Work/Life Parents
Gen Zers, parents apply within!
By Jason Walsh
G ood news parents—there’s still one area your Gen Z kids think you’re smarter than artificial intelligence: Job hunting. According to a recent survey about how young people and recent college graduates conduct their job search process, only 22% reported using ChatGPT to assist in their recent job searches—compared to 70% who said they sought their parents’ assistance on the job hunt. The data was collected this past spring by ResumeTemplates.com , a platform for downloadable resume templates. Researchers collected and analyzed responses from 1,428 Gen Zers, those ages 18 to 27, in the United States who searched for a job within the past year. Another round of research was conducted in May, surveying 2,921 Gen Zers. Among those who did turn to ChatGPT for help, 83% utilized the AI tool for resume development, and 63% used it for crafting cover letters. Users supplied ChatGPT with key information including skills, education, years of work experience and descriptions of previous jobs, according to the survey. ResumeTemplates ’ Executive Resume Writer Andrew Stoner described it as “somewhat surprising” that so many more younger job seekers are turning to their parents over the latest technologies in their job hunts. “Some Gen Zers might feel safer or more likely to succeed with assistance from their parents on job applications instead of using ChatGPT,” he says. “Their parents might also be dissuading them from using the tool.” Or, it could also be that parents are more invested in a successful job search outcome than a chatbot. Not only did the survey reveal that 55% of respondents asked parents for help on their resumes and 49% sought assistance with cover letters—but 24% said their parents actually submitted the job application on their behalf, while 13% had their parents complete their human resources screening calls. And if that isn’t motherly love enough, the survey found that 26% brought their parents to an in-person interview. One thing’s clear from the survey: While Alexa might be who your kids mostly turn to for guidance, no one wants you to find a job, cut the purse-strings and move out of the basement quite like good ol’ mom and dad.
In a recent OfficeTeam survey, hiring managers were asked to recount the strangest behavior they’ve heard of or seen from parents of job seekers. Here are some of the responses: • “The candidate opened his laptop and had his mother Skype in for the interview.” • “A woman brought a cake to try to convince us to hire her daughter.” • “A father asked us to pay his son a higher salary.” • “One mom knocked on the office door during an interview and asked if she could sit in.” • “Parents have arrived with their child’s resume and tried to convince us to hire him or her.” • “A job seeker was texting his parent the questions I was asking during the interview and waiting for a response.” • “Once a father called us pretending he was from the candidate’s previous company and offered praise for his son.” • “Parents have followed up to ask how their child’s interview went.” • “A father started filling out a job application on behalf of his kid.” • “I had one mother call and set up an interview for her son.” • “Moms and dads have called to ask why their child didn’t get hired.”
July 2024
NorthBaybiz 15
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