Survey shows Gen Z job seekers are relying on parents more and more

Gen Zers, the generation of those born between 1997 and 2012, are relying on their parents more often and a recent survey showed they are even having their parents do much of the work for them in getting a job.

According to a January survey by the company Resume Templates, a company that offers services to people seeking jobs, 51 percent of Gen Z job seekers said they had a parent attend and sit in on multiple in-person interviews. 

The survey, according to Resume Templates, consisted of 1,000 Gen Z adults ages 18 to 23 who have searched for a job within the last two years. 

“The survey aimed to understand the early-career job search and workplace behaviors of the youngest segment of the adult workforce,” the company said. 

Additional survey results showed that 75 percent of recent Gen Z job seekers had a parent submit job applications for them; 65 percent had a parent complete at least one test assignment for them before; Two out of three employed Gen Zers admitted to a parent communicating with their manager on multiple occasions to discuss their schedules, a promotion or workplace accommodations; and, lastly, the survey showed Gen Z men had more parental involvement than women for both during the job search and in the workplace. 

Multiple times vs. at least once

“Young Gen Z job seekers report surprisingly high levels of parental involvement during their most recent job search,” Resume Templates said in the report. “Across a number of tasks, more than half report a parent intervened at least once. Notably, however, involvement was typically not just occasional. More than half of Gen Zers surveyed say parents submitted applications (64 percent), communicated with hiring managers (56 percent), wrote emails on their behalf (56 percent), completed test assignments (51 percent), and sat in on in-person interviews (51 percent) multiple times.

“Overall, a majority of Gen Zers say a parent did each of the following at least once during their most recent job search: submitted an application (75 percent), communicated with a hiring manager (74 percent), tailored their resume to a job (70 percent), wrote emails on their behalf (70 percent), sat in on an in-person interview (65 percent), completed a test assignment (65 percent), cold-networked for them (61 percent), wrote a cover letter (60 percent), appeared on camera during a virtual interview (55 percent), and attended a virtual interview off-screen (51 percent).”

‘Crossing the line’

Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist for Resume Templates, said in the company’s report of the survey that results showing parental involvement in early career job searches “isn’t uncommon.”

She said most high schools don’t teach career readiness skills and though colleges have career offices, those resources aren’t often utilized by students. Parents, Toothacre said, have been shown to fill-in that gap to provide their children support in seeking a career. 

At the same time, she admitted, parents may be going too far.

“However, many parents are crossing the line from support into over involvement,” Toothacre said. “It’s appropriate for parents to review resumes, explain how the job search works, or offer feedback on applications. Parents should advise and coach, but not take over or be present in the process. Many genuinely believe they’re helping their children navigate a system that feels unfamiliar, unpredictable, or stacked against them.”

What the parents are saying

Resume Templates reported it subsequently surveyed 181 parents of Gen Z job seekers as well to understand why they are getting involved. 

“In open-ended responses, many parents framed their involvement as a practical necessity in a difficult job market,” the report of the survey said. “One parent said it was ‘extremely hard for young people to get jobs nowadays, especially if they are under 25,’ while another emphasized that they stepped in because they had professional expertise, noting, ‘I am a professional resume writer.’ Others described involvement as a way to ensure their child was positioned to succeed, with one parent explaining they wanted to make sure their child ‘would be put in the best position to succeed.’”

The company said in its report that some parents cited emotional or mental health-related reasons, such as anxiety, as a reason they became involved in their child’s career search. 

Several parents, Resume Templates reported, explained they stepped in to provide their child with “confidence” and “social aspects” of a job search.

“Parents overwhelmingly describe their involvement as requested rather than imposed,” the company said. “About 71 percent say their child asked them to be involved at the level they were, while 25 percent say they offered help and their child welcomed it. Only 4 percent say their child did not want their involvement.”

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].