Key takeaways
- If a Gen Z candidate brings a parent to a job interview, their resume “goes in the trash,” says Kevin O’Leary.
- He called it a “terrible signal” and a “really, really bad idea” to parents in interviews because it suggests the applicant can’t handle professional situations.
- He frames the issue as one of independence, arguing that employers need people who can “think” and “decide” for themselves.
Kevin O’Leary talks about a new Gen Z job search behavior: bringing parents along to interviews.
On a recent appearance on Fox Business Varney & CoO’Leary argued that the practice sends a “terrible signal” to employers about a candidate’s independence and employability. Their first question to a Gen Z job candidate will be, “Would you like me to hire your mother or you?”
“What is she doing here? I want to know that you can think independently, make decisions independently,” O’Leary said. “That resume goes right in the trash.”
The controversy stems from survey data showing that a minority, but significant, portion of young workers lean on parents throughout the hiring process. A February report by career platform Zeitgey found that 5% of Gen Z parents virtually sat in on job interviews. A large proportion, 15%, arrived at personal interviews with their parents.
Meanwhile, one in five Gen Z workers said parents have contacted an employer or recruiter on their behalf, per Zety. More than 40 percent of Gen Z respondents said their parents helped them prepare their resumes, according to the report.
How O’Leary Responds to Parents in Interviews
If mom or dad appear as a visible presence in the interview, O’Leary questions whether the candidate will be able to function independently in high-pressure situations. Parental participation before the petitioner speaks answers this question in the negative.
O’Leary told Fox Business that he has experienced the situation firsthand. A Gen Z candidate even showed up on a Zoom call with his mom on the line. O’Leary immediately shut down the situation and said that either the mother would have to leave or not be considered as a candidate for the role. He called the situation “a big red flag” and a “really, really bad idea.”
“It doesn’t make any sense,” O’Leary said. “It just shows you that the person doesn’t have the confidence or the ability to carry out the mandate that you’re presenting them with… I think that’s a terrible sign.”
At the same time, the data suggest that parental involvement is far from a universal behavior. Nearly 80% of Gen Z respondents in Zety’s survey said their parents played no role in interviews, and more than half said they would be embarrassed or upset if a parent approached an employer without their consent.
O’Leary isn’t the only expert to push back against Gen Z appearing with parents for interviews. Alex Bain, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek that it’s normal to ask parents to help with resumes or practice interview questions — “but when you involve them in a formal process, it sends the wrong impression.”
Sign up for Business Daily Newsletter to get the news and resources you need to know today to help you run your business better. Get it in your inbox.
Key takeaways
- If a Gen Z candidate brings a parent to a job interview, their resume “goes in the trash,” says Kevin O’Leary.
- He called it a “terrible signal” and a “really, really bad idea” to parents in interviews because it suggests the applicant can’t handle professional situations.
- He frames the issue as one of independence, arguing that employers need people who can “think” and “decide” for themselves.
Kevin O’Leary talks about a new Gen Z job search behavior: bringing parents along to interviews.
On a recent appearance on Fox Business Varney & CoO’Leary argued that the practice sends a “terrible signal” to employers about a candidate’s independence and employability. Their first question to a Gen Z job candidate will be, “Would you like me to hire your mother or you?”
