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It’s Z most childish workforce faux pas.
Mommies and daddies hold their little ones’ hands when they’re crossing the street. But once those little ones are big enough to interview for corporate jobs, it’s time to let go — that’s the argument from employers who are stunned by the number of Gen Zers whose parents are job hunting on their behalf.
It’s an alarming trend spurred by the nearly 50% of youngsters who tap mom and dad to write their resumes — and the 21% who actually have their folks contact prospective bosses directly, per a 2026 report.
And executives have had enough.
“Zoomers, do not send your mother to my office,” scolded a hiring manager, wagging her finger at the wave of 20-somethings who can’t stand on their own two feet, in a trending video. “Don’t have your mother call me on my phone, call my assistant, [or] talk to my other staff about you coming to my office to be an intern.”
“If you cannot have a conversation with me, if you cannot have an interview like grown people do without your parents being involved,” she continued, “if that is where your anxiety is, this is not the place for you.”
Putting Gen Zs — adults under age 27 — in their place is no easy task, owing to the oft-maligned demographic’s propensity towards entitlement, laziness and unpreparedness in the workplace, according to recent reports.
To mask their shortcomings, the newbies to big business are shamelessly letting mom do their dirty work, while they kick back and collect the checks.
Researchers for Zety, a virtual career services hub, surveyed 1,001 Zers to determine just how severely the group relies on their heads-of-house for help in the industry.
The poll found that a staggering 44% of Zers get their parents’ support in résumé and CV writing, while one in five task them with contacting a potential employer or recruiter for a position.
Moreover, a shocking 20% of parents are joining their grown-up kiddos on interviews, and 10% are even negotiating their big babies’ salaries directly with employers.
“Early parental involvement suggests that many Gen Z workers view job searching as a collaborative process rather than an individual milestone,” the study authors noted. “This support may help candidates feel more prepared, but it also raises questions about how and when young professionals begin developing independent career skills.”
Getting mommy’s support may seem like a sweet gesture, but it’s leaving a bad taste in business leaders’ mouths.
“We had a 20-year-old come in for a job interview at the salon. She brought her mom with her,” a hairdresser wrote in the caption of a clip related to the questionable move. “Now listen, I’m all for supportive parents. But was definitely caught off guard … At what point do you step back and let your kids stand on their own?”
“Is this confidence-building support,” she asked her online audience, “or does it send the wrong message in a professional setting?”
And, unsurprisingly, older 9-to-5ers are unimpressed with Gen Z’s seemingly immature mess.
“Instant pass on that application,” roared an outraged commenter.
“Definitely a red flag,” another wrote, in part. Similar sentiments were echoed by a separate naysayer, who deemed the needy, unmanned Gen Z “instantly unhireable.”
“I had a girl bring her mom, too,” an executive commented. “I didn’t hire her.”
