One in five Gen Z job seekers bring parents to interviews, and some have them negotiate salary with the boss
The job interview was once a coming-of-age milestone. For certain Gen Z job applicants, it’s turning into a family matter.
New research by the career platform Zety reveals that 1 in 5 Gen Z candidates have accompanied a parent to a job interview, and some are even allowing mom or dad to negotiate their salary.
Gen Z is entering the most challenging job market in recent years, with millions grappling with unemployment, including a record number categorized as NEETs (not in education, employment, or training). Thus, they’re now bringing a parental companion to interviews to attest to their skills and abilities.
But this trend is raising concerns among employers—and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary states that candidates who do this risk having their résumé end up “straight in the trash.”
Some parents are even negotiating their child’s salary
You may think these parents are quietly joining first-stage Zoom calls to comfort their child through nerves. But the actual situation is far more audacious—most are showing up in person, taking time from their own workday to sit opposite their child’s prospective employer.
And the pampering doesn’t end there. 1 in 5 say a parent has reached out to a potential employer or recruiter on their behalf. Imagine cold-calling a hiring manager to speak highly of them, or emailing a recruiter to follow up on an application their child never pursued.
One-third of respondents said their parents assisted them in negotiating their salary, with 10% letting mom or dad negotiate directly with the boss.
Even after their adult children have secured jobs, the involvement persists: Over half (56%) have had parents visit their workplace outside of formal occasions.
Employers say it’s a red flag
As Gen Z workers are being let go just months after being hired—with managers citing a lack of basic workplace preparedness, poor communication skills, and an inability to accept feedback.
And this new research implies employers may have a valid point: if a young person can’t handle a job interview alone, how will they handle a demanding client, a high-stakes presentation, or a performance review? This concern is already unfolding in actual hiring settings. Shark Tank’s O’Leary recently criticized a young applicant after their parent crashed a Zoom interview uninvited.
In an interview with Fox Business, the multimillionaire businessman labeled the trend a “horrific signal”—doubting whether someone who needs a parent at their side can be relied upon to make an independent decision.
He has a valid point: Nearly 70% of Gen Zers acknowledge they receive regular career advice from their parents, and one-third say their parents have the most significant impact on their career choices. For this generation, mom and dad aren’t just sidelines cheerleaders—they’re the first contact, the safety net, and increasingly, the plus one.
But ultimately, the very involvement they hope will help them get hired can backfire. When advice turns into action, it no longer appears as support—and starts to seem like a red flag. A parent editing a résumé is one thing. A parent sitting across from a hiring manager is entirely different.
Just ask O’Leary, who has a straightforward warning for anyone considering bringing a parent to their interview: Your résumé will go “straight into the garbage.”