Time to let go: Parents are following their kids into job interviews

Job searching, especially when you're young, can be an intimidating experience. But while seeking assistance from parents may be a good idea, many Gen Zers may be taking it a step too far. 

ResumeTemplates surveyed nearly 1,500 Gen Z workers with various levels of education, and found that 70% have sought their parents' guidance when looking for a job. While a supportive family can be beneficial during the job hunt, the line is getting increasingly blurry: Twenty-five percent have brought  a parent to a job interview, while one in six said a parent has submitted a job application for them. One in nine have had a parent communicate with a hiring manager, and one in eight have had a parent write their resume. 

"It's really about the line between a parent or someone else literally doing the work [for them]," says Andrew Stoner, executive resume writer for ResumeTemplates. "I would advocate for a healthy partnership where a parent can develop and prepare their child to go through this process — that can be a very positive thing. But if the parent is doing the work or showing up in a way to be standing in for the child, I don't see employers going for that."

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By becoming familiar and comfortable with the application and hiring process, young job seekers set themselves up for future success, Stoner says. The various steps involved —  communication, writing, time management — reenforce essential job skills and help prepare them for a strong work performance. On the flip side, having someone fill out an application or write a resume on their behalf not only denies them the practice, but sets them up for failure in the event of a job interview, he says. Instead, Stoner recommends getting a parent's input for areas such as the skills section of a resume and practicing potential job interview questions.

"It will be a more holistic picture if there is that partnership, and the child is self-reporting in addition to what the parent's input is," Stoner says. "It also helps the child to be prepared for the recruiting process and the questions that will likely come based on whatever is on the resume."

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To further build confidence, Stoner stresses the need for young job seekers to think hard about their overall professional goals, versus just one particular job. With this process comes ownership, and a better shot at landing in a position that will lead to a satisfying long-term career, he says. 

"Use the resume as a prompt to think about what you want to do," he says. "Whether this is a question of what you are passionate about, or what you feel most qualified in, or you would like to be known for, these are questions with higher meaning that Gen Z is connecting to. It's about gaining investment in the process and recognizing that no one else is going to do this work for them."