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Gen Z jobseekers are trying a new way to get employed these days: bringing their parents to their job interviews.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, one has to suppose.
According to a survey of 800 managers, directors and executives involved in the hiring process, 19% (or close to one in five) reported having a recent college graduate bring a parent with them to their job interview.
The poll, conducted by Intelligent, an online magazine focused on student life, also revealed that 38% (almost two in five) of employers surveyed are actively avoiding hiring recent college graduates for jobs for which they are actually qualified.
In fact, many employers are offering older workers higher salaries and increased benefits like working remotely just to avoid hiring Gen Z college graduates.
46% even said they are willing to hire an older employee who is overqualified for the job just to avoid working with someone younger.
The list of reasons these hiring professionals gave for avoiding Gen Z hires is a long one.
• 63% said recent college graduates act entitled.
• 58% of the hiring professionals stated Gen Z jobseekers are too easily offended and are unprepared for the workforce.
• 57% believe many Gen Z job candidates lack professionalism.
• 55% said they don’t respond well to constructive feedback.
• 53% of employers claim Gen Z job candidates struggle with eye contact during interviews.
• 52% claimed they have poor communication skills.
• 50% say recent college graduates often ask for unreasonable compensation.
• 47% claim Gen Z job candidates have shown up to their interviews dressed inappropriately.
• 21% of those surveyed have had a candidate refuse to turn on their camera for a virtual interview.
And then there’s that whole “bring your parent to your job interview” thing.
Even after hiring them, according to those surveyed, many Gen Z employees still present significant challenges.
• 61% of those polled said Gen Z employees are frequently late to work.
• 59% claimed they often miss deadlines.
• 53% shared that their Gen Z employees are also frequently late to meetings.
It is, of course, not all the Gen Z jobseekers’ fault.
“Employers need to recognize that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, young people graduating from college had more than two years of disruption in their education as well as their social and professional development,” said Diane M. Gayeski, PhD, professor of strategic communications at Ithaca College.
“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.”
Her advice?
“Gen Z hires need a lot of mentoring. They may need very specific guidance about what to wear, how to write an appropriate business email, or how to speak up in a meeting,” Gayeski suggested.
“These individuals value training and connections with fellow employees. They really want to do a good job and be valued. They also care very much about the values of an organization and its leaders, so if companies want to attract the top talent, they should be prepared to talk about more than just the job and making money.”