TRENDING: Is bringing iced coffee to a job interview really unprofessional?

A recent online debate over Gen Z bringing iced coffee to job interviews has sparked a bigger conversation about what is considered “professional” at work.

It became a hot topic on TikTok after a recruiter with 16 years of experience called the practice "too casual" as it shows that the interview is just a "stop on your list of errands for the day." Her take prompted social media users to question whether bringing a drink to an interview should really affect how a candidate is perceived.

@caitlinrecruiter

Coffee & interviews … finish it beforehand 😅

♬ Rain on the Spool - Jazz Rocks Triangle

While it's trending among international audiences, the conversation raises a question that hits closer to home: How do Filipino employers view this? With iced coffee becoming a popular drink among Filipinos, does bringing one to a job interview really signal a lack of professionalism, or are younger applicants simply redefining workplace etiquette?

Unprofessional or not?

For recruitment practitioner Kristine Garcia, bringing iced coffee or another beverage to an interview isn't automatically perceived as unprofessional.

“I think the context matters,” she told PhilSTAR Life. “For me, iced coffee is really just the symbol in this discussion. There are many other small things that can come up during an interview, like whether they check their phone, whether they arrive with food or a drink, or even how they address the interviewer.”

Garcia said recruiters look at the bigger picture, including a candidate’s behavior throughout the interview.

“Even if someone does bring an iced coffee, I would look at how they handle it. Are they respectful and engaged? Does the drink become a distraction? Are they placing it on the interviewer’s documents or constantly stopping the conversation to drink?” she said.

Pat Mallari, an HR specialist and career coach, said perceptions may vary across company cultures.

“I think that it depends on how that workplace defines professionalism,” she said. “For some traditional, super strict companies, bringing iced coffee is unprofessional, perhaps because it gives bias also to the interviewer.”

“But generally, I think if you look at the younger organizations, especially those that are led by younger leaders, bringing iced coffee is not so much of a big deal,” she said.

How can candidates make a good impression?

HR manager Kathleen Gumayan stressed that while some applicants "may be more accustomed to casual workplace environments, interviews remain professional business engagements regardless of company culture."

"Personal presentation requires minimal effort but provides employers with valuable insight into how candidates may represent the organization," she told L!fe.

Gumayan highlighted the importance of wearing business attire to an interview. "It's one of the first indicators of professionalism and demonstrates an applicant's understanding of the setting they are entering," she explained.

Rather than worrying about whether an iced coffee will affect their chances, candidates should focus on how they present themselves and express their thoughts during the interview.

“I think iced coffee shouldn’t make or break a candidate’s interview,” Garcia noted. “Preparation, punctuality, communication, listening, and genuine engagement matter much more.”

“Be prepared to explain your experience and how it relates to the position you're applying for. Listen carefully. Be respectful to everyone you encounter during the recruitment process,” she continued.

A simple piece of advice from HR and recruitment specialists? “Read the room.”

“At the end of the day, professionalism is about respecting the culture and the norms of an organization,” Mallari said. “That’s why for job applicants, you've got to do the research, right? Search for the company, search for the people, search for the vibe of the company.”

“We don’t expect candidates to change who they are," Garcia added, "but we help them understand the environment they’re entering so they can make the right choices.”