Is it unprofessional to bring coffee to a job interview? Millennials and Gen X say so

The ultimate professional faux pas? (Picture: Getty images) You walk into a job interview, resume in hand, and settle into your seat — iced latte in tow. To Gen Z, bringing a favourite caffeine fix to an interview can feel completely normal, if not essential for calming pre-meeting jitters. But for older generations, taking a sip mid-interview might just be the ultimate workplace faux pas. A growing generational divide on TikTok has sparked a heated debate over interview etiquette, leaving job seekers asking: is sipping coffee during an interview casual confidence, or a serious professional red flag? Many Gen Z job seekers argued that carrying a coffee, iced or otherwise, is completely normal. However, hiring managers and older generations quickly chimed in with a starkly different take, warning that bringing your own beverage can make a candidate appear overly casual, unprepared, or indifferent to the formal nature of a job interview. Minus points were given for noisy ice and frivolous straws. Some even went as far as to claim that this was driving Gen Z unemployment. Nearly one million young people aged 16 to 24 in the United Kingdom are not in education, employment or training. Is bringing a coffee into an interview unprofessional? ‘I actually don’t agree with taking a coffee into an interview,’ Ashlea Fisher, a recruiter with more than 20 years’ experience, tells Metro. ‘Not because I think it automatically makes someone unprofessional, but because I think an interview is an opportunity to spend as much quality time as possible with the hiring manager and really get to know each other. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘I’ve actually had an experience with a millennial candidate who took a coffee into an interview, and the hiring manager wasn’t impressed. When they went to shake hands, the candidate had their hands full, coffee in one hand, bag in another which made those first few seconds rather awkward. ‘It sounds like a small thing, but those first moments of an interview can set the tone.’ Would you accept? (Picture: Getty Images) Accepting a coffee if it’s offered to you is another matter, though. ‘I actually think accepting that offer can be a really positive part of the interview process,’ says Fisher, from Swindon-based agency IRecruit4. ‘You’re then sitting down together with a hot drink, having a conversation and potentially making the interview feel less like a formal interrogation and more like a genuine discussion.’ Recruitment facilitator and author Katrina Collier is a little less hard-line, suggesting your coffee order can make a real difference. ‘It can be distracting and messy holding an iced coffee,’ she says. ‘A regular coffee will not create noise that amplifies the interviewees nerves or a wet patch on the desk… unless spilt.’ The industry may also change things. ‘If you are being interviewed by a suit – think legal or banking, high corporate – it would be wiser to accept the drink offered at the beginning of the interview. A start-up or SME with a casual dress code is less likely to notice.’ Gen Z in the workplace Both recruiters point out the pandemic dramtically shifted Gen Z’s entry environment to the workplace, which may explain some generational differences of opinion. ‘Gen Z has grown up with a much more informal approach to communication and the workplace,’ says Fisher. ‘But equally, I think Gen Z candidates need to understand that you can be relaxed and authentic while still recognising that an interview is a professional opportunity.’ What do Metro readers think? Metro asked readers for their thoughts on Facebook, and it sparked a wide range of responses. ‘Interviewers, in my experience, usually have a coffee there with them. Why not the person being interviewed?’ asked Mark Waddington. A second reader, Louise Rebecca, added: ‘It shows forward planning, preparing for a sip when the stupid questions start.’ Paul Keep said he wouldn’t want to work for a company that had an issue with somebody drinking, while Kenny Munro suggested bringing a coffee for the interviewer, too. But not everyone was as positive. ‘If you can’t wait to finish your interview before having a super expensive cup of coffee, you’re not fit to do anything useful,’ wrote Daniel Roman. Meanwhile Katherine Allsopp exclaimed: ‘Do you even have to ask!? It is like asking whether you should chew gum while being interviewed. ‘As a potential employer, I would automatically reject anyone who entered the room chewing gum, carrying a cup or anything other than what they needed for the interview.’ Do you think bringing a coffee to a job interview is acceptable? Yes, it shows you're relaxed and confident.Check No, it appears unprofessional.Check It depends on the situation.Check Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. Are employers overreacting? Almost certainly, yes. ‘Interviewees should be judged for their skills, experience and potential to do the role, but humans are biased,’Fisher argues. Collier adds: ‘If they’re really going to knock back someone over an iced coffee, I also hope there is a strong recruiter to call them out on their bias.’ Nevertheless, they both agree the safest option is to find a bin before you entre the building. ‘It is the toughest job market I have seen in over 23 years, including several recessions, so I recommend people try to avoid evoking negative responses,’ Collier says. ‘Is it fair? Probably not.’ Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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