NEW YORK — Catherine Fisher, vice president of communications at LinkedIn, stated that while she is not surprised by generational divisions on job etiquette, she advises candidates to be cautious and not bring iced coffee to interviews due to the divided opinions. “Even though I don’t like the answer, I think because everyone is so divided on it, I would be cautious and not bring one. You just don’t know who’s on the other side of the interview, so why risk it over something so silly?” Fisher said.

TikTok creator Esha, age 22, stated that the iced coffee controversy misunderstands interviews and that viewing an interview as a stop in one's day is normal. “Gen Z had this shift in recent years, where we can still have a life outside of work. So, like, why am I changing who I am? Why am I missing my coffee for the day for this interview?” Esha said.

Starbucks posted an image on Instagram featuring a person holding an iced coffee, sunglasses, and a handbag with the caption "Pulling up to the interview like." The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf commented on Wehniainen's video: “We’d hire them on spot..”

Why It Matters

The debate over iced coffee in interviews reflects broader tensions between traditional corporate expectations and evolving workplace norms among younger generations. With hiring managers reporting concerns about professionalism and distraction among Gen Z candidates, the discussion reflects how minor behavioral cues can influence hiring decisions in competitive fields.

Wehniainen's focus on Fortune 500 clients suggests that her advice is tailored to highly formal environments where strict adherence to protocol is valued. However, the varied responses from brands and experts indicate that there is no universal standard, leaving candidates to navigate conflicting guidance without clear industry-wide consensus.

What's New

Franchesca Ramsey stated that the discourse shows a literacy crisis regarding context, noting that Wehniainen's advice targets candidates applying to buttoned-up Fortune 500 companies. Caitlin Wehniainen, president of On Cue Hire, has 12 years of recruiting experience, according to her LinkedIn profile, though she previously stated 16 years of experience in media interviews. On Cue Hire, the staffing agency led by Caitlin Wehniainen, is a certified Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), specializing in IT, engineering, and operations staffing for Fortune 500 clients.

Wehniainen's advice to avoid iced coffee in corporate interviews aligns with her focus on Fortune 500 clients, where she emphasizes formal attire and preparation, such as printing resumes and researching interviewers. Caitlin Wehniainen's agency, On Cue Hire, focuses on scaling project-based teams for high-visibility initiatives in industries such as Hospitality, Healthcare, Retail, Insurance, and Professional Services. Caitlin Wehniainen stated in a LinkedIn post that her point was simply about avoiding distractions and she was never saying that bringing coffee makes someone a bad candidate. A survey cited by resumetemplates.com found that 41% of hiring managers say Gen Z candidates show a general lack of professionalism and 30% flag distraction. Thomas Farley, the etiquette expert cited in the debate, is the founder of The Etiquette Academy and a former executive director of the Emily Post Institute, though this information is not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results.

How Sources Differ

TikTok video by @caitlinrecruiter: TikTok creator Caitlin Wehniainen posted a video on September 16, 2026, stating that bringing an iced coffee or iced latte to a job interview gives the impression that the interview is just a stop on a list of errands.