Is it ok to bring a water bottle to a job interview?

December 24, 2016 12:45 PM

I have a job interview on Tuesday. I also have a post viral cough. Would it be OK to bring a little bottle of water with me to the interview or would that be really unprofessional?

I plan on tea with honey and a cough drop before the interview, but if I have a coughing fit during the interview the only thing that will shut it down is a drink of water. And the internet is all over the place as to whether bringing a water bottle is an acceptable thing to do or not.

If it matters, the job is for a medical coding position at a local hospital.

posted by ilovewinter to Work & Money (29 answers total)

I bring a coffee to all my interviews, it helps keep me relaxed. No problems so far. I'm a career programmer.
posted by festivus at 12:48 PM on December 24, 2016 [5 favorites]

I would ask for a drink of water at the beginning of the interview. As an interviewer I think I'd find it off-putting for someone to be fiddling with a water bottle, especially if it's one with a sports cap you have to suck at like a teat... Just say you've got a bit of a tickly throat, please could you have a glass of water
posted by KateViolet at 12:50 PM on December 24, 2016 [2 favorites]

Best answer: I've never done an interview without offering the candidate a beverage, so I think it's likely they will offer you one anyway; but just in case, there's nothing wrong with having it with you. A small, disposable bottle of drinking water -- not a big conspicuous one with a sports cap that you'll have to worry about carrying around, obviously.
posted by fingersandtoes at 12:55 PM on December 24, 2016 [30 favorites]

Seconding KateViolet. Just adding that I would also bring some water in a bag as a "No? No problem I think I might have some in here anyway" option.
posted by mce at 12:55 PM on December 24, 2016 [4 favorites]

Yes of course it's professional! Bring whatever you want - a water bottle, a backup cough drop, a cup of tea, whatever you need. Anyone who would have an issue with this would have issues you wouldn't want to be near in a working environment.
posted by Uncle Glendinning at 12:57 PM on December 24, 2016 [23 favorites]

Yes, just bring it. It would be more pleasant than having a coughing fit.
posted by gt2 at 1:10 PM on December 24, 2016 [7 favorites]

Bring a hot tea (regular or herbal) from Starbucks or similar.
posted by jbenben at 1:42 PM on December 24, 2016 [5 favorites]

Another vote to bring tea or water. I've definitely had some interviewers *not* offer me a beverage.

The only thing I've ever heard about a beverage in an interview being considered unprofessional was about someone who drank a soda and belched repeatedly without apologizing.
posted by bunderful at 1:50 PM on December 24, 2016 [13 favorites]

Since I get dry mouth, I always have water with me (in a plain old bottle), in case I need it, & that includes interviews. There's nothing unprofessional about being prepared &, while people almost always offer water or other beverages, sometimes they forget. I'd rather not have to ask or suffer through the interview without hydration. I find the whole idea that this would be unprofessional quite peculiar. I've never heard of anyone reacting negatively to anyone having a beverage in an interview & I've been on both sides of the table. I'd just avoid anything that might be hot, could stain if spilled, or make your breath smell unpleasant. Good luck on the interview!
posted by katemcd at 1:52 PM on December 24, 2016 [8 favorites]

I would not want to work for an employer who judged me negatively for having a bottle of water with me at interview.
posted by intensitymultiply at 1:52 PM on December 24, 2016 [27 favorites]

Yes, a plain bottle of water is no problem in any job interview I've ever sat in on. (I've sat on many, many interview panels.)
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 1:58 PM on December 24, 2016 [3 favorites]

I'd absolutely bring it and very briefly explain why. Leave it on the ground next to you, not on the table.
posted by cnc at 2:16 PM on December 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I took a small bottle of water to an interview two weeks ago (store bought with twist cap).

I got the job.
posted by _Mona_ at 2:28 PM on December 24, 2016 [16 favorites]

I work in pretty professional settings, and it's rare that someone doesn't have a cup of tea or coffee or a bottle of water in their hand. Hallway conversations, desk conversations, formal meetings, informal meetings, everyone has something to drink in front of them.

Pretty sure "having water/coffee/tea/juice/whatever in arm's reach if not actually in hand at all times" is part of office culture nowadays.
posted by erst at 3:30 PM on December 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

I have conducted over a hundred interviews. I don't think twice when candidates bring their own water/coffee/Coke/whatever.
posted by Joe Chip at 4:47 PM on December 24, 2016

For reasons I can't quite articulate, I think that openly bringing a beverage of your own into an interview space is perhaps a bit too casual or presumptuous in some people's eyes, although water much less so than a flavored or colored beverage. I would bring a bottle of water in your bag and, in the very unlikely event that you aren't offered a water, bring it out in order to be ready for a coughing fit.

By the way, at least in the US, I really counsel against asking for tea in any kind of pitch scenario (whether a job interview or not). There are a just a lot of moving parts to what the assistant will bring you (cup, tea bag, stirrer, cream(er), sweetener, napkin) and it can look a little not-buttoned-up on the table in front of you. Water is just a can't lose request.
posted by MattD at 5:15 PM on December 24, 2016 [10 favorites]

I've interviewed for engineering positions. Would have zero issue with a water bottle. People get a dry mouth when they talk a lot.
posted by ftm at 6:51 PM on December 24, 2016 [1 favorite]

Why would you think it's not ok?

There's a big difference between opening up a can of soda and placing it in front of you as you start the interview, and reaching for a bottle of water in your bag. One satisfies your fancy (too familiar/casual) and the other satisfies a basic biological need (just fine). I'm mystified why anyone would even think water is not ok.

Showing up wth a coffee cup is also fairly common (and mostly accepted) as caffeine is pretty much considered a normal part of being productive in an office.

Source: me--someone who has interviewed candidates about a hundred times or so.
posted by danny the boy at 7:20 PM on December 24, 2016

When you have a cough and are applying to an office job, a bottle of water is a reasonable and unobtrusive precaution that lets you work effectively. There is no good reason an interviewer should mark you down for that.

I specify "applying for an office job" because indeed there are places where it would be unsafe and a sign of incompetence to bring a bottle of water. Some clinical and lab areas of the hospital, for example. But not the medical coding offices.
posted by d. z. wang at 9:17 PM on December 24, 2016

At my company, we have a room that is typically used for interviews that is equipped with a small refrigerator with only bottled water. If it's not offered, have it in your bag.
posted by kamikazegopher at 9:41 PM on December 24, 2016

It's totally fine to bring bottled water to an interview and then to whip it out regardless of where you are in the process. It doesn't matter if it's in a big yellow sports Nalgene or in a glass bottle. I've done lots of these, and nobody has ever commented on a candidate bringing in beverage or cough drops.
posted by flyingfork at 10:56 PM on December 24, 2016

Just keep in mind that it's part of your overall image. If you're applying at Greenpeace, don't bring a one-off plastic water bottle. If you're applying to be a high end personal investment advisor, don't bring a Nalgene covered with tie-dye-patterned marijuana leaf stickers. Other than that, you should be fine.
posted by salvia at 12:01 AM on December 25, 2016 [6 favorites]

Also, I wouldn't say that it's because you're "sick." I'd be annoyed at that, fearing we were probably all going to get your cold now. If you're still truly sick, I'd at least give them the option to reschedule. If you do go, I'd use the phrase "still a little hoarse from a cough I had last week."
posted by salvia at 12:04 AM on December 25, 2016 [5 favorites]

I've also done a lot of interviewing (on both sides of the table). I've seen a few water bottles, and countless Starbucks (or other coffee chains) cups. I've always figured they were full of lattes, but they could just as easily contain tea, water, or a cocktail. Depending on the setting I would bring either a water bottle or the beverage of your choice in a cup from a coffee place, and not say anything about it.

They may or may not offer something to drink. I've been offered coffee a few times, but where I last worked we never offered something to drink (the layout of the building would have made that very difficult). If it is important, bring your own.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:14 AM on December 25, 2016

If they have a problem with you keeping proper hydration, find a new job.
posted by Geckwoistmeinauto at 8:27 AM on December 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

Send a note or email ahead, and restate at beginning of interview, that you may cough, but you're non-contagious. 'Cuz, otherwise, if I were interviewing you, my issue wouldn't be with the water bottle, but 1. with the tubercular wretch seated feet away from me who just shook my hand (I'd be reaching for the Purell), and 2. the poor judgement of said wretch walking into offices while tubercular.

You need, in other words, to firmly and convincingly establish that you're non-contagious, and that you're conscientious in determining and conveying this. The water bottle's the least of your problems.
posted by Quisp Lover at 10:01 AM on December 25, 2016 [1 favorite]

My office site is super wierd about water (employees pay for our water coolers and the water, and the tap is super gross) so bringing your own would actually be a relief.

Water during meetings is common. It's a normal thing to have , just keep it unobtrusive and don't make a big deal out of it. Most people see individuals from the CEO to the mail clerk everyday with something to drink and it's not something that's as codified like dress.
posted by AlexiaSky at 11:07 AM on December 25, 2016

Just practice the forward-leaning let's-not-get-this-on-my-suit pose. But if there is a dribble, it's only water, right?! Seriously, don't think twice about this. Good luck!
posted by 8603 at 4:41 PM on December 25, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks everyone! My tiny little water bottle was just fine. lol. And the interviewers had big giant sports bottles with them. I feel like it was the best job interview I've ever had. Woo! I'm hoping I'll be called back for round two sometime next week.
posted by ilovewinter at 8:39 AM on December 28, 2016 [4 favorites]