How parents are involved in their children’s careers

This common situation has become oddly common in the business world.

Veteran employment managers are impressed with recent college alumni qualifications. He attends a good school, has excellent grades and is associated with his summer work experience.

He did a solid job in his first short HR phone screening interview.

All the stars seem to be in place. Hiring managers hope to be impressed by the young people in face-to-face interviews and will want to extend their offer.

But then something happens that leaves the employment manager surprised, not in a positive way.

On the day of his appointment, the young man appears on time for an interview.

With his mother.

Helicopter parenting

The facts can sometimes feel stranger than fiction.

employment investigation Data shows that “one in five employers have brought parents to interviews with recent college graduates.”

All I can say to this is a very technical business term: Yikes!

According to employment surveys, this type of “helicopter” Child-raising“It can occur in a variety of scenarios, as practices are called.

Parents may be directly involved in pay negotiations.

Parents may complain vigorously if the expected job offer does not come true.

When younger employees experience conflict at work after they have been at work, parents may try to interfere. and so on.

Independence and resilience

I retired from the corporate world in 2012, so I think I’m too old to be on the receiver side of this kind of parent Tom Fourley.

But I can definitely tell you how I responded to it: it doesn’t work.

What did you say to me about the emotional toughness and independence of future employees? As a manager, I wanted to hire an employee who could stand on both my feet Resilience. Although it is not a delicate flower, adults can get things done in a cool, bottom line-oriented business environment with deadlines.

Good parents want the best for their children. They want to support them. Certainly, of course, as a parent I understand that it is completely natural. However, when it comes to supporting young adults in the working world, parental support can quickly change overly.

One recruiting company I’ve summarized it It’s going well. “Helicopter parenting,” they wrote. “It affects the credibility of candidates, especially when spreading in the workplace. Experts need to be responsible for their work and mistakes. When parents are involved, children make it seem like they can’t succeed independently.”

That’s the heart of the problem. Thoughtful managers are no surprise to hire (or retain) people who feel they are struggling to succeed on their own.