Gen Z Is Bringing Mom and Dad to Job Interviews — And HR Is Not Happy

If you thought helicopter parenting ended at high school graduation, think again. A new survey from Zety reveals that 20% of Gen Z workers have had a parent join them during a job interview — yes, an actual job interview.

Fifteen percent of those tag-along appearances happened in person, while 5% took place virtually. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

It Doesn't Stop There

Parental involvement in Gen Z's job search runs surprisingly deep. Nearly half (44%) had a parent help write or edit their resume. One in five had a parent contact a potential employer or recruiter on their behalf. And even after landing a job, 28% leaned on their parents for salary and benefits negotiations.

To be fair, some of this is pretty normal. Getting resume feedback from a parent? Totally fine. Talking through career options with someone who's been in the workforce for decades? Smart, even. But there's a clear line between helpful guidance and showing up to a job interview as a package deal.

What Employers Actually Think

Spoiler: they're not impressed. HR professionals and financial experts are largely in agreement that when parents cross from advisor to active participant, it tends to hurt the applicant more than it helps.

"Many employers who see applicants show up with their parents feel the action signals over-dependency and probable issues down the line," said Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin.

Drew Powers of Powers Financial Group put it bluntly: "Parents who are inserting themselves into these activities are likely doing their children a great disservice. At some point, even a baby bird gets pushed out of the nest."

Why Is This Happening?

It's not just immaturity — context matters here. Gen Z entered adulthood through a pandemic, an unstable job market, and a culture of corporate distrust. Kevin Thompson, CEO of 9i Capital Group, points to "inexperience with professional settings and discomfort with contract language" as key drivers.

In other words, the instinct to bring backup isn't entirely irrational. It's just not a great look.

The Bigger Risk Nobody's Talking About

Beyond the awkward interview optics, HR consultant Bryan Driscoll flags a longer-term concern: if Gen Z never learns to self-advocate, they'll be at a disadvantage for the rest of their careers — when it comes to asking for raises, pushing back on bad managers, or navigating workplace conflict.

"You want leverage in the job market? Learn your rights, know your worth, and build collective power with your coworkers," Driscoll said. "That'll do a lot more for your career than having mom as your co-interviewee."

The good news? Thompson thinks the market has a way of self-correcting. "Long term, this likely corrects itself. The market doesn't reward dependency. If you show up lacking confidence or independence, companies will move on."