AIBU to think takeaway iced coffee at interviews is unprofessional?

[MasterBeth]

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.

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!

No-one needs a takeaway iced coffee during their job interview.

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.

Exactly that, @Househunt2026