Gen Z are now bringing their parents to job interviews, proving helicopter parenting has gone too far

By Abby Amoakuh

Published Oct 28, 2024 at 01:40 PM

Reading time: 2 minutes

62863

After people secure an important job interview, it’s normal practice to turn to friends and family to get advice about how to nail the upcoming meeting. However, it looks like some Gen Zers might be taking things a step too far by actually asking their parents to hop on the Zoom call with them for backup. Yup, you’ve read that right. Gen Z are reportedly having their parents accompany them to job interviews in the hopes that a bit of extra muscle will help them charm their potential new employers. We’ve seen loud quitting, lazy girl jobs, and career echo chambers, but this might be the most chaotic work trend yet. 

If you know anything about Gen Zers, you’ve probably encountered the stereotype that we are just a bunch of chronically overwhelmed, delulu, smartphone babies with insufficient life skills. And unfortunately studies like the one conducted by Resume Templates in April this year aren’t helping us to shake that reputation off.

According to the resume helper, which also publishes job reports: “Gen Z has a reputation for lacking the independence, motivation, and real-world knowledge to contribute in the workplace.” Ouch.

The company surveyed 1,428 US-based Gen Zers and found that a lot of parents still haven’t taken off the training wheels when it comes to independently finding a job, or writing a job application.

Apparently, roughly 70 per cent of the respondents surveyed ask their parents for help in the job search process. Moreover, almost a fifth, or 16 per cent reported their parents even submitted job applications for them.

Of those who found a job, 83 per cent credit success to their elders. In fact, 26 per cent of all Gen Zers who have undergone a job search in the past year say that they have taken a parent to an interview.

@ivehaditpodcast

Gen Z is bringing their parents to job interviews.. #fyp #fypage #foryoupage #genz #parents #parentsoftiktok #generations #jobinterview #cringe #therapy

♬ original sound - I’ve Had It Podcast

For those who had a parent come to an in-person interview, 37 per cent say that their parent accompanied them to the office, 26 per cent say their parent physically sat in the interview room, and 18 per cent say their parent introduced themselves to the manager. Additionally, 7 per cent say their parents actually answered questions for them.

And I know what you are thinking, helicopter parenting has gone wayyyy too far. But this is the world we live in now. One where a mother will casually join a job interview and encourage their child to talk about the time they organised a food drive. I can just see it now: ‘That’s really going to drive it home, honey! You’re doing great.’

At these shocking revelations, the researchers had to dig deeper of course:

Of those who attended virtual interviews, 71 per cent reported that their parents were off-camera, while 29 per cent say their parents were visible on-camera. The majority of on-camera parents spoke directly to the hiring manager, and 85 per cent gave information to their children.

Understandably, taking your parents to job interviews with you isn’t necessarily advisable.

@anna..papalia

20% of Gen Z Applicants brought a Parent to Their Job Interview I blame the parents! #howtointerviewforajob #interviewpreparation #genzlife #greenscreenvideo #hiring #corporatejobs #howtointerview #greenscreen

♬ original sound - Anna Papalia

“Young workers will not gain practical knowledge and experience with the application process this way, and they will likely be less invested and prepared for an employer’s expectations during the interview process,” ResumeTemplates’ Executive Resume Writer Andrew Stoner explained in response to these new trends in the job search market.

“If young workers lack motivation or knowledge, their chances for success in recruiting, and even more in the job, are limited.”

“I wouldn’t hire somebody who brought their parent to a job interview and I would, as I escorted them out, tell the parent ‘Here is the name and number of my therapist, you need to phone them’,” a host of the I’ve Had It podcast said in response to the survey.

So, if you want to signal to your potential boss that you are a confident and self-sufficient problem solver, it would probably be best to tell your mom to wait in the car for this one.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

Mainstream media’s criticism of 9 to 5 girl is proof that boomers will always be out to get gen Z

By Abby Amoakuh

Gen Zers are locked into career echo chambers. Here’s how to get out of them

By Abby Amoakuh

Why gen Zers don’t want to climb the corporate ladder: A deep dive into the middle management problem

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Beetlejuice lips are the latest TikTok beauty trend urging Gen Z to embrace their natural looks

By Charlie Sawyer

What does Brazil’s X ban mean for Elon Musk and his fellow tech bros?

By Charlie Sawyer

OnlyFans creator Lily Phillips’ plan to sleep with 1,000 men doesn’t justify degrading sex workers

By Abby Amoakuh

Did Meta just force everyone to follow Donald Trump and JD Vance on Instagram?

By Charlie Sawyer

Unpacking the Karen Read story: a victim of a police coverup or guilty of committing murder?

By Charlie Sawyer

Calls for Gisèle Pelicot to be named TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year after Trump takes title

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Unmasking exploitation in Africa: My undercover journey into Kenya’s Chinese seafood factories

By Charlie Sawyer

What is Liam’s Law? Fans start petition to protect musicians’ mental health following One Direction star’s death

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Child stars Demi Lovato and Drew Barrymore reveal they were given substances as young children

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Unpacking Vybz Kartel: the dancehall legend’s music, prison sentence, and controversial legacy

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Did Justin Bieber unfollow Usher on Instagram because of his former ties to Diddy?

By Charlie Sawyer

Everything you need to know about the Sedona Prince and Liv Stabile drama on TikTok

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

London teachers warn of alarming rise in homophobic slurs in schools

By Charlie Sawyer

UK doctors and nurses accused of sexual assault and rape still practicing, new data reveals

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Mark Zuckerberg criticised as Meta allegedly censors abortion pill providers, raising Trump alliance fears

By Abby Amoakuh

Move over Tom Cruise, TikTok blind item hints at Sabrina Carpenter becoming Scientology’s new face

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Is democracy for sale? How Donald Trump plans to use election betting to declare early victory