Iced coffee, tattoos and interviews: How SFSU students are getting hired

Iced coffee, tattoos and interviews: How SFSU students are getting hired Iced coffee, tattoos and interviews: How SFSU students are getting hired Students weigh in on professionalism standards and what will get them hired. Lily Regan, Staff Reporter • Oct 13, 2026 Lily Regan Golden Gate Xpress Editor-in-Chief Jovanni Alvarado poses in a suit and holds an iced coffee outside of Cafe Rosso at San Francisco State University on Monday, Oct. 13, 2026. (Lily Regan / Golden Gate Xpress) For many students, getting a job in today’s job market can feel nearly impossible. There seem to be never enough jobs and too many people competing for the same roles. If an interview is booked, another obstacle stands in the way: an unwritten set of rules that haunts jobseekers- professionalism standards.  There is no one-size-fits-all guidebook for what to wear, words to avoid saying or how to say them. An online debate regarding interview etiquette sparked after Caitlin Wehniainen posted a video on her thoughts on candidates who bring iced coffee to an interview.  “When you show up with an iced coffee or an iced latte, then this interview is just like a stop on your list of errands for the day,” Wehniainen said. “It looks like you went to Target, then you went to Starbucks, now you’re stopping by your interview. It looks a little too casual to me.” For many college students entering the workforce, knowing which rules matter and don’t can be difficult. San Francisco State University students come from diverse backgrounds, and many have their own ideas of what will land them a job.  There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to being professional in all settings. Abdallah Alami, a second-year business finance major, sees professional attire as flexible to the position.  “It really depends on the job. If I’m trying to be like a lifeguard, I’ll probably come in shirtless. If I’m coming in for a job in an office, I’ll come in like a suit,” Alami said. “The fit does matter because it’s how you present yourself.”  Business marketing major Kylee Roushion explained that while the job may be different, she sticks to a general theme no matter what. “I would always say all black for interviews,” Roushion said. “No crop tops, no belly button showing.” The Office of Career and Leadership Development offers interview and career assistance to SFSU students. They can help craft resumes, discuss career opportunities and host job fairs. Students attending these events are encouraged to treat them like a real job interview. CLD’s office provides handouts covering everything from behavioral guidance to attire. Among the handouts is an interviewing checklist available both in person and on its website.  The interview attire guide recommends formal clothing when students are unsure what to wear, noting that expectations can vary by industry. Large corporations may call for more conservative clothing, while creative, nonprofit, technology and startup workplaces may be less formal. The guide also reminds students to wear clothing they feel comfortable in, saying that “confidence is key in an interview.” While CLD’s guide includes attire as a facet of professionalism, it also mentions that it extends beyond what a candidate wears.  The office’s interviewing checklist encourages students to research the company and their interviewers, practice common interview questions, prepare three to five questions of their own and arrive five to 10 minutes early. During the interview, students are advised to maintain eye contact, put away personal belongings and treat everyone they encounter as though they could have a say in the hiring process. Edgar Velez, a fourth-year civil engineering major, attended a campus job fair, but before the fair, Velez took the initiative to look the part for potential recruiters.  “I would probably wear something similar [for a job interview] – brown shoes, blue slacks or pants, white button-up shirt, I feel like that did it,” Velez said. “I feel like there’s a lot of lenient things nowadays, but I think the lists they [CLD] give you are pretty accurate – show up early, dress to impress, and pay attention to everything.” While some students adhere well to pre-set standards of professionalism, many are challenging how its meaning has changed. A common piece of advice for prospective employees is to cover any tattoos and remove piercings. However, for Josh Ramponi, a third-year photojournalism student, these rules do not feel relevant to the workforce of today.  “I don’t see why we should have to cover our tattoos or piercings,” Ramponi said. “I think as long as it’s not explicit or provocative, that shouldn’t matter at all.” For students navigating the job market, keeping individuality can feel complicated.  The question becomes less about whether professionalism matters and more about what being professional truly means. As students enter the workforce, figuring out where the line is when it comes to being professional can be just as important as the job interview itself. View Story Comments 2 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Leave a Comment More to Discover More in Culture DJ Union aims to make student-made music more accessible on campus Musicals return to SFSU with ‘Mr. Burns: A Post-Electric Play’ Review: ‘Resident Evil’ is unashamed of its video game roots About the Contributor Lily Regan, Staff Reporter Lily Regan (She/her) is a third year journalism major, with a minor in political science. She grew up traveling between Los Angeles, California and Huntington, West Virginia, which left her with a love of politics and a confusing accent. She got her start covering political issues as the opinion editor for Pasadena City Colleges student newspaper, but has found her footing on the front lines of protests with a camera in hand. In her free time, she enjoys taking photos and working at a tattoo shop.