During a recent appearance on Fox Business’s Varney & Co. show, Shark Tank investor Kevin O’Leary stated that bringing parents to a job interview sends a “horrific signal” to employers, and he considers it a “big red flag”. O’Leary emphasized that this behavior indicates a lack of independence and confidence in the job seeker.
This is not just a hypothetical situation, as data shows that a significant number of young job seekers involve their parents in the hiring process. A survey conducted by Zety and Pollfish of roughly 1,000 Gen Z workers found that 20% said a parent had joined them during a job interview, with 15% in person and 5% virtually. Additionally, about 1 in 5 Gen Z workers said a parent had reached out to an employer or recruiter on their behalf, and over 40% said their parents helped them draft their résumé. O’Leary has personally experienced this, having had a parent join a job interview via Zoom call, which he promptly ended.
O’Leary’s advice to business leaders in similar situations is to be direct and say, “Sorry, that’s not going to work for us”. He believes that parents who are overbearing in this way think they are adding value, but in reality, it shows that the job seeker lacks confidence and ability to work independently. Other data, such as a 2025 study by Resume Templates, suggests that 77% of Gen Z job seekers have brought a parent to a job interview. However, it’s also important to note that only 41% of young people said they were “highly confident” navigating the job market, according to a 2025 report from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and The Harris Poll.
Despite O’Leary’s warnings, most Gen Z workers are competent and independent, with 80% of respondents to Zety‘s survey saying their parents had no involvement during interviews. Furthermore, over half of Gen Z respondents said they would feel “embarrassed or upset” if their parents reached out to their employer without their knowledge. As the job market continues to be highly competitive, it remains to be seen how Gen Z workers will navigate the challenges of finding employment and establishing their independence in the workplace.
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