Gen Zs are taking their parents to interviews and having them talk to managers: Is the "fearless generation" still in swaddles?
The scene is becoming oddly ubiquitous in hiring rooms: a young candidate walks in, dressed for the occasion, flanked by a parent. In some cases, the parent takes a seat alongside the applicant. In others, they do more than just watch; they answer questions, negotiate salaries, and even speak on behalf of their child.
According to a recent study by Resume Templates, 77% of Gen Z job seekers admit to bringing a parent into their interviews.
Nearly 40% say those parents actively sat in the meeting, one-third report they answered or asked questions, and more than a quarter reveal their parents handled pay or benefits discussions. A quarter also say their parents introduced themselves or offered glowing endorsements to the hiring manager.
In an age where 'self-starter' is a badge of honour, the sight of a candidate deferring to their parents for answers, and even compensation negotiations, is forcing recruiters to rethink what professional independence means in 2025. It also prompts a deeper question: What is making the so-called 'fearless generation' hand over the steering wheel to their parents?
From helicopter parents to full-time career managers
The parental role doesn't stop at the interview table. The data paints a striking picture:
75% of Gen Zers have tapped a parent as a professional reference.
63% had parents apply for jobs on their behalf.
54% had parents email hiring managers.
53% saw parents directly call those managers.
48% admitted their parents completed test assignments for them.
41% even let a parent take the first HR call.
The reach transcends into the workplace itself, with 8 in 10 Gen Z workers saying their parents have communicated directly with their manager.
For a few, that includes resolving conflicts, requesting time off, or intervening in discussions about promotions, role changes, or reduced workload.
This is not just 'involvement'; it's professional co-piloting.
Why the 'bold generation' feels unready
For all their digital fluency, Gen Zers are stepping into the workforce with fewer professional footholds than their predecessors. Research indicates they average only 16 strong business relationships, compared with 21 for millennials and 40 for Gen X.
This network gap's roots lie in the pandemic years, when critical early career experiences, internships, networking events, even casual workplace banter, were substituted by remote schooling and online interaction. As a result, many feel disconnected from professional norms, unsure of how to navigate corporate structures, and, in some cases, uncomfortable with workplace small talk.
Ironically, despite their 'digital native' tag, only 23% of Gen Z workers prefer to work remotely full-time, according to Gallup, compared with 35% of older generations.
The majority are craving in-person interaction, yet still carry the social scars of isolation, leaving them reluctant to step into professional spaces without backup.
The risk of outsourcing independence
Career experts forewarn that parental involvement at the interview stage can undermine the very confidence these young professionals need to build. While moral support is natural, direct intervention signals to recruiters that a candidate may lack the autonomy to monitor responsibilities on their own.
Rather than saying 'over to you' and handing the mic to the parents, experts suggest using them as behind-the-scenes mentors. Mock interviews, feedback on resumes, and guidance on workplace etiquette are pivotal. However, the final performance, they say, should be the candidate's alone.
From the cradle to AI coaching
One alternative gaining traction is leaning on AI for preparation rather than parents for participation. Tools like ChatGPT can simulate interviews, generate unexpected questions, and help candidates research companies in depth — providing the confidence boost that parental presence might otherwise offer.
One alternative gaining traction is leaning on AI for preparation rather than parents for participation.
A recent survey shows that 1 in 5 employees has used AI during job interviews, underscoring the growing role of technology in career readiness. Unlike a parent at the table, AI won't raise an eyebrow from a recruiter, and it can equip candidates to walk into the room with answers ready, confidence intact, and independence unchallenged.
The question that lingers
By 2030, Gen Z is projected to make up 30% of the global workforce. Whether they will step into that role as self-sufficient professionals or remain tethered to parental guidance is a cultural question as much as an economic one.
For now, the image is hard to shake: A generation hailed as 'fearless' arriving at the job market with backup from the people who once packed their school lunches. The workplace may have changed, but the challenge remains the same; eventually, the training wheels have to come off.
Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
11 hours ago
- Mint
German Breweries Are Forced to Adapt as Gen Z Goes Alkoholfrei
(Bloomberg) -- Over the course of its 172-year-history, the Lang-Bräu brewery in the north of Bavaria has weathered two world wars and the fall of the Iron Curtain, whose defenses once stood less than thirty minutes away. But money troubles in recent years proved more than the small operation could handle. Facing €12 million ($13.9 million) in costs for much-needed upgrades, the owners decided last summer to shut everything down. 'Breweries are capable of incredible suffering,' said Richard Hopf, who led the family business and is now overseeing its closure. 'But when sales fall and costs keep going up, it leaves little room for long-term considerations.' Lang-Bräu is in a situation that's familiar to many German brewers. Between inflation and higher energy prices, financial pressures on beermakers are mounting. Adding to this uncertainty is another sobering development: in a country long defined by its beer culture, fewer young people want to consume alcohol. For many Germans in Gen Z — which includes anybody born between 1997 and 2012 — beer is no longer a daily ritual but a rare indulgence. And when they do enjoy the occasional wheat beer or pilsner, they're increasingly likely to choose an alcohol-free option. Some breweries have made moves to adapt — more than 800 varieties of alcohol-free beer are now available in Germany — but this hasn't offset a broader decline. The average German now consumes 88 liters of beer in a year, down from 126 in 2000. And in the first half of 2025, the nation's statistics office registered a 6.3% drop in beer production, a new low. 'It's frankly worrying,' said Holger Eichele, who leads Germany's brewer association. 'The conditions aren't good. Even those who've run their business for many centuries might be forced to give it up now.' Gen Z's abstention from alcohol isn't only happening in Germany, which produces the most beer on the continent. Young people are also drinking less across Europe and in the US. There are various reasons for this: younger people have less disposable income than previous generations, wellness movements are on the rise, and there is greater awareness of the health risks associated with drinking. 'I'd never order it,' Carla Schüßler, a student in southwestern Germany, said of beer. In her generation, 'it's clear to everyone that alcohol isn't good for your body.' Beer's high calorie content also doesn't sit well with image-conscious Gen Zers. Fitness influencers routinely post about alcohol's adverse effects, warning that it hampers fat burning and muscle building. 'It's just hard to improve your fitness level while drinking,' said Luke Heiler, a 22-year-old who works in a chemical laboratory and exercises regularly. As these views become more common, Germany's roughly 1,500 breweries are having to adapt. And not all have been able to: between 2023 and 2024, 52 breweries closed across the country — the largest decline in at least three decades. Those who can are rethinking their product range to include more beers mixed with soda, known as radlers, and sparkling juice drinks. Billboards at train stations and ads on TV now promote alcohol-free fun — a once unthinkable development in a country known for Oktoberfest, and which still upholds a 500-year-old law mandating that beer contain no more than four essential ingredients. Amid all these changes, perhaps the biggest is the boom in alcohol-free beer. While 9 out of 10 beers sold in Germany still contain booze, production of non-alcoholic beer — defined as anything containing less than 0.50% alcohol by volume — has nearly doubled over the past decade. 'We don't think our flagship beer, which contains alcohol, will achieve major growth in the coming decades in Germany,' acknowledged Peter Lemm, a spokesperson for Krombacher, one of the nation's largest beermakers. 'Clearly, the growth area is low- or non-alcoholic beer.' For brewers, developing alcohol-free versions of their beer isn't a problem. The challenge is getting them to taste like the real thing. Those who can afford to will often opt for a process in which beer is brewed normally, with the alcohol removed in an extra step once fermentation is finished. At Krombacher's plant in the Western German city of Kreuztal — where beer flows through pipes across different parts of the building — this is integrated into a weeks-long process. That level of precision manufacturing, however, isn't available to everybody. 'Small breweries usually can't afford to take out the alcohol after,' said Thomas Becker, a Munich-area professor who specializes in beermaking. The equipment alone, he added, requires 'an investment in the region of €1 million ($1.2 million).' Instead, small breweries often resort to an easier method, which involves stopping the fermentation process before it's completed. While it doesn't require additional investment, in most cases, drinkers do notice the difference as the result is usually sweeter than normal. Entering the alcohol-free market as a smaller brewer also presents other challenges. It's tough to break into a field that's already saturated, especially when bigger players are better positioned to release new drinks quickly and buy up the trademarks of established brands. To local breweries like Lang-Bräu, which are already under heavy financial stress after years of dwindling sales, these obstacles can be fatal. The brewery never attempted to make its own alcohol-free beer, Hopf said. But given how many options are already on the market, he added, he doesn't think it would have made much of a difference. More stories like this are available on
News18
15 hours ago
- News18
The Ever-Growing Coffee Trends Shaping India's Coffee Choices
A movement where the modern Indian coffee drinker wants to savor something that looks beautiful, feels wholesome, and tells a story There's something magical about that first sip of coffee, it's not just caffeine, it's comfort, ritual, and lately, a canvas of creativity. For many young Indians, coffee is no longer just a wake-up call, it's a statement. And it's this emotional connection with coffee that's brewing an exciting transformation in India's coffee culture. Across the country, Gen Z and millennials are saying goodbye to the standard cappuccino and hello to beverages that are vibrant, health-conscious, and packed with unique flavors. One of the most exciting trends fueling this shift is fruit-flavored infusions so much so that fruit-based beverages now account for 22% of all offerings in India's foodservice market, underscoring a booming demand for fresh, vibrant, and experiential drinks. Whether it's an Orange Brûlée Cappuccino or a creamy Avocado Frappe, these drinks don't just taste extraordinary, they look like art and feel like indulgence with a healthy twist. This trend is deeply rooted in coffee's natural flavor profile, which often leans toward fruits like citrus and stone fruits, making it well-suited for fruit infusions. By enhancing these natural notes with real fruit ingredients, cafés are crafting beverages as rich in flavor as they are in story. 'The future of coffee isn't just about how it tastes, it's about how it's experienced. When we let coffee speak through its natural flavors and pair it with intention, we create something truly memorable," reflected Boram Um, 2023 World Barista Champion and Head of Coffee Innovation, Kenangan Coffee India. It's no surprise that in markets like China and Korea, orange Americanos and fruit-based coffee syrups have already made waves and Indian cafés are catching up fast. Equally compelling is the shift toward health-conscious alternatives. With increasing awareness of refined sugar's impact, consumers are now seeking sweetness that nourishes. As a result, the trend to reduce sugar in beverages is gaining momentum globally from Chinese tea houses using less sugar and Western cafés embracing unsweetened coffee, to India, where sales of no-sugar and low-sugar drinks doubled in 2024, now accounting for 10% of the beverage market. Reflecting this change, many cafés, like Kenangan Coffee, are now offering natural alternatives such as jaggery, stevia, honey, and Gula Aren, a traditional Indonesian palm sugar with a low glycemic index. The focus is clear: cut added sugars and let natural sweetness elevate coffee's true flavor. But this shift isn't just about nutrition, it's also about experience. What we're witnessing is more than a passing trend, it's a movement. A movement where the modern Indian coffee drinker wants to savor something that looks beautiful, feels wholesome, and tells a story. Whether it's sipping on a vibrant fruit-infused espresso or choosing mindful ingredients, today's coffee is about connection both to the self and to the world. First Published: August 17, 2025, 09:37 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
77% Of Gen Z Bring Parents To Job Interviews, Even For Salary Talks And Hiring Tests
A recent survey by Resume Templates reveals that 77% of Gen Z job seekers have involved their parents in the hiring process, with many bringing them along to interviews, salary negotiations, and even test assessments, reported the Fortune Magazine. Among those whose parents attended interviews, 40% reported they sat in during the discussion, while one-third said their parents asked or answered questions. Around 27% noted that parents negotiated compensation or benefits, and some even introduced themselves directly to hiring managers, according to the study by Resume Templates. Beyond interviews, parental involvement extends to nearly all stages of the job search. Over 75% of Gen Z candidates used a parent as a reference, 63% had them apply for jobs on their behalf, and more than half allowed their parents to email or call hiring managers. Notably, 48% had parents complete test assignments, and 41% let them handle initial HR interactions, according to Fortune. Experts attribute this trend to Gen Z's lack of professional experience and limited networks, worsened by the pandemic's impact on social development. The tight entry-level job market has also added pressure, pushing young applicants to seek support from trusted sources-primarily their parents. While some view this involvement as overstepping, others see it as a reflection of the changing dynamics in today's workforce. Experts suggest using AI tools like ChatGPT to better prepare for job applications and interviews. What Gen Z asked their parents to do while job hunting? An overwhelming 90% of Gen Z job seekers asked their parents to help find jobs to apply to, while 75% listed them as references. Around 70% had parents submit applications on their behalf, and 60% sought their help in emailing or speaking with hiring managers directly. Over half asked parents to complete test assignments (55%) and handle HR screener calls (45%). Additionally, 35% relied on their parents to write resumes, and 30% for cover letters.
