One in Five Gen Z Job Seekers Bring Parents to Interviews [US]
Gen Z is entering the workforce with a new kind of support system: their parents. And they're not just offering advice over dinner.
According to Zety's Career Co-Piloting Report (1,001 US respondents), 44% of Gen Z workers had parents help write or edit their CV. More notably, 21% report parents contacting potential employers or recruiters on their behalf. One in five (20%) had a parent join a job interview, 15% in person and 5% virtually.
The involvement extends to negotiations. Twenty-eight percent had parental help with pay or benefits discussions, with 10% having parents negotiate directly with employers.
What This Means for Finance Teams
By 2030, Gen Z will comprise 30% of the workforce. For CFOs and finance directors building graduate pipelines, this isn't a cultural curiosity. It's a recruitment variable.
Parental emails and phone calls about interview schedules, job requirements, and workplace accommodations are increasingly common. Fortune reported in August 2025 that 77% of Gen Z job seekers brought parents to interviews, and 63% had parents submit applications on their behalf.
The underlying issue is market volatility and networking gaps. Gen Z averages 16 professional connections versus 40 for Gen X, according to Big Brothers Big Sisters research from September 2025. Seventy-four percent lack mentorship, and only 12% secure jobs before graduation.
Seventy-one percent of parental involvement happens at the candidate's request, driven by anxiety and inexperience. But it creates friction. Accounting firms report challenges onboarding graduates who defer to parents on salary discussions or probation terms.
Practical Adjustments
Structured graduate programmes with clear mentorship pathways address the underlying gap more effectively than banning parental contact. Some firms now include family information sessions during recruitment, normalising involvement while setting boundaries.
If parents are the co-pilots, at least make sure they're reading the right flight manual.
Key figures:
- 44% had parents edit CVs
- 21% had parents contact employers
- 20% had parents join interviews
- 28% had parental help with negotiations
- 32% cite parents as main career influence (equal to bosses at 32%)
Survey data: Zety, 1,001 US Gen Z employees, February 2026