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1 in 5 Gen Z job seekers are bringing mom or dad to interviews—and some are even letting them negotiate their salary with the boss

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12.03.2026

1 in 5 Gen Z job seekers are bringing mom or dad to interviews—and some are even letting them negotiate their salary with the boss

The job interview used to be a rite of passage into adulthood. For some Gen Z job seekers, it’s becoming a family affair.

New research from the career platform Zety shows that 1 in 5 Gen Z candidates have brought a parent to a job interview, and some are even letting mom or dad negotiate their salary.

Gen Z is entering the toughest job market in years, and millions are struggling with unemployment, with a record number classified as NEETs (not in education, employment, or training). So now they’re bringing a parental plus-one to interviews to vouch for their skills and talents.

But the trend is raising eyebrows among employers—and Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary says candidates who do it risk seeing their résumé go “right into the garbage.”

Some parents are even negotiating their child’s salary

You might assume these parents are quietly dialling into first-stage Zoom calls to hold their child’s hand through the nerves. But the........

© Fortune