If you have been on social media lately, you have likely come across the big debate that is taking over the internet. Earlier this month, a content creator shared her take on bringing iced coffee into an interview. While the old-school people are piping in and saying it is unprofessional, the new-school take is that the Boomers are boomering again and we all need to lighten up. But what is the truth here? Is bringing an iced coffee into an interview unprofessional? If you think it is, does that mean you are simply a stick in the mud? Well, I can tell you this. The answer is yes…both are true. But here is a breakdown of the arguments, and I will even give you the cold, hard truth about the situation and help you decide if your conduct in an interview is keeping you out of employment. Oh, and our fearless leader will give his input as well.
It’s not about the iced coffee; it’s about the professionalism. – Ian Bell, Publisher of The Manual
So…here are the sides of the argument.
The old school take
Let’s start with the old school take. Recruiters and headhunters have been chiming in all over Instagram and TikTok with the hope of helping people understand why this is seen as unprofessional. Here is the idea behind the thinking:
1 – Let’s start with the hard truth: your resume isn’t as impressive as you think. In a situation where everyone has a resume similar to your own, the interviewers are looking for disqualifiers. And if other people don’t bring something to drink or eat into the job interview, it makes them make decisions based on seemingly arbitrary things.
2 – Let’s talk about the message it sends. Why do you need to have an iced coffee (or regular coffee for that matter) in an interview? Did you not have enough time to have the coffee beforehand? Is that a clue into your time management skills? Will you be late regularly? Or will you have a hard time with managing your time allocated to tasks?
3 – Now, let’s talk about the other elephant in the room: addiction. Why can’t you go thirty minutes to an hour without having your binky? If you can’t go that long without grabbing an iced coffee, how much time will you be spending without getting up from your desk to get another iced coffee to keep you focused?
4 – Finally, your team dynamics. If you are bringing iced coffee to an interview without knowing what the interviewers were thinking about the action, it brings your selflessness into question. It could be said that you put your comfort and convenience at the forefront of your mind. You will likely do the same when push comes to shove, and that isn’t a great thing to be in the interviewer’s mind.
The new school take
Is it really that serious?
Gen Z is holding a mirror up to older generations. When we were young, we were taught that loyalty was imperative. If you put in the time and the work, you will get promoted. Companies are looking for those people who work hard and drink the Kool-Aid. Millennials found out the hard way (especially all of us laid off during the pandemic; we found out the hard way that as soon as times get tough) we’re expendable. Gen Z watched us go through this and are changing the dynamic with these small rebellions. They are also finding a work-life balance we have never experienced. So they aren’t always wrong with these rebellions.
So, what is the big deal if someone brings in an iced coffee? If this person can do the job, then who cares? If you are someone who gets bent out of shape about a caffeine shot, how tyrannical are you going to be during the Monday 9-5? Is this really someone a person really wants to work for? It is a legitimate question. This feels like an antiquated thought process that more than overstayed its welcome. If you are the best person for the job, then by all means, you should get the job, whether you need a coffee fix or not.
The suit parallel
This isn’t a new argument. The moment I found myself lying in bed doomscrolling and coming across this debate, I had a wicked attack of deja vu. I remember the debate on the suit. My father. My grandfather. My great-grandfather. All of these men wore a suit to work every day. And they wouldn’t dream of wearing less to a job interview. Nowadays, that feels old-fashioned. So what happened? Millennials started this fight. We started thinking the same as the above. This is an antiquated viewpoint and a dreadful stick-in-the-mud mindset that felt tyrannical. If I can do the job, and I am not customer- or client-facing, why does it matter that I wear a suit?
The result? The industry acquiesced to our complaints and the suit started to go away. Then, because we are a people who can’t handle a little leeway, we started wearing more and more casual clothing. Now you have guys wearing joggers to the office, and the puffer vest is the go-to for the finance bros on Wall Street.
This is why the employers push back at this. I remember watching a movie once, Air Force One with Harrison Ford. At one point, when a hijacker made demands, Ford says to his Vice President, Glenn Close, “If you give a mouse a cookie?” To which she responds, “He’s going to want a glass of milk.” The point? If you allow these little rebellions of iced coffee, it isn’t long before interviewees are bringing in Chicken McNuggets and wearing pajamas in interviews.
My take
OK, bottom line. Both of these takes are right. And both are wrong. The question you have to ask yourself when getting ready for the interview: Is it worth it? Research the company. You can likely get away with it if you’re interviewing at a company like Google, which is known for being a little bit more lenient and progressive. However, you may be interviewing at a more conservative place, and this could absolutely be a dealbreaker or a tie-breaker (if your resume is the same as the other person or persons being considered). So, why risk it?
You should be able to handle the thirty minutes without the caffeine or the emotional support latte. Even if you can’t, most interviewers are going to offer coffee or water anyway. So, my advice is to leave it in your car or at home, and then treat yourself to a fresh one when you’re done.
Advice from our publisher
Ian Bell started The Manual almost two decades ago and has been front and center since the beginning. As a business owner, he has been front and center for every single person who has come through the doors in that time. With that much experience, I had to reach out and get his input into this debate. Here are the pieces of advice he offers:
- Being early matters. Like my high-school coach used to tell me. It’s all about showing up. Early is on time, on time is late, and late, you’re out of there.
- There should be nothing casual about a job interview. Dress as if your life depended on it. Wear a suit if you can, but certainly wear a dress shirt. No iced coffee, and don’t ask for a coffee or a drink unless you absolutely need it. If they offer it, not a problem in my mind; take it.
- Do your research on the company. Who started the company? When was it founded? What do they do? Where are they investing their time and money (research, new products, turnaround)? Research whoever is interviewing you. Know something about them.
- Ask how your success will be measured. What are your KPIs?
- Lastly, be genuine; do not fake it. No, you single-handedly did not bring in millions of dollars in revenue in your last job, or turn the business around. You had a team. Give credit where it’s due. You might have implemented the system, the coaching, and helped set the culture and the values. But your team did the work.
