"Old-Fashioned Culture vs Not Serious Enough"... Why Generation Z Applicants with 'Iced Lattes' Are Rejected in Interviews

Small Behaviors Can Determine the Outcome
41% of US Recruiters Cite "Lack of Professionalism" Among Gen Z

With job seekers in fierce competition to break through the so-called "needle's eye" of employment, a generational clash has erupted in the United States over whether it is appropriate to bring a beverage into a job interview. At the center of the controversy is the "iced latte," which has become something of a staple for Generation Z.

Recruiter: "It Looks Like a Quick Drop-In to the Interview" — Pointed Out

According to the New York Post on September 20 (local time), Caitlin, a recruitment officer with 16 years of experience at a Fortune 500 company, publicly criticized Generation Z candidates for bringing iced coffee to interviews. This has ignited a heated debate on social networking services (SNS).

A video titled "Reflections on Bringing Coffee to an Interview" uploaded by Caitlin, who introduced herself as a recruiter with 16 years of experience. TikTok screenshot @caitlinrecruiter

In her video, she remarked, "Bringing an iced latte to an interview makes it look like you're just dropping by the interview casually during your day." In other words, showing up without an appropriate level of preparedness or tension gives the impression that the candidate is simply stopping in between shopping trips and may approach the interview half-heartedly, reflecting a lack of seriousness.

Photo for article understanding purposes only, not related to specific content. Courtesy of Pinterest

Another user, who identified as a millennial, agreed, stating, "Bringing a plastic cup with condensation into the interview and leaving water marks on the table, or drinking loudly when making a good first impression is important, is the worst thing you can do."

Generation Z Pushes Back: "It's Just a Way to Relieve Stress"

On the other hand, job seekers from Generation Z are pushing back. They argue, "If a company won't hire me just because I drink iced coffee, I wouldn't want to work there anyway," and commented, "Traditional rigid interview etiquette that has nothing to do with job skills is nothing but outdated culture."

SNS users flooded the video posted by Caitlin with their own thoughts. Screenshot from TikTok

One man in his twenties, who described himself as a "final candidate for an administrative assistant position," explained, "My interview started at about 8:45 a.m., and my throat was sore in the morning, so I bought a tea with honey and ginger in warm water," adding, "It was an unavoidable measure to calm my nerves."

Some called for practical compromises. Benjamin Chipman, a Generation Z marketing professional, advised, "Bring a beverage if you must, but finish it before the interview or make sure not to rattle the ice."

In a Frozen Job Market... 'Minor Attitudes' Determine Success or Failure

Meanwhile, as the U.S. job market has become increasingly difficult—with employment among youth aged 22–25 down 13% due to the adoption of AI technology—41% of recruiters pointed to a "lack of professionalism" as a common trait among Generation Z candidates. Thirty percent cited their unfocused behavior during interviews as an issue.

Photo for article comprehension, unrelated to specific content. Shutterstock

Adam Rader, a communication manager, said, "Personally, I would never bring any beverage—coffee, tea, or juice—into a job interview." However, he added, "But it's fine to accept water offered by the interviewer."

Recruiters emphasized, "In such fierce competition, it may ultimately be minor attitude—not flashy credentials—that determines who gets hired," cautioning, "Don't forget that interviews are, in the end, a conversation between people."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.