Parents Get In on the Job Search

Some of the most unusual or surprising behavior from parents of job seekers cited by executives surveyed included: 

• “One parent wanted to sit in during the interview.” 
• “A parent called a politician to push me to hire his son.” 
• “A mother submitted her daughter’s resume on her behalf.” 
• “Someone stopped an employer at a grocery store to ask that person to hire her child.” 
• “A parent called to ask about a job applicant’s work schedule and salary.” 
• “A parent called during the interview to try to push me to hire her daughter.” 
• “I received a call from a father asking about the status of his son’s application.” 
• “A parent came by my desk and told me that he expected his daughter to get preference for a position since he was a manager at the company.” 
• “A mother called to ask how her child did in the job interview.” 
• “A parent called to find out why we did not hire her son and why we felt he was not qualified.” 

“Although most parents mean well, those who become overly involved in a child’s job search can derail their son or daughter’s prospects of being hired because companies may question the applicant’s level of independence and maturity,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam, in a press release.