Dad as negotiator? Why Gen Z is now bringing parents to job interviews

Bad at negotiating skills? No worries. Your parents can step in and secure that job offer for you.

A new survey shows that nearly three out of four Gen Z candidates have brought a parent along to an interview.

Of those who had a parent present, about 27 per cent said their parents discussed pay or benefits, while a few even introduced themselves to the recruiters.

But what makes Gen Z job seekers involve their parents in interviews? Does it really work in their favour?

Let’s take a look:

What’s going on?

A study by Resume Templates found that 77 per cent of Gen Z job seekers have taken a parent along to an interview.

Even more surprising, 79 per cent said that once they got the job, their parents kept in touch with their managers, often asking for promotions, salary hikes or time off on their behalf.

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The survey questioned 831 US-based working Gen Z candidates to see how much their parents were involved in their latest job search and in getting their current roles.

Among those whose parents went to interviews, 40 per cent said they stayed during the interview, while one in three shared that their parents spoke up or responded to questions.

About 27 per cent said parents negotiated pay or benefits, and some even introduced themselves to recruiters, according to the report.

It also found that 63 per cent had a parent send job applications. Nearly one in three got help with writing a resume. Almost half said parents finished test tasks for them, while 41 per cent let parents take the first HR call.

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These numbers are much higher than those in a December 2024 survey of 800 employers. That poll said 19 per cent of Gen Z applicants showed up with parents, something bosses felt made them look “unprepared” and “unprofessional.”

Julia Toothacre, Chief Career Strategist at Resume Templates, said in a statement, “I support parents helping with resumes, offering professional insights, or reviewing performance evaluations.”

She added, “Parents can be supportive behind the scenes, but they shouldn’t participate directly. It not only undermines the child’s credibility [with managers and co-workers], but also risks stunting their professional growth and ability to navigate challenging situations.”

“Early-career professionals need to develop the confidence and skills to navigate workplace conversations independently,” she said.

The study also showed parental involvement stretched far beyond interviews. More than three in four Gen Z candidates named a parent as a reference. Nearly half admitted parents completed test assignments, while 41 per cent said they answered HR calls.

In total, 90 per cent asked parents to help find openings, 75 per cent used them as references, 70 per cent had them submit applications, and 60 per cent had them contact hiring managers.

Over half relied on parents to finish test tasks (55 per cent) and to take screening calls from HR (45 per cent). About 35 per cent had parents write resumes, and 30 per cent cover letters.

But why?

Experts link this behaviour to Gen Z’s limited work experience and smaller professional networks, which were further affected by the pandemic and its impact on social skills.

Although many in Gen Z prefer working in offices (with only 23 per cent wanting fully remote roles), they often feel unprepared to handle workplace situations without extra help.

The competitive entry-level job market has also played a role, leading young candidates to lean on their parents for guidance and support.

While some see this as parents crossing a line, others believe it reflects how workplace norms are shifting. Experts also point to tools like ChatGPT as useful for improving job applications and interview preparation.