When preparing for a job interview, you might consider bringing items such as your CV, your portfolio, your charming personality, and presenting yourself in the best possible light.
However, what about your iced latte? This is the topic igniting discussions online after a recruiter recently criticized Gen Z for arriving at corporate interviews “with iced coffee, iced latte, in hand” in a viral TikTok video.
In this video, which has garnered over 420,000 views since being shared last week, U.S. recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen expresses her view that arriving with a cold drink seems overly relaxed, “as if it’s merely a brief stop on your day’s errands.”
“It appears as though you visited Target, then Starbucks, and now you’re swinging by your interview before heading to your next appointment,” Wehniainen remarked.
“Don’t stroll into your interview casually while holding an iced coffee. It gives the impression that you didn’t have time to finish your drink beforehand.”
This video has sparked a generational divide among viewers, with some agreeing that bringing a drink to a job interview is unprofessional, while others defend their desire to stay caffeinated.
“It’s not really about the coffee,” one user commented on Threads. “It’s about understanding your surroundings, being part of a community, finding a balance, and tolerating discomfort,” they continued.
Others emphasized the importance of basic manners, with one individual commenting on Reddit, stating that “showing up at an interview with a drink just for yourself is as discourteous as if the interviewer sipped coffee without offering you anything.”
On the other hand, some argued that how a company responds to a drink can indicate its culture.
“In 2026, being authentic is an advantage, and any workplace that micromanages trivial matters, such as whether you brought coffee to an interview, is NOT a place where you’ll flourish,” marketing expert Zoë Hartsfield stated on LinkedIn on Tuesday.
“It’s no surprise that 58 percent of Gen Z has a side job or runs their own business.”
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Generational differences?
The iced coffee controversy isn’t the first instance where Gen Z has faced scrutiny over manners and perceived soft skills. Last year, the phrase “Gen Z stare” entered public discourse, describing the “blank, expressionless” gaze often directed by younger individuals towards older generations, particularly in customer service contexts, according to Know Your Meme.
Similar to the “Gen Z stare,” some believe the iced coffee discussion reveals deeper issues, such as how young adults and adolescents are grappling with the lasting consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns, facing the highest youth unemployment rate in decades, and navigating the influence of AI on entry-level positions and hiring practices.
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Gen Z largely matured during the pandemic’s isolation, typically favoring digital communication and reporting higher anxiety levels compared to earlier generations. Recent studies indicate that some employers are reluctant to recruit younger candidates, pointing to a deficiency in soft skills like effective communication and teamwork.
But are younger individuals genuinely showing up to job interviews with iced coffees?
Allison Venditti, a human resources specialist based in Toronto, claims she can count the number of times it has occurred on one hand, and it’s no more frequent than it was 15 years ago.
“Now we just have TikTok to highlight these instances,” Venditti, who leads Moms at Work, an advocacy group for working mothers, shared with CBC News.
“Most individuals, whether Gen Z or otherwise, take the job search seriously and arrive well-prepared and perform admirably.”
In a recent TikTok discussion, Gen Z has been noted for gazing blankly instead of engaging in conversation, particularly when interacting with older generations. CBC’s Ashley Fraser explores the authenticity of this trend and its potential origins.
Is there a compromise?
That being said, Venditti does have some cautionary tales involving iced coffee, such as an incident where a candidate spilled their drink all over themselves and their documents during an interview.
“We spent around 15 to 30 minutes cleaning up the mess. We also needed to find a different room for the interviews due to the stickiness. It was an unfortunate experience for everyone involved,” she recounted.
However, some believe there might be a middle ground.
If you choose to bring an iced drink to an interview, it’s advisable not to fidget with it, slurp, place it on the interviewer’s desk, or hold it in your right hand, which could result in a wet handshake, advises branding and marketing professional Benjamin Chipman from New York City.
“You might take one sip throughout the entire interview, as that could provide you a moment to think when they pose a question,” he suggested in a video shared on LinkedIn.
Some may argue that this is preferable to responding with a Gen Z stare.
Ultimately, Venditti believes the concise response to whether it is unprofessional to bring an iced coffee to an interview is “yes.”
“Would you bring a sandwich? No? Then refrain from bringing that as well.”
According to an HR expert, the straightforward answer to whether it is unprofessional to carry an iced coffee, like the one shown here being served at Starbucks, to a job interview is yes. (Ming Yeung/Getty Images)