Hello everyone!
I have been seeing the "Iced Coffee" delima on my TikTok feed this past week and I would like to give my opinion on the matter.
From what I have seen the people are split into two groups. The "Don't bring coffee to a job interview" side, and the "What's the big deal" side. Personally, I am on the "don't do it" side; however I understand both perspectives.
Let's start with the "What's the big deal" side. Bringing iced coffee is a small thing in many people's eyes. I mean, it's coffee. It shouldn't be a factor in whether or not a person is qualified for a job. A lot of people in my generation (Gen Z) are tired of the small rules and etiquette that takes place in work environments. They think that those social rules are not necessary or relevant to their work performance. Another factor is that there is bigger fish to fry than iced coffee. The unemployment rates for college graduates, the rate of inflation is rising higher than income, and how it takes so long to even get an interview in the first place.
Now, here is why I'm on the "don't bring iced coffee" side. I think of job interviews as auditions (I was a theater kid, can you tell?). When you show up to an audition, you have to play a part and be prepared. When I go to job interviews, I play the part of whatever role I want to be hired for. If it's customer service, I will be the happiest and chattiest person ever. If it's a corporate job, I will be level-headed and analytical. If you show up with an iced coffee (or really any drink), that sends a message that you are very casual. It doesn't matter how qualified you are, if you are sipping a drink then it feels like you don't care too much about the job. You aren't playing the role they are casting for.
I don't bring anything to an interview aside from my phone and wallet (and also my vape in my pocket, but they don't know that). I want to be 100% focused on answering the questions and looking like someone they want to hire. The job market is tough right now, wouldn't you want to do everything you can to get a job?
Anyways, that's my opinion on the matter. I won't go out of my way to judge anyone that brings iced coffee to a job interview. I am all for doing what you want.
Here's a question for y'all, what is your coffee order?
