced coffee, give me a soggy wet cold handshake because your hand was literally just clutching an ice coffee, and you slurp from your iced coffee throughout then that leaves a bad impression. If you show up with an iced coffee but hold it in the other hand, put it down, maybe occasionally take a quiet sip or don’t soo at all then that’s better. But like, we offer coffee in the interview, can people survive without coffee for 5 minutes?

I think when you are at an interview, the water that is almost always provided is sufficient. In fact, I would stick to that even if tea/coffee was on offer in case of a spillage.

Anyway an iced coffee seems much worse than a hot coffee. The ice cubes make noise when you pick the cup up drink.

I would be concerned that someone who wandered in with an iced coffee would be a difficult employee. I might think that they are pushing a minor boundary with the iced coffee and that it might escalate to more behaviour that wasn’t within the general etiquette.

I wouldn't care as an interviewer but wouldn't do it myself.

Agree. Would never bring one in myself as an interviewee, mainly because it’s a distraction. As an interviewer, however, it wouldn’t make me decide against an otherwise suitable candidate.

40+ - what’s wrong with it?!

I have interviewed a lot in my time. If someone came in carrying a Costa cup (insert other independent coffee shop here) it would be an instant no from me. Bottle of water fine. It indicates a lack of professionalism and that you cannot exercise self control.

I wouldn't, but wouldn't bother me at all if an interviewee did. We have many people in their 20's start their career with us. I love how they are setting new ideas in motion. They are smart, have good work boundaries, work hard but also know their limits. Not afraid to speak up and challenge "norms".I think my generation, born in the 80's, still put up with too much. What is the problem with bringing a drink, really? Unprofessional, how?

🤣🤣🤣💕

WTAF??

I can't believe so many people are saying they would or it's not an issue if someone else does.

Personally, I think it shows lack of respect for the interview process & the interviewing panel.

It comes as the person isn't fully focussed on the interview and isn't that interested in the job?

To me, it's beyond belief that people would even consider doing it

Hot cold, any kind of drink other than maybe a bottle of water.

I've interviewed and hired many people over the decades it wouldn't bother me at all if they did

It’s either unprofessional for both or it’s not.