New research parents joining Gen Z job interviews, contacting recruiters, even negotiating offers on their behalf
Parents of Gen Z professionals are getting too involved with their careers to the point of intruding even into job interviews, according to a new report.
Findings from Zety's new research reveal an emerging phenomenon called "career co-piloting," where parents take a hands-on role in their children's early career decisions.
According to the report, parents' involvement in their children's job decisions begins early in the application process.
Nearly half of Gen Z workers 44% said their parents helped write or edit their CV, with another 21% saying their parents contacted a potential employer or recruiter on their behalf.
But some parents' involvement doesn't stop there - 15% of Gen Zs said their parents have joined them in an in-person interview, while five per cent said their parents joined a virtual interview.
Another 10% even said their parents have negotiated directly with the employer whether on pay, benefits, or job offers.
'Career co-piloting'
Jasmine Escalera, career expert at Zety, commented that it's striking how involved parents are when it comes to their children's career decisions.
"We're seeing parents move beyond advice and into action, from résumé edits to interview prep and even negotiating offers," Escalera said in a statement.
"I call this phenomenon 'career co-piloting,' where parents take a hands-on role in early career decisions, helping their children gain confidence, direction, and control as they launch into the professional world."
These findings aren't new. Last year, a report from Resume Templates found that 77% of Gen Zs brought a parent to an interview.
More than half (53%) even had a parent speak with a hiring manager on their behalf. Other Gen Zs said their parents also have:
- A regular conversation with their current manager (45%)
- Helped them complete work assignments (73%)
What can HR leaders do?
Zety's report indicated that early parental involvement shows that many Gen Zs view job searching as a collaborative process.
But it noted that parental involvement to the point of job interviews can signal uncertainty around professional moments.
"For employers, these instances highlight the importance of setting clear expectations about professionalism and reinforcing direct communication with candidates themselves," the report read.
Tim Elmore, an adviser for HR leaders, told hiring managers to speak to the parent when they become too involved.
"Let them know that many hiring managers will question whether the job candidate is ready for a full-time job if they need help in the interview," Elmore said on LinkedIn.
"Encourage them that stepping back will allow their child to bloom and will increase their job chances."
A conversation with the job candidate also helps.
"Either by phone or in person, talk to the candidate alone to explain that their parent's involvement may hinder their chances at getting the job," Elmore said.
He told hiring managers to watch out for how the job candidate responds.
"If they signal a little embarrassment, they likely understand the dilemma. If they communicate in any form that they want their parent involved at this level–show them the door immediately."
According to Elmore, it is important that hiring managers consider what the future looks like for the organisation if the Gen Z gets hired.
"Is your organisational culture ready for continued involvement from the parent? What would the team look like if this Gen Zer joined?" he asked.
"It may be less trouble to move on if the hiring process becomes this complicated."
