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By Suzanne Blake
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A seemingly innocuous drink has ignited a fierce debate across TikTok, LinkedIn and other social media platforms: Should candidates bring an iced coffee to a job interview?
The discussion began after recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen, who said she had 16 years of experience recruiting for Fortune 500 companies, posted a TikTok video criticizing the practice.
"Gen Z candidates are showing up to their interviews with iced coffee in hand," Wehniainen said in the video posted last week, adding that it signals to recruiters that the interview is just a "stop on your list of errands to do for the day."
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Her comments appear to have struck a nerve, prompting thousands of responses from recruiters, career coaches and job seekers, many of whom are sharply divided over whether carrying a cold brew into an interview is unprofessional or completely harmless.
Why It Matters
The debate has become about far more than coffee. At its core, the argument reflects a broader generational clash over workplace norms, professionalism and what employers should value during hiring.
Some recruiters argue that an iced coffee can send unintended signals about a candidate's seriousness, while many Gen Z workers see these concerns as outdated and disconnected from their actual job performance.
Already today, younger workers are increasingly challenging traditional corporate expectations around dress codes and workplace etiquette, and the iced coffee debate is a larger extension of that.
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What To Know
The controversy began after Wehniainen observed that some Gen Z candidates were arriving at interviews carrying iced coffees or lattes.
Speaking from her perspective as a recruiter, she said the choice could come across as overly casual. The video quickly went viral, generating thousands of comments from users on both sides of the issue.
Some agreed with Wehniainen, arguing that candidates should avoid bringing food or drinks into interviews because first impressions matter. There are also several practical concerns involved in bringing a drink to an interview, like the condensation you could leave at the table or even the awkward dance of how to shake hands when you're holding a cup.
Others were baffled that a beverage could be viewed as a reflection of professionalism, and one TikTok commenter wrote: "But an interview IS just a stop in my day. It's not my whole day."
Recruiters Are Split Over Iced Coffee Debate
While Wehniainen's position received support from many hiring professionals, other recruiters have publicly disagreed.
Eric Turney, the president of the Monterey Company, a custom merchandise business, routinely interviews and hires employees. He believed the iced coffee debate was getting more attention than the actual issue deserved.
"If someone walks into an interview with an iced coffee and absolutely crushes the interview, I'm not going to pass on a great candidate over a Starbucks cup," Turney told Newsweek.
"That said, job interviews are short and first impressions matter. Candidates should understand that every little thing is giving the interviewer information, whether that is fair or not. Walking in carrying a large iced coffee may read as very casual to one hiring manager. Another may not notice it at all. There is almost no upside to taking that chance. So personally, I would finish it before walking in."
Angela Webber, the president of MsAngie LLC and a corporate communication strategist, said the debate highlighted the different ways in which Gen Z, people born between 1997 and 2012, was raised by their parents.
"The boundaries given to them were weak and very hands off. They were allowed to do pretty much anything without consequence or discipline. Leaving them to do whatever they wanted without being questioned. So bringing iced coffee to an interview doesn't seem out of the norm because for them it is very normal," Webber told Newsweek.
"Should we look at the qualifications over the coffee? I believe so," she continued. "They are the generation of the future, and they are brilliant. I don't think a cup of coffee should stand between a cup of coffee and a rock star employee."
What Should Job Seekers Know?
It seems to be generally advised that candidates finish their beverage before entering the interview because it can create unnecessary distractions.
"Bringing iced coffee to a job interview is a 'violation' of unwritten rules about putting your best foot forward," Brian Daniel, the founder and owner of recruiting firm the Celebrity PA Network, told Newsweek.
"Putting the straw of the drink in your hand and slurping it is no different than taking a bite of a doughnut. Would you eat in an interview? I hope not. Either way, you're ingesting food in front of the recruiter, and you're supposed to be paying attention and 'reading the room.' Not understanding this is a fundamental lack of business acumen and basic manners."
However, blanket rules against carrying a beverage could be somewhat outdated and may depend on the type of company and role involved. Startups and more casual workplaces may view the behavior differently compared to traditional corporate employers, for instance.
"Staying caffeinated, sometimes overly so, stereotypically goes hand in hand with the hustle corporate culture," Nathan Putsey, a talent acquisition manager at JobLeads, told Newsweek. "So to some people, grabbing a coffee to bring to an interview might even seem like the move to make them look more 'ready to grind.' But now, with this debate circulating, it's clear that this is not the case, and many people find it unprofessional."
Whether or not carrying a Starbucks cup into an interview should matter, many recruiters say candidates should be aware that interviewers often make judgments based on seemingly minor details.
"The fact that so many younger people are defending the coffee is probably more interesting than the coffee itself," Turney said. "They seem to be asking why something unrelated to their ability to do the job should influence whether they get hired."
What Happens Next
The iced coffee debate is unlikely to change hiring practices overnight, but it has reflected an important reality for job seekers about the values of some in charge of hiring.
For now, candidates face a choice: Bring the coffee and risk encountering a traditionalist hiring manager, or leave it behind and eliminate one potential source of scrutiny.
"As a hiring manager, I care much more about whether someone showed up on time, prepared, communicated well, understood the role and could explain why they would be good at it," Turney said. "My advice to candidates is still simple: Don't give the interviewer an unnecessary reason to question your judgment. You can have the iced coffee. Just finish it before you walk through the door."
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Shakeema Edwards.
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