“Why would iced coffee hurt my chances at a job?” That was the question on many minds when Caitlin Wehniainen, a US recruiter with 16 years of experience, posted a TikTok explaining why Gen Z candidates who bring an iced coffee to a job interview leave a sour taste in her mouth.
“From my hiring standpoint, when you show up with an iced coffee, it’s perceived that this interview is just a stop on your list of errands for the day,” she says in the video. “Don’t waltz into your interview all casual with an iced coffee. It looks like you just didn’t have the time to finish your coffee beforehand.”
Her video sparked a heated online debate, which Caitlin herself dubbed “The Great Iced Coffee Debate”. Many Gen Zs have pushed back against such etiquette standards.
“I can understand why older people might be rubbed the wrong way, but I think younger people won’t really care,” says Susan*, a 23-year-old fresh graduate. “I think it’s a bit of a bad look. Maybe they would think you’re not stressed or don’t care enough about the interview if you can afford to go and get coffee. But objectively, it’s not that deep, and they need to get over it. The interviewee’s skill set is way more important.”
Another camp, made up of millennials and some Gen Zs, was quick to defend Caitlin’s stance. Ellyn Jade Arul, a 23-year-old social worker, finds the behaviour “informal”.
“It kind of implies that you rushed to the interview and couldn’t finish your coffee on the way, which (as an interviewer) would give me the impression that you either don’t manage your time very well or are a bit disorganised,” she says. “It’s like bringing a snack to an interview. I can’t imagine taking out some Oreos in the middle of one.”
But in today’s workplace, how much do these small acts of interview etiquette really matter? We asked Mark Ng, marketing manager at employment marketplace, Jobstreet by SEEK, in Singapore, whether this seemingly harmless habit could sway a recruiter’s impression, and which interview etiquette rules candidates should still take seriously.
No right answer
The “Great Iced Coffee Debate” may seem trivial, but it taps into a broader shift in how we define professionalism as workplaces become more flexible and, in some cases, less formal, Mark explains. He isn’t surprised that Gen Zs are the ones challenging conventional norms, since each generation has its own take on what it means to be professional. But it would be a stretch to pin changing expectations on them alone, he adds. What counts as professional varies just as much across industries, organisations and roles.
“For a candidate, grabbing a pre-interview drink could be part of a routine to settle the nerves, which has no bearing on how seriously they take the interview. For an interviewer, it can come across as overly casual for what they consider an important discussion. Both perspectives are fair,” he says.
This is particularly relevant in Singapore, where candidates may encounter everything from traditional corporate environments to start-ups with far more relaxed cultures. Many interviews are even held in non-traditional settings like cafes. There is, therefore, no single definition of what an interview should look like.
“There is no right or wrong in this conversation, but it is an opportunity to engage with the younger generation, and for both sides to learn from each other’s perspectives,” he says. “We should not use this as a splinter that stretches the employment expectation gap.”
Read the room
That said, first impressions do matter, Mark says. In an interview, small details can shape the overall impression, even unintentionally, because our conduct, deportment and reactions are all being evaluated. How we carry ourselves in a formal environment, and how we treat people we meet in passing, are cues to how we might handle unfamiliar settings.
Ultimately, it’s less about any single behaviour and more about whether a candidate can read the context, stay present and adapt to the professional setting. Candidates should come prepared: do the research, find out who they’ll be meeting, whether it’s a group interview and how formal the occasion is. When in doubt, Mark advises, there’s little harm in erring on the side of caution.
Amid the grey area, he stresses that the fundamentals still hold. Being punctual, prepared, respectful and engaged shows that you value the opportunity and the interviewer’s time, and it communicates your work ethic and attitude from the get-go.
He also encourages candidates to find a way to be themselves while staying professional, as “authenticity and professionalism are not mutually exclusive”.
Rather than worrying about a universal rule, he suggests focusing on the impression you want to leave. When it comes to the iced coffee, ask yourself: could this distract from that impression? If so, save it for after the interview.
A conversation for employers too
The debate doesn’t leave employers entirely in the driver’s seat either. Mark says they should distinguish between personal preferences around etiquette and behaviours that genuinely reveal a candidate’s suitability for the job. They should also consider whether such cues accurately reflect fit with the organisation’s culture and expectations.
“Recruiters should look at the bigger picture rather than making assumptions based on one moment,” he says.
Candidates are assessing employers, too, he adds. How an organisation handles interviews can offer an early glimpse into its workplace culture and expectations.
“An interview is a two-way conversation,” he says. “If the environment or terms do not work for you, you are free to turn down the offer. But if you choose to accept, it is important to bite the bullet and respect the expectations that come with the role.”
