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 reality is far more brazen—most are showing up in person, taking time out of their own working day to sit across the table from their child’s potential employer.

And the coddling doesn’t stop there. 

1 in 5 say a parent has contacted a potential employer or recruiter on their behalf. Think cold-calling a hiring manager to put in a good word, or emailing a recruiter to chase up an application their child never followed up on.

A third of respondents said their parents helped them negotiate their salary, with 10% letting mom or dad negotiate directly with the boss themselves.

Even once their adult children have gotten the jobs, the involvement continues: More than half (56%) have had parents visit their workplace outside of formal events.

Employers say it’s a red flag

It comes as Gen Z workers are getting fired just months after being hired—with managers citing a lack of basic workplace readiness, poor communication skills, and an inability to take feedback.

And this new research suggests employers may have a point: if a young person can’t handle a job interview alone, how will they handle a difficult client, a high-stakes presentation, or a performance review? 

It’s a concern that’s already playing out in real hiring rooms. Shark Tank‘s O’Leary recently slammed a young applicant after their parent gatecrashed a Zoom interview uninvited.

In an interview with Fox Business, the multimillionaire businessman called the trend a “horrific signal”—questioning whether someone who needs a parent by their side can be trusted to make a decision on their own.

He’s got a point: Nearly 70% of Gen Zers admit they get regular career advice from their parents, and a third say their parents have the greatest influence over their career choices. 

For this generation, mom and dad aren’t just cheerleaders from the sidelines—they’re the first call, the safety net, and increasingly, the plus one. 

But ultimately, the very involvement they’re hoping will help get them hired can backfire. When advice trickles into action, it stops looking like support—and starts looking like a red flag. A parent editing a résumé is one thing. A parent sitting across from a hiring manager is another thing entirely.

Just ask O’Leary, who has a blunt warning for anyone thinking of bringing a parent to sit in on their interview: Your résumé is going “right into the garbage.”

Orianna Rosa Royle is the Success associate editor at Fortune, overseeing careers, leadership, and company culture coverage. She was previously the senior reporter at Management Today, Britain's longest-running publication for CEOs. 

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