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The internet is currently arguing about iced coffee.

More specifically, whether you should bring one into a job interview.

The debate started after a recruiter posted a video saying she had noticed candidates, particularly younger candidates, arriving at interviews with iced coffees and lattes in hand. Her take was that it could make the interview feel too casual, like one more stop between Starbucks and whatever else you had planned that day.

People had opinions.

Some agreed. Others thought judging a candidate over a cup of coffee was ridiculous. Before long, we had a full-blown debate about professionalism, generational differences and the unwritten rules of interviewing.

So, should you bring the iced coffee?

Our advice: finish it before you walk in.

Not because holding an iced latte means you’re unprofessional. And certainly not because it tells an employer anything meaningful about whether you can do the job. It’s simply one less thing to think about.

And that’s really the larger point.

An interview is a relatively short opportunity to convince someone that you’re the right person for the job. You don’t need to obsess over every tiny detail, but you should think through the experience before you get there.

Where are you going? How long will it take? Where will you park? Who are you meeting? What do you know about them? Do you have copies of your resume? Is your phone silenced? If the interview is virtual, have you tested your camera, microphone and internet connection?

None of this is particularly complicated. But being prepared shows. So does being unprepared.

The same goes for your preparation about the company. Knowing what the company does is the minimum. Look at recent news. Understand its products, customers and competitors. Look up the people you’re meeting. Read the job description again and think about where your experience directly connects to what they need.

Most importantly, come prepared with examples.

If you’re a strong leader, be ready to talk about the team you led. If you’re good at solving problems, explain a problem you faced, what you did and what happened. If you increased revenue, improved a process or saved your company money, be ready to explain how.

Specifics are memorable. Generalities aren’t.

You should also have a few good questions ready. What would success look like in this role after the first six months? Why is the position open? What is the biggest challenge facing the person who takes this job? What separates the people who succeed at the company from those who don’t?

Remember, the company isn’t the only one making a decision. You’re evaluating the opportunity, too.

There is also such a thing as being overprepared. You don’t want to memorize answers to the point that you sound like you’re reading from a script. Know the stories and accomplishments you want to discuss but then have a conversation. Listen to the question. Answer what was actually asked. Ask follow-up questions. Be curious.

Our recruiters have seen candidates become so focused on delivering the answer they practiced that they miss the opportunity to connect with the person sitting across from them.

Preparation should make you more comfortable, not robotic.

At the end of the day, you’re not trying to have a perfect interview. You’re trying to help the person across the table understand what you can do, how you think and why you might be the right person to solve the problems they need solved.

Which brings us back to the iced coffee.

Would a great candidate suddenly become a bad candidate because they walked into an interview holding one? Of course not.

But if you’re wondering whether you should finish it in the car before you walk inside, our advice is yes.

Drink the coffee. Throw out the cup. Take a minute. Then walk in focused, prepared and ready to talk about why you’re there.

Because nobody should remember your coffee more than they remember you.