Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Recruiter's Iced Coffee Advice Sparks Job Interview Debate Online
Recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen shared advice about bringing iced coffee to a job interview.
She said candidates should avoid carrying an iced coffee or latte into the meeting.
In her view, the drink can make the interview look too casual.
It might also suggest that the interview is only one stop among many errands.
She said this impression may matter during a 30- to 45-minute interview.
Wehniainen recommended finishing the drink before arriving or waiting until afterward.
Some people agreed that drinking coffee while answering questions can look unprofessional.
Other people said a familiar drink could help calm nervous job applicants.
Her video spread from TikTok to Instagram and sparked an online debate.
Recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen advised candidates not to bring iced coffee or lattes into job interviews.
She said the drink may make an interview seem like a casual stop between errands.
Wehniainen based her view on 16 years of recruiting, including work with mostly Fortune 500 corporations.
She recommended finishing the drink before the interview or having it afterward.
The advice went viral on TikTok and Instagram, dividing users over professionalism and interview nerves.
- Who
- Recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen, job candidates, and social media users.
- What
- Wehniainen advised candidates not to bring iced coffee or an iced latte into job interviews, prompting debate about interview etiquette.
- When
- The video was posted on TikTok in February and later went viral.
- Where
- The discussion spread on TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms.
- Why
- Wehniainen said an iced coffee may make an interview appear too casual or like a stop between errands, while other users said it could help reduce interview nerves.
Avoid Iced Coffee
Bring Iced Coffee
Professional impression
Avoid Iced Coffee
Carrying an iced coffee may look too casual and suggest that the interview is merely a stop between personal errands.
Bring Iced Coffee
A drink does not necessarily show disrespect or a lack of seriousness, and it may help an applicant feel calmer.
Interview behavior
Avoid Iced Coffee
Swirling or sipping the drink while answering questions may make the meeting appear less formal or unprofessional.
Bring Iced Coffee
Some users questioned whether an ordinary drink should influence hiring judgments, especially when interviews can be stressful.
- Recruiter
- Caitlin Wehniainen has 16 years of recruiting experience.
- Workplace context
- She said she deals mostly with formal Fortune 500 corporations.
- Advice
- Candidates should finish iced coffee before the interview or have it afterward.
- Interview duration
- She referred to a 30- to 45-minute interview period.
- Original platform
- The video was posted on TikTok in February.
- Social media spread
- The video was later shared on Instagram and other platforms.
- Public reaction
- Some users called bringing or drinking the coffee unprofessional, while others said it could calm interview jitters.
