What in the World, Is it OK to bring iced coffee to a job interview?

What in the World

Is it OK to bring iced coffee to a job interview?

25 September 2026

Available for over a year

Would you bring an iced coffee to a job interview? A viral TikTok from Caitlin Wehniainen - a recruiter in Florida - has stirred up a huge debate. It’s after she said that Gen Z candidates turning up to job interviews with an iced coffee can look too casual and unprofessional.

But seriously…can an iced latte actually hurt your chances of getting a job? And what does your coffee order have to do with whether you’d be good at it? Grab your drink of choice because we’re getting into it with BBC reporters Baldeep Chahal, Leona Gasper and Stefania Okereke from the What in the World team. BBC journalist Sanjana Idnani tells us about the difficult job market recent graduates are having to contend with. And BBC reporter Basma El Atti shares her thoughts from Nairobi.

Plus: We get hot takes from content creators Alexis Wilson (@sucseed_academics), Olivia Monday (@oliviamonday_) and Piper Phillips (@piperphillips) from Instagram, and Coka (@cokafree), Anne-Tso @theportfoliocareercoach, Evan (@thisamericanmess) from TikTok.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld

Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk

WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6

Presenter: William Lee Adams

Producer: Baldeep Chahal

Editor: Verity Wilde