Gen Z jobseekers are bringing parents to interviews

A survey has uncovered the many reasons why older applicants are preferred, including that Gen Z jobseekers are even bringing mum and dad to interviews.

A survey has uncovered the many reasons why older applicants are preferred, including that Gen Z jobseekers are even bringing mum and dad to interviews. Picture: Supplied

Helicopter parenting has reached a new level.

Employers are going above and beyond to not hire recent university graduates in favour of older workers, a new survey found.

The survey uncovered many reasons why older applicants are preferred — including that Gen Z jobseekers are even bringing mum and dad to interviews. reports the New York Post.

In December, Intelligent, an online magazine focused on student life, surveyed 800 managers, directors and executives involved in the hiring process.

It found that 39 per cent of employers actively avoid hiring recent university graduates for roles they’re qualified for.

Out of the 800 people surveyed, a startling one in five (19 per cent) said a recent university graduate brought a parent with them to their job interview.

But that’s not the only aspect stopping employers from hiring Gen Z applicants.

One in five employers say that recent university graduates are “unprepared” for interviews — and are often unprofessional.

The survey uncovered many reasons why older applicants are preferred — including that Gen Z jobseekers are bringing mum and dad to interviews. Picture: Supplied

Fifty-three per cent of employers surveyed said that recent university graduates struggle with eye contact, 50 per cent said they ask for unreasonable compensation, 47 per cent said they don’t dress appropriately for interviews, and 21 per cent said they refuse to turn their cameras on for virtual interviews.

But Diane M. Gayeski, a professor of strategic communications at Ithaca College, suggested that these behaviours aren’t entirely their fault — a lot of it is circumstantial.

“Employers need to recognise that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people graduating from university had more than two years of disruption in their education as well as their social and professional development,” Gayeski said in the report. “Current seniors were in their freshman year at the height of Covid. They likely took classes online and were unable to participate in clubs, internships or summer jobs.”

Additionally, 63 per cent of those involved in hiring claimed that recent university grads can’t manage their workload, 61 per cent said they are frequently late to work, 59 per cent claimed they often miss deadlines, and 53 per cent noted that they are frequently late to meetings.

Employers aren’t exactly fans of Gen Z’s attitudes, either.

Fifty-eight per cent said Gen Z jobseekers get offended too easily and are unprepared for the workforce in general, 63 per cent said they are entitled, 57 per cent believed they lack professionalism, 55 per cent said they don’t respond well to constructive feedback, and 52 per cent claimed they have poor communication skills.

Of those surveyed, 47 per cent admitted that they had fired a recent university graduate. Picture: Supplied

Of those surveyed, 47 per cent admitted that they had fired a recent university graduate.

Meanwhile, employers are pursuing great lengths to avoid hiring a recent graduate, including offering more benefits for older employees (60 per cent), paying higher salaries to older employees (59 per cent), allowing older workers to work remotely or in a hybrid environment (48 per cent) and hiring older employees for roles they’re over-qualified for (46 per cent).

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Gen Z jobseekers are bringing parents to interviews