A cup of coffee might be a daily ritual for most Americans, but some career and etiquette experts say bringing one into a job interview could hurt your chances of getting hired.A viral debate has erupted over whether an iced coffee sends the wrong message to hiring managers or if it's simply part of a busy day.Caitlin Wehniainen, a Florida-based corporate recruiter with 16 years of experience recruiting for Fortune 500 companies, sparked the conversation with a video in which she called out Gen Z job candidates for going to interviews with a coffee in hand.CAN YOU BRING A BIRTHDAY CAKE TO A RESTAURANT? VIRAL PIZZERIA DISPUTE REVEALS THE RULES"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," she said in a recent TikTok video that has amassed more than 17,000 likes and 5,000 comments. "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."Coffee may be part of the daily routine, but some experts recommend leaving it behind before a job interview.(iStock)It looks "a little too casual," Wehniainen added.
"Save that for well before the interview or after the interview.Go and get one.
But don’t like waltz into your interview all casual with an iced coffee.It just looks like you didn’t have time to finish your coffee beforehand."Social media users flooded the comment section, with many agreeing that it is "diabolical" to bring a wet cup dripping with condensation and rattling with ice into the room.WHY RESTAURANT SERVERS CLEAR YOUR PLATE BEFORE EVERYONE FINISHES EATING"That generation has lost the art of professionalism," one TikToker commented.The viral coffee debate joins a growing list of workplace faux pas involving Gen Z, including bringing parents to sit in on interviews, as Fox News Digital previously reported.First impressions can matter dur...