Recruiter Sparks Debate Over Bringing Iced Coffee to Job Interviews
A Florida recruiter's viral video warning Gen Z candidates against bringing iced coffee to interviews has ignited a national debate about workplace etiquette, generational expectations, and what hiring managers really think.
A cup of coffee may be a daily ritual for millions of Americans, but career and etiquette experts are warning that carrying one into a job interview could send the wrong signal to hiring managers and cost candidates a job offer.
The debate erupted after Caitlin Wehniainen, a Florida-based corporate recruiter with 16 years of experience hiring for Fortune 500 companies, posted a TikTok video calling out job candidates who arrive with coffee in hand. The video has amassed more than 17,000 likes and 5,000 comments, turning a small observation about interview habits into a broader conversation about professionalism and generational divides in the workplace.
In the video, Wehniainen said showing up with an iced coffee or iced latte creates the impression that the interview is merely one stop on a list of errands. She compared it to visiting a store and a coffee shop before casually stopping by for a meeting. The practice, she argued, looks «a little too casual» and suggests the candidate did not have time to finish the drink beforehand. Her advice was direct: save the coffee for well before or after the interview.
Reaction online was sharply divided. Many commenters agreed with Wehniainen, describing the sight of a condensation-covered cup rattling with ice as distracting and unprofessional. One TikTok user wrote that the generation in question has «lost the art of professionalism.» The coffee debate joins a growing list of workplace faux pas attributed to Gen Z, including bringing parents to sit in on interviews.
Others pushed back forcefully. One woman commented that an interview is simply one stop in her day, not her entire day. Another asked whether anyone truly expects a candidate's whole schedule to revolve around a 30-minute meeting. A man who identified himself as a recruiter offered a different perspective, arguing that arriving early or on time with an iced coffee actually demonstrates good time management. Several commenters pointed to the challenging job market, with one saying that if a beverage is enough to disqualify a candidate, that is not a company worth working for.
Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and owner of the Protocol School of Texas, told Fox News Digital that the safest approach is to err on the side of caution. «Perception is everything,» she said, noting that what one person considers acceptable, another may not. In her view, bringing an iced coffee into an interview signals both a distraction and a level of comfort and casualness that may not be appropriate for the setting.
Gottsman emphasized that the issue is not limited to one generation, saying workers of all ages make similar etiquette mistakes. Beyond coffee, she advised candidates to put away their phones, skip overpowering fragrances, remove sunglasses from the tops of their heads, and avoid chewing gum. She shared the example of a New York-based manager whose interview with a candidate ended early after the applicant placed her phone face up on the conference table, repeatedly read incoming texts, and began texting while the manager was speaking. That candidate was not hired.
If an interviewer offers coffee or water, Gottsman said it is perfectly acceptable to accept, but candidates should not ask for more than what was offered. If they need a sip from a bottle tucked in a bag, she recommends politely asking first. She also noted that interviews are a two-way street: while employers evaluate candidates, applicants should be assessing whether a company's culture and expectations fit them.
Both Wehniainen and Gottsman agree there is a time and place for everything. Gottsman suggested that after a job interview, candidates might treat themselves to their favorite iced coffee drink as a reward for a job well done — just not during the meeting itself.
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