Nearly Half of Gen Zers Have Mom Regularly Talk To Their Boss

ResumeTemplates surveyed 831 Gen Zers who work full-time to understand how involved their parents were in their most recent job search and their current role.

Study highlights:

• 31% of Gen Zers had a parent write their resume
• 77% brought a parent to an interview
• 53% had a parent speak with a hiring manager on their behalf
• 45% regularly have a parent talk to their current manager
• 73% have their parents help complete work assignments
• 57% have brought a parent to their current workplace

1 in 3 Gen Zers Had Their Parents Write Their Resume

While it’s smart to ask for help during a job search, a surprising number of Gen Zers are asking for quite a lot.

More than half (53%) of Gen Zers surveyed asked a parent to review their resume, 47% had them proofread it, and 35% requested a template to get started. While these seem like reasonable requests, 31% took it a step further and had a parent write their entire resume. Similarly, about 29% had their parents write their cover letters.

Additionally, 90% of Gen Zers had their parents help them find jobs to apply for. Among those who leaned on their parents for job leads:

• 65% had them search online (e.g., LinkedIn, Indeed)
• 50% asked them to use their professional connections
• 46% had them network on their behalf
• 36% even had them attend career fairs

Half of Gen Zers Had Their Parents Speak With Hiring Managers

Gen Zers didn’t just get support with application materials.

About 75% say they asked a parent to be a reference during their job search. Additionally, 63% had a parent submit job applications on their behalf, 54% asked a parent to email hiring managers, and 53% had a parent speak directly with hiring managers on the phone. Nearly half (48%) had a parent complete a test assignment for them, and 41% say their parent handled an initial HR screener call.

3 in 4 Gen Zers Took Their Parents To Interviews

Over three-quarters of Gen Zers (77%) say they have brought a parent to a job interview when they were job searching. About 13% say they always did, and 24% say they often did.

When parents attended interviews, 40% of Gen Zers say they sat in on the interview, 34% say their parents answered questions, 30% say their parents asked questions, and 27% say their parents helped negotiate salary or benefits. Additionally, 23% say their parents introduced themselves to the hiring manager, and another 23% say their parents spoke positively about them during the interview.

Gen Zers brought their parents most commonly to in-person interviews. About 44% say their parents only attended in-person interviews, and 27% say they only attended virtual ones. Additionally, 29% brought their parents to both virtual and in-person interviews.

Half of Gen Zers Bring Their Parents To Work

Parental help isn’t limited to the job search. Many Gen Zers say their parents continue to be involved even after they are hired. At varying frequencies:

• 86% have their parents review their performance reviews
• 83% have their parents pack their lunch for work
• 79% say their parents communicate with their manager
• 73% get help from their parents completing work assignments
• 57% bring their parents to work

“I support parents helping with resumes, offering professional insights, or reviewing performance evaluations. These actions can give Gen Z a clearer understanding of the workplace and position parents as valuable mentors, especially if they’ve worked in similar fields,” says  ResumeTemplates’ Chief Career Strategist Julia Toothacre.

“Parents can be supportive behind the scenes, but they shouldn’t participate directly. It not only undermines the child’s credibility but also risks stunting their professional growth and ability to navigate challenging situations. Additionally, managers and coworkers may interpret this behavior as a lack of maturity, which can damage the employee’s reputation.”

8 in 10 Gen Zers have their parents communicate with their manager

About eight in 10 Gen Z workers say their parents communicate with their manager, and 45% say this happens all the time or often.

In fact, Gen Z workers involve their parents in conversations with their manager about key job issues:

• 50% say a parent spoke to their manager about a workplace conflict
• 49% say a parent helped them ask for time off
• 46% say a parent was involved in a conversation about getting a raise
• 44% say a parent spoke with their manager about a promotion
• 40% say a parent helped them discuss changing roles
• 39% say a parent was involved in conversations about reducing their workload

“Early-career professionals need to develop the confidence and skills to navigate workplace conversations independently,” says Toothacre. “If someone feels unsure about how to approach a situation, I recommend turning to HR for support. Many HR professionals are willing to help with wording, offer guidance, or even role-play conversations as part of professional development.”

“New professionals can also find valuable resources online. Platforms like YouTube offer examples of workplace conversations and practical advice to help build confidence and communication skills.”

Methodology: This survey was conducted in July 2025. In total, 831 U.S.-based Gen Zers were surveyed. 

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