AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

It wouldn't bother me, but then I'm not really one for pointless rules that nobody can justify.

I do the odd interview for DH and tbh that wouldn’t bother me. He has a pretty strict policy that he will only hire people who have worked a job (retail, bar, kitchen, stuff like that) for at least two years while studying. He says it’s because they can manage time better, know how to behave, and also because we both did it and it’s nice to give people who had to work through uni a leg up like we got. I do agree with him, they tend to have a better understanding of professionalism and what is expected at work.

I cant say I would be too bothered by an iced coffee, depends if they were making noise with it or like licking whipped cream off the top. The main soft skills I look for is smart dress, pleasant, good eye contact (no applicable if they’ve told us they have ASD or anything like that), and decent general conversational skills. I also really look out for overhearing. They tend to over share with me more than DH when he does the interviews, but it’s something I notice a lot, especially towards the end they’ll be chatting like we’re mates.

My absolute worst work story is when I was working as a tutor at a uni (leading seminars, we used to call them seminars but now they’re tutorials) and a kids mum emailed me demanding they got a better grade… the essay was shit, and I’d actually say down with the student and given feedback and they’d agreed what needed improvement. Cannot imagine that person in the workplace.

I agree that most people would perceive this as unprofessional because it is not perceived to be "the done thing".

But as an employer, I also think people get way too hung up on this kind of superficial thing. I couldn't really care less if someone brings a drink with them to an interview. It doesn't have any impact on their ability to do the job that I'm recruiting for.

As an aside, there was a report on BBC Breakfast this morning about a condition some people have that means they can’t burp!

Someone on tt asked the question “where are you putting it down”? Probably leaving a ring on the companies desk

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

I've read all your updates and you haven't actually given a solid reason that bringing a drink to an interview is inappropriate. It's just vague vibes and your personal preference. And it comes across as a power move, because the premise of your dislike is that you have the upper hand in the interview and the interviewee has to toe the line in order to impress you. That's not the case in all interviews, as I'm sure you know. If there was an outstanding candidate with a proven track record who you were trying to poach from a leading role at a rival company, they might still have to go through the interview process anyway, but the interview is as much about them assessing you as vice versa. I can guarantee that if they turned up with an iced coffee you would quickly park your disdain.

I don't think it's particularly professional to judge a candidate on meaningless, minor things that have zero impact on their ability to do the job, personally. It's really not that far removed from the kind of old-school companies who reject candidates for "not being a good fit" (which I'm sure you know is often a euphemism for "too female" or "too gay" or "not white").

I mean I burp, as in I can physically do it when necessary 😂but I don’t burp during/ after every fizzy drink, unless I gulped it down quickly I suppose

I've never heard it for anything other than helping vulnerable people. I've worked in customer support and tech support and never would have described myself as a support worker.

Wouldn't bother me at all. I doubt I'd even notice. I'm early 40s, and a board-level director.

Surely feeling nervous and carrying a drink is a recipe for disaster?One false move and straight down your neatly pressed blouse! I would just have some water

A job interview is generally a formal event (obviously to some extent industry dependent) and the interviewee is a guest of the company while on their premises. So they should be the ones offering drinks, even if it's only water for a short interview. It's sensible for the person being interviewed to have some water in their bag just in case they're not offered any, although I would judge the potential employer negatively for that, but it's generally better not to bring any other drinks with you. That being said I wouldn't really care if someone brought a hot coffee with them. An iced coffee is more casual and unprofessional due to having to be drunk through a straw, ice cubes rattling around and the potential to drip condensation all over the table.

I can’t say it would bother me. If they are otherwise polite, well turned out etc, what’s the actual issue with having a beverage with them? What am I missing? (I’ve never carried out an interview). I wouldn’t do it myself because I don’t buy take out coffees, but I could possibly take a bottle of water in if it’s a hot day 🫣

I wouldnt personally take any drink other than water into an interview. However, having been interviewee and interviewer myself, I am interested in this whole idea of the "basic rituals of the workplace" because you've talked about "being aware of the sensibilities of others" and disobeying etiquette, so how should an interviewee make allowances for non neurotypical interviewees who might have a weak handshake, poor eye contact and no smile or not know the rule about "dont bring coffee, especially not iced!"

When you think about it, interview etiquette is really unwritten, culturally specific, and neurotypical by default.....so neurodivergent candidates will inevitably break rules they didn’t even know existed. That leads to a less diverse and inclusive workforce.

Food🥤 for thought.

It's not a coffee break, it's an interview. It's unlikely to be silent sipping, can't they self manage not to have it, just once?

I’m not sure anyone has had a coffee break since 1996

Can you give an example? Support worker to me conjures up someone who is assisting a vulnerable person (in whatever capacity that is).

I never said it was a coffee break. I’m asking what the actual issue is. I’ve never done it myself (for the record).

I think it’s a fair point but what people in this conversation about how bad coffee is don’t seem aware of is that there are plenty of people who go into interviews not nervous, because they know the company would be pleased as punch to hire them, and only a fool would reject them due to something as silly as a coffee.

Anything bar water is unprofessional. Nurse, 60s.

And what's this 'whats a support worker' stuff? It's a standard role in health and social care! They work alongside vulnerable people, providing personal and practical support, eg people with learning or physical disabilities etc.

I don’t know why people put so much focus on these polls. I never answer them and I’m sure loads don’t

Nobody in tech support, admin support etc would say "I'm a support worker." I'd be wary of hiring someone who's been in the working world for some time and needs that explained to them.