Gen Z’s New Trend: Bringing Parents to Job Interviews and They’re Speaking Up!

Think helicopter parenting stops after high school? Think again. A shocking new study reveals that 77 percent of Gen Z job applicants have brought a parent along to at least one job interview. And we’re not just talking about a ride there—they’re attending the interview. The urge to facepalm has never been stronger.

A survey by ResumeTemplates, which included responses from 831 Gen Z workers, indicates that parents often do more than just provide silent support during these interviews. Nearly half of the respondents acknowledged having their parents present during the interview, with some parents even answering or asking questions themselves. Furthermore, 27 percent of these young job seekers reported that their parents assisted in negotiating their salaries or benefits.

Additionally, the study found that 63 percent of these job seekers had a parent submit job applications on their behalf. A third had resumes written by their parents, nearly half had a parent handle a test assignment for them, and 41 percent let a parent take care of initial HR calls.

But parental involvement doesn’t stop there.

Even after landing the job, many Gen Z workers continue to rely heavily on their parents. Fifty-seven percent have brought a parent into their workplace to help with their tasks, and 83 percent have their lunches packed by their parents. A staggering 75 percent admit their parents help them with their work assignments.

Julia Toothacre, Chief Career Strategist at ResumeTemplates, commented in a press release that while parental help with resumes or reviewing job evaluations is acceptable, direct involvement in job applications or interviews is inappropriate. “It diminishes the child’s credibility and impedes their professional development,” she stated.

According to Toothacre, young employees must learn to navigate challenging conversations independently.

Yet, it appears that the message is not getting through. Forty-five percent of Gen Z workers reported that their parents have communicated with their managers, some even requesting promotions or paid time off on their child’s behalf.

Social media platforms are awash with examples of this trend. One TikToker shared a video of her father filling out her LinkedIn job application, likening it to when he helped with her homework. Another posted about her father accompanying her on her first day at a new job, referring to it as her “big girl job.”

In one case, a parent ran a rigorous “bootcamp” interview preparation session via Zoom for their child. Another instance saw a mother recording her daughter’s in-office interview while expressing pride in her daughter’s accomplishments. But exactly what is there to be proud of in these situations?

A different survey involving 800 hiring managers revealed that 19 percent of Gen Z interviewees had brought a parent to their interviews, with many hiring professionals labeling them as unprepared and unprofessional.

Despite such criticism, three-quarters of Gen Z workers are not hesitant to list a parent as a job reference, viewing it as a form of support. Employers, however, may interpret this differently.

The big question remains: If young workers need this level of support just to secure a job, how effective can they be once employed? Moreover, what does it say about the companies that tolerate, or even encourage, such parental involvement?