Could an Iced Coffee Cost You a Job? Recruiter’s Interview Warning Sparks Debate

According to the Indeed Hiring Lab, U.S. job postings were down 3.7 percent from a year earlier as of June 30, 2026. A 2026 U.S. Census Bureau study also found that employment among 22- to 24-year-olds in industries most affected by AI fell 12 percent in the 10 quarters after ChatGPT was introduced.

With competition already fierce for Gen Z job seekers, recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen sparked a heated debate on social media, after warning that something as simple as an iced coffee could work against them.

“When you show up with an iced coffee or an iced latte, it is perceived — from my opinion and a hiring standpoint — that this interview is just a stop on your list of errands for the day.” Wehniainen said in a TikTok posted on Wednesday, September 16. “It looks like you went to Target, went to Starbucks, and now you’re stopping by your interview before moving on to the next thing.”

Wehniainen argued that bringing the drink can make an applicant appear too casual and advised finishing it before the interview.

Her take quickly divided viewers in the comment section. One recruiter wrote, “Another recruiter POV here. If you can show up early or on time with the iced coffee you’re already showing good time management.”

Another commenter added, “Yall are complaining but there’s absolutely no reason to bring your coffee into a 30 min to 1 hour interview.”

Others questioned why it should matter. “What does that have to do with their work ethic, experience, or intelligence??” one person asked.

“Such a non-issue, coming from a millennial hiring HR manager with 12 years of experience,” another wrote.

Others suggested the controversy reflected a bigger frustration with workplace expectations. “I hate corporate omfg why do we have to pretend we aren’t human??” one commenter wrote, while another declared, “jobs do not pay enough for me to care.”

And one viewer offered a decidedly less professional alternative: “Noted, I’ll bring a Busch light next time.”