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.

Pretty unprofessional and unnecessary to bring a drink in with you beyond maybe a bottle if water kept in your bag.

does matter what the job is, you arrive appropriately dressed, phone turned to silent in your bag or pocket and you sit waiting to be called - you may be offered a drink in which case it is fine to accept. Typically water is offered in interviews. What you wear is somewhat job dependent but always should be smarter than normal work clothes

I interview people and wouldn't care a bit if they brought a coffee with them.

I've also never worked somewhere where coffee is against business rituals, whatever they are.

Would the type of support worker inform whether a coffee is acceptable?

I have always bought water in 🤷🏻‍♀️

I would judge, I think it’s slurping on a straw that gets me, especially as I love to do a proper loud slurp at the bottom.

if take some water incase there wasn’t any on offer but works see first. I would judge someone slurping on a big Stanley cup or similar

hmmm yes I think it’s the slurping that would be my issue

I once had an interview where the interviewers were eating cooked breakfasts! I was working in a different region and they happened to be visiting the region so suggested we meet in a cafe in the morning. They arrived slightly later than they'd planned due to traffic, and I arrived slightly earlier than the interview time so they had only just ordered food. We only got through a couple of questions before the food arrived and they tucked in. Felt pretty awkward but I got the job!

So, in the early ''90s, you were offered coffee during an interview. I once got a job because I drank my coffee, leisurely, during the proceedings. I was apparently the only interviewee who did. The rest played with it nervously.

Anyway, I not only got the job, but married the interviewer some time later (and divorced him some time after that, but that's another story).

I took an iced coffee to the last job interview I had. And I got the job. It was for a support worker role though.

Why the interrogation? So weird

You phrased your initial question very badly then. “What type of support worker are you referring to?” would have made a lot more sense in that context than “what’s a support worker?” which means you don’t know what they are as a role.

whats a support worker?

Only on MN could someone compare an iced coffee to sexual flashing. Hilarious. 😂

😂😂😂😆 Just thinking about an interviewee coming into an interview holding a cold coffee and using a straw. 🤣🤣

We are a chilled out group of people.

No judgement with us.

Was it a brand that you have worked with? Perhaps they were trying to show that they’d researched your company and clients?

That said - yep, unprofessional to bring any drinks or food to an interview. You only bring yourself - and a portfolio of work, if that is the norm in your industry.

ETA - mid fifties, prior life was in the City/finance, so accept other industries may differ in their expectations and times have changed. However, my DH is my age, is still in Finance and screens senior hires and I know he would be less than impressed by a candidate arriving with their mocha latte in hand.

It wouldn't create a great first impression but if they interviewed well and overall seemed to be the strongest candidate, I wouldn't hold it against them.

The woman whose TikTok started this heated iced debate was specifically talking as someone who recruits for Fortune 500 'super buttoned up corporations'. So people can think it's a silly bit of advice all they want, but why put yourself at a disadvantage from the get-go?

They’d not get the job.

I don’t think this would bother me. And I used to interview people a fair bit

I’ve never interviewed but I don’t think it would immediately put me off. It would depend on many other factors. If they’re sitting too causally playing with the straw etc then I probably would notice and be put off but if it’s just sitting there and they’re fully engaged in the interview then it’s not drawing my attention as an issue. I probably would think it was a stupid idea to bring it but maybe their order was delayed and they never got time to finish it or something. If they’re a good fit it wouldn’t be a deal breaker.

I do think we’ve become more causal around the rules with drink and food. I think it’s an influence from the USA.

I don't think you should carry any drink with you into interviews. I'd take a small bottle of water in my bag just in case it wasn't available and I needed it for a dry mouth/throat. But normally there would be.

On the other hand, I don't actually think it really matters, and wouldn't hold it against someone.

I wouldn’t do it but I do question why it is unprofessional? People drink iced coffee and will continue to do so in their employment.

Exactly. In a job where we do all sorts from wiping bums to facilitating medical appointments there isn't a lot of time to worry about coffee. Iced or not!

as no one knows me here I’m going to let you into a secret I’ve just landed an amazing job in a very prestigious company and I downed a can of cider before the interview. I know it’s not the done thing but for some reason I am absolutely terrible at interviews. I prep, I know all the answers as soon as someone asks me a question I go blank.
Before anyone asks, I’m not an alcoholic. I literally drink a couple of times a year. I’m more than capable of performing in meetings at high-level but interviews are my weakness