Study finds some Gen Zers are bringing their parents to job interviews 

Hello. Did you miss the part where a bunch of kids missed out on learning social skills for about a year? May not seem like a big deal to an adult but that kid fell behind and that is ok. It was a whole pandemic or whatever you want to call it. And having someone with you to help you through something is more than a lot of people have. Do you look down on people who have pets that help them too?

@@TdT2211 A service animal can comfort and support a candidate, but it doesn’t answer for them. Interviews are just opportunities to talk about yourself and for a potential employer to see if you would be a good fit. Even kids who went to school during the pandemic know how to talk about themselves and why they want the job they applied for. As a general rule, candidates who can’t speak for themselves can’t communicate efficiently with their co-workers and bosses in the workplace. And if they can’t communicate with fellow adults, they aren’t ready for the workforce.

​@TdT2211 So do you support kids bringing parents to their job (assuming they actually get a job) and having parents do the actual work?

​​@@TdT2211There doesn't have to be a pandemic for kids to miss out on social skills. And interviewing is not something you'll be doing on the job unless the job is going to literally involve it, such as in a supervisory position (at such point, I still ask, why is your parent there?!). Kids need to be practicing interview skills with their parents, their siblings, their neighbors, their school career counselors, etc. There is ZERO excuse to be bringing your parent to one. The rest of us had to practice, which my K-12 schools started us doing back in middle school, although even as an adult I still have to practice whenever I look to change jobs or job fields. These kids need to practice, too.

I was wondering if this story was even true until your comment. I agree - I don't understand why the parents think this is ok. Never heard of such a thing.

What if the parent knows the kid can't get the job without their help? Idk if it's because I've just gotten old, lol, (Millennial), but it seems like Gen Z maybe doesn't have some of the same critical thinking, problem solving, and interpersonal skills that we had. Eg: Gen Z is the loneliest and most friendless generation ever. Back in my day, it was social suicide to not have anyone to sit with in the lunchroom, so I was FORCED to come out of my introverted shell and interact.

​@@les0101s Quite a few college professors and teachers have said these kinds of stories are true.

@@TomikaKelly I've never gone to a job interview that would allow parents to tag along. lol. I'm older than you, a boomer.

Parents should refuse to do so! This is a clear indication that they're not mature and responsible enough to hold a job. Parents should teach their kids to be responsible for themselves, this includes the ability to get a job on their own. When I was first trying to get a job, at age 15, I never even told my parents where I was applying for a job and I would have never of even considered taking them to an interview with me. That's insane to me. It's called becoming a responsible adult.

Agreed

Well are you at least gonna train the person you do end up hiring?

@@ThinkBeFree99 Nobody wants to train anymore and even if we do, I ain't answering the same question for you 3 times. You gotta know how to be resourceful.

That kid got lucky then.

Exactly! And parents should refuse to do so! This is a clear indication that they're not mature and responsible enough to hold a job.

Sometimes a Applicant's parent will make sure they are actually trying to get a job. But the part you should see is the applicant have the right to self introduction and not have a person doing all the talking.

@@sal_joker10 sounds like an overly controlling parent problem. If their kids were raised right, a parent would not have to go to that extent to make sure they are trying. Their kids would be responsible people.

​@@xx_Joker_xxnot all the time. The applicant must make sure their parents are not controlling the show

Exactly. I don't care what excuse they use, you don't bring a parent to an interview.

Don't worry. They won't.

Tbf, public speaking is the most common fear in society across all generations. The newer generation has fewer social skills and social interactions than prev. generations. Perhaps suggest Toastmasters and peer networking events?

@@TomikaKelly agreed, but, it's not the fault of the teacher/instructor that they have almost zero social skills. Perhaps they should select a career that is more fitting for their personality, instead of expecting the career to change for them.

Have you considered giving or steering that student toward on-campus resources? I know that kid is an adult, but they may not have been informed of resources or made aware that they are struggling in a way different then everyone. I would think you'd want to help the student be successful in your class? I agree you shouldn't have to talk to the parents, unless perhaps there are known disability accommodations that might merit such.

Bringing parents shows a lack of confidence to me and I would be hestitant about that employee like I am a teacher that will have to discuss reviews with them too

Yeah, people were still allowed to socialize. so.

IMO COVID is a mental illness. It has turned people crazy

no its the other way around. the kids wont grow up and go out on their own

It makes me angry how the media is trying to make this a Gen Z thing. It's not. It's an overprotective parent thing. I'm a millennial/zoomer cupser and it literally wasn't that long ago that people said this about core millennials. Either way, blame the parents for doing too much and not knowing when to let go.

Agree with everything you said. I'm pretty sure this has not happened that often. They should have shown us an interview with a parent who went to a job interview with their kid. Would love to hear what they're thinking.

I agree. I’m 25 part of Gen Z and I can’t believe this is real

At least someone might come home employed in your case

Yeah why not

I think a five year old can do the job as well and bring the parents to the office.

The parents have jobs, that is how they afford the car that got them there.

On the upside, you get two workers for the price of one

​@@anuragchakraborty8766 Chup ho ja sale bong !

Very true there have been pandemics in the past, including one about 100 years ago (the "Spanish" flu, even though it started in Kentucky...) where they also had to social distance and wear masks, and it took FIVE YEARS before they could go back to normalcy (b/c, no vaccines...). There, of course, have been flu pandemics since then, including in the 50s and 60s (at a lesser level and for a shorter time period, but still a lot of people died).

@@blahco4tt Indeed, & because the Spanish Flu was virtually forgotten about, the world was completely unprepared for CoVid-19. Higher figures estimate that 50-60 million people died in that pandemic around the globe. Imagine adjusting for the current population & how the deaths of 1-2 billion humans in another such event would affect the Gen-Z-ers. Thanks for your reply.

Half of Gen Z was already in the workforce when covid started, so to say that covid caused this behavior is skirting the issue.

@@katherinemurphy2762 More like looking for an excuse, I'd say. Thanks for your reply.

🤣

Hi... Boomers are not Gen Z's parents.

It's the Gen Xers.

​@@jusletursoulglobabySome of them are.

@@simply_nebulous they didnt birth them. and overwhelmingly they are not raising them. we are talking about the 99.9%, not the 00.1% rearing Gen X kids

We grew up with social media and tech, which over time lessened interaction and opened us to prying eyes with constant cameras. This ruined important brain development for children which turned into anxiousness and lessened the skill of effective communication. In interviews you must express positive attributes about yourself; we have less experience in the craft of lying and swaying people to like you.

@@villainous1142 wait so it’s like an EQ thing? My initial thought was like an ambition or life experience thing. My old butt doesn’t know too many GenZers so I really wouldn’t know 😂

I had an employee who told me her husband doesn't like for her to work late and I was like is he writing your paychecks

Yeah enough experience not to bring Mom or dad and prove they are a grown up

@@jordanslingluff287nope every job says they need experience.

@@delancey3181 When I see a resume and they can't write a complete sentence like you. I tell them we are looking for someone with more experience.

@@jordanslingluff287 every word I wrote was spelled correctly . Also I am writing on a RU-vid comment so it Is not going to be 100% grammatically correct and it’s not something important since it is a casual thing. secondly your first comment was unfortunately not a complete sentence either since it did not contain a period at the end.

@@delancey3181 There you go. Now apply that perception to yourself and see what the H.R. person sees.

My parents did this to my brother….he’s a 52 year old toddler now.

that's what I don't understand. None of my peers would 😂😂😂 DARE entertain this foolishness. Who ARE these parents???

Precisely. My kids know better than to even suggest I attend an interview with them.

Honestly as a teenager I had crippling axciety when I was confronted about some still kind of do sometimes to this day.

I'd say that's always been me. I aced classes based on knowledge and tests alone, but if I had to give a speech or do a debate? Nope. I vividly remember having a high school essay ready, but telling the teacher I hadn't finished it yet. All I had to do was read it (with proper volume and frequent eye contact.. ugh). But each day someone didn't have their essay ready, whatever grade they would have gotten would go down a full grade. I knew my essay was an A, but I lied every day until it was a D, and then I read it. And that's not even the worst example I have. At least that was just one assignment. When I was placed into Algebra 1+ at private high school freshman year, the teacher began with a "review" of 4th quarter eighth grade math (I came from a public elementary school, unlike most of my classmates). She said "sets of numbers" or somesuch and I freaked internally at this unfamiliar phrase. But I thought to myself, "Wait. You've been acing algebra easily for YEARS and scoring high school levels in math and reading since 5th. It's just numbers. You'll suss out how to do whatever this is after watching a few examples!" And the problems went on the board, but there were no add/sub/mult/div signs. There were brackets and commas... I didn't get it. But I thought, "Well, a few low grades, though embarrassing, can be fixed by acing the next thing and everything else in this class." But then "we" built on this. The entire school year for freshman algebra was pretty much involving this. I couldn't ask my teacher for help due to social anxiety but also because it felt awful to admit I didn't understand something. In the family and among family friends, I was the smart one ("but she's just quiet and a little shy, that's all" 🙄). I was praised for my good grades and test scores. It was part of my identity: I am perfect at math and never need help and never need to even ask a question. Without being OP in math, who was I? And that's how I wound up with a final grade of D in Algebra, my freshman year of high school. But all the years after that, Algebra II, Geometry, Trig, and Trig+, all aces. And I did figure out the "sets of numbers" thing. In Algebra II. The examples on the board just clicked for me. I say I have my skills, but they're quiet and more solitary in nature. I envy my cousins who have regular or even incomplete education but seemingly innate skills at managing people. Those people skills, commanding presence, and confidence can be taken anywhere. I can do interviews.. But I read up on interview Q&As. I practice my posture - shoulders back, straight spine, head up, chin up a bit (in the mirror, until I know how it feels). I practice my smile. I have to remember "a lot of eye contact.. but remember to blink! And glance at something nearby every now and again so it looks natural." Can't talk too fast, raise my volume (it's too loud to me, but normal volume to everyone else). And when I shake hands, remember it's not supposed to be feather-light but firm and solid...and add a friendly smile during -- and think of something happy so the smile is in the eyes, too. Oh, and DON'T FORGET hello, goodbye, and thank you.. And for Pete's sake, don't look stiff. Don't be too still (alter your position just a little every once in a while, but slowly). And when your arms are at your sides, keep your elbows and upper arms from pressing against your ribs and inching together -- this is not the time to "comfort huddle," but your mind is going to try it anyway -- by millimeters if it has to -- so watch out. It's an exhausting program. Like a puppet show, but I have to operate all the strings and sticks.. While juggling, too. I have a lot going on in my head, so I miss social cues and even some jokes. And certain social niceties don't come naturally to me. In a way, my day to day is harder than an interview. When I view someone positively, I have to go out of my way to figure out how to make that apparent -- otherwise, they'll consider me to be aloof, bored, disinterested, or even sad or mad. I do have skills and talents of my own. I'm a good person who's kind and respectful. I do care about others. I'm dedicated. When I'm in, I'm all in. But I work best at the details, perfecting things, pointing out errors and clarity issues. I wish I could simply say to a prospective employer, "I can do this thing," to which they will say, "Okay. Here's your work and a cozy Gollum cave-esque cubicle/office. Here are some headphones. And here's a low wattage lamp to use instead of the bright, barf-toned, flickering, buzzing fluorescent lights overhead." Y'know, it sounds like a lot, but when I think about it, that would make a day-to-day job easier and increase my productivity. And I'm not against socialization. I can do a little small talk (weather, work, food), especially if I have an easy out. And if it's something interesting, or that I'm knowledgeable about, I can talk with that person for a long time and it flows a bit better. But getting the job is the hardest part. I have to present a version of myself at a volume and style that is not me while at the same time including the essence of the real me. Too much one way, I could come across as fake. Too much the other way, I come across as too meek. It's a weird balancing act and it has to be undetectable. And that's just the stage and the ambiance, there's still the dialogue to throw into the mix where I have the bones of my answers (I form my sentences on the spot -- more natural) to the predictable Qs, but I have to be on my toes for the unpredictable ones...and hope I can come up with a thoughtful and wise reply. Anyway, so many jobs nowadays seem to be social in nature, very group oriented. I don't know where/how I fit. I'm not a lamb. I'm one of those goats that stiffens and falls over when startled. And the rest of the world seems full of lions who are ripping apart wildebeests, doing cartwheels, and dancing the macarena. Oh, and, yes, I have had steady jobs, but none recent. I did Sears first, then sought out something more fulfilling and to my talents/interests. Aimed for healthcare - clerical. I got one interview but not the job (came across as too meek for the hectic pace of the job). Another interview, I didn't get that job either but was called for an interview offer at a convent for the order that began that system of hospitals. Got it. I taught myself Photoshop and Pagemaker. Secretarial work: monthly newsletter, records, library, brochures, mailings, obits, annual collecting of hospital unit counts, etc....until a merger resulted in the elimination of my position. I'm an Elder Millennial / Baby Xer cusper (I prefer "Xennial"), btw. That was more than 10y ago. I have a kid and I want to work but I'm not sure what suits me now. And I have health issues (mostly spine) besides anxiety. 😕

Agreed ❤

Something like this is not caused by laziness. It's definitely more serious than that.

It's not, I fear. I JUST found out that, outside of social media, my Gen Z cousin doesn't know how to do anything technical on a computer. She memorizes menus ahead of time to avoid the social anxiety of having to interact with at a restaurant. If you send her to ask for something at the Concierge or Front Desk, she will mumble inaudibly under her breath to where the staff doesn't even notice she's talking, then say that she completed the task. I thought it was just her until I realized this isn't uncommon amongst today's teens. 😒

@@TomikaKelly Lmao. Once you get past the entry level, you need to learn to start being able to answer questions you won’t know the answer to off the top of your head. They wanna know your thinking process, not your ability to memorize things.

Yes they are. Recruiters reflect the same experiences.

"i haven't seen it so it doesn't exist or happen" is basically what you said. ever seen a dog 5ortured a burnt alive? how about explicit films involving youth? because most people haven't and shouldn't but guess what, they both happen all the time around the world. how ignorant can you get....don't answer that.

Quite a few professors and recruiters have confirmed that this is true...

So mommy, if your son can't do the task assigned to him, will you do it for him?😅

This resource person is a clown. Did not even answer straight, if it's acceptable to bring a parent along in the job interview😅