In a survey of 800 managers, directors, and executives commissioned by the student-life publication Intelligent last year, one in five employers said a candidate showed up to their interview with a parent, reports Business Insider.
Of the managers surveyed, 39% said they avoid hiring recent graduates in favor of older candidates. As for the GenZ’s interview behavior, 50% said they’d had young candidates ask for too much compensation, and 47% said they’d dressed inappropriately.
Business Insider notes that for the Gen Zers who said they had a parent at an in-person interview, 37% said they had them come into the office, 26% said the parent physically sat in the room while the interview took place, and 18% said their parent introduced themselves to the hiring manager. Seven percent said their parents even answered questions for them.
James Uffindell, the CEO of Bright Network, says only 54% of young professionals felt confident about securing a job straight out of college, with them citing concerns about their lack of experience, he said. That indicates Gen Z as a generation “values the guidance and experience that parents can undoubtedly provide,” Uffindell said.
David Rice, a human-resources expert at the media company People Managing People, offered another explanation to Business Insider. Rice said Gen Zers are at an age where they have been used to living with their parents for most of their lives,
“So they naturally might seek their parents’ advice and guidance when making important decisions, like choosing a job.”
Having a parent in the interview may alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with being interviewed, Rice said. “Gen Zers might feel like having a parent present can help them to be more relaxed,” he said. “It might reveal a lot about their natural communication skills and decision-making processes.”
Claire Brawn, the people director of the virtual training platform Attensi, told Business Insider it would be “absolutely unthinkable” for a candidate to bring their parent to the actual interview. “No potential employer could possibly ignore that elephant in the room,” she said, recommending young job seekers try role-play scenarios instead to build their confidence.
Victoria McLean, the CEO of City CV and Hanover Talent Solutions, which coaches graduates in finding a job, told the outlet that moral support was important and practicing with parents was a great way to prepare but that she would “draw the line at bringing them to interview.” Mom and Dad being there to hold your hand “speaks volumes,” she said.
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