Talk about a glowing reference!
A new survey has found that some Gen Z applicants may not feel comfortable going to job interviews alone, so they are bringing their parents with them.
According to the new survey from Resume Templates, 26% of Gen Z respondents said they involve their parents in their interviewing process, and 31% of those said they bring them with them to their in-person interviews. Another 29% said they listen in and join them for their virtual interviews as well.
But while some might think that the interviewees keep their parents in the car, 37% of those accompanied by their mom or dad said they come into the office with them.
In addition, 26% said one of their parents physically sat in the room while the interview took place.
As for virtual interviews, 71% said their parent was near them but off-screen, while 29% said they were visible while the camera was on.
The survey then noted that the majority of the parents who were on-camera spoke directly with the hiring manager.
Executive resume writer Andrew Stoner shared with Resume Templates that while the actions of parents may be understandable, whether or not it’s appropriate is a completely different conversation.
“It’s understandable, parents wanting to ensure that their child does well in an interview or that an employer is reputable. Conversely, it’s hard to see where a parent being directly involved in an interview is appropriate,” Stoner said.
He went on to say that it also might be harming younger applicants instead of helping them secure the position they are fighting for.
“It does not signal confidence to a hiring company on behalf of the child,” he added. “I recommend a ‘help at a distance’ approach of being available and advising the child during the recruiting process.”