GEN Z SURE do get a bad rap in the world of work, and it could be argued much of it is undeserved gripes from cantankerous elders. But you might be less inclined to come to their defence for this one: a lot more of them are being hand-held through the job search process by mom and dad.
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A new survey from Zety found parental involvement, which it dubs ‘career co-piloting’, is a growing occurrence, even in job interviews. The survey found 44 per cent of Gen Z workers said their parents had helped write or edit their résumés, while parents are contacting potential employers or recruiters for 21 per cent of young workers.
Even more surprising might be the direct involvement: 20 per cent said a parent had actually joined a job interview — with three quarters of those respondents saying they brought a parent to an in-person interview. One in ten even had a parent negotiate their salary.
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“What’s most striking isn’t that parents are involved, it’s how involved they’ve become,” said Zety career expert Jasmine Escalera. “We’re seeing parents move beyond advice and into action, from résumé edits to interview prep and even negotiating offers.”
This isn’t the first time surveys have found a high level of parental involvement with Gen Z jobseekers. Last year, a ResumeTemplates.com survey found that 31 per cent had a parent write their résumé, and 53 per cent had a parent speak to a hiring manager on their behalf. Eighty per cent said a parent communicated with their manager, with around half of those saying it was a frequent occurrence.
Look, the job market is hard out there, particularly for new grads. And sure, these parents might be eager to get their young adult children on their feet — and perhaps out of the basement. But career strategists like Julia Toothacre don’t think much of this elevated level of involvement.
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“Parents can be supportive behind the scenes, but they shouldn’t participate directly,” Toothacre said. “It not only undermines the child’s credibility but also risks stunting their professional growth and ability to navigate challenging situations.”
Indeed, the best advice here makes both for good jobseeking and good parenting: let them spread their own wings. “Many hiring managers will question whether the job candidate is ready for a full-time job if they need help in the interview,” HR adviser Tim Elmore wrote on LinkedIn. “Encourage [parents] that stepping back will allow their child to bloom and will increase their job chances.”
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