How Hovering Hurts Teen Job Seekers

By Kimberly Stiener-Murphy

We’ve all heard of moms and dads who become too involved in a child’s science fair project, book report or college application. According to a recent survey, this type of hovering extends into the job market, too. The survey, developed by leading staffing service OfficeTeam and conducted by an independent research firm, asked 1,300 senior managers to recount the most unusual or surprising behavior they have encountered from “helicopter parents” of job seekers. Here are some of their responses:

• “One parent wanted to sit in during the interview.”
• “A parent called a politician to push me to hire his son.”
• “A mother submitted her daughter’s resume on her behalf.”
• “Someone stopped an employer at a grocery store to ask that person to hire her child.”
• “A parent called to ask about a job applicant’s work schedule and salary.”
• “A parent called during the interview to try to push me to hire her daughter.”
• “I received a call from a father asking about the status of his son’s application.”
• “A parent came by my desk and told me that he expected his daughter to get preference for a position since he was a manager at the company.”
• “A mother called to ask how her child did in the job interview.”
• “A parent called to find out why we did not hire her son and why we felt he was not qualified.”

“Although most parents mean well, those who become overly involved in a child’s job search can derail their son or daughter’s prospects of being hired because companies may question the applicant’s level of independence and maturity,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “New graduates should steer their parents away from direct contact with potential employers and toward behind-the-scenes guidance and networking assistance.”

Parents, instead of doing the job seeking for your child (an approach which denies kids the opportunity to build their own job-hunting skills), share these five tips with your teens, and let them know you’re happy to help—without hovering:

5 Tips for Teen Job Seekers

1. Branch out.  Networking is still one of the best ways to find a job. A parent’s friends and colleagues can help set up introductory meetings with employers and alert you to opportunities.

2. Give it another look. Have parents review your resume and cover letter. They can spot typos and other errors and make sure the most valuable information is included.

3. Do a test run. Conduct mock interviews with your parents to practice responses to common questions. Ask for constructive feedback on your answers and delivery.

4. Weigh your options. Use your parents as a sounding board about potential opportunities. They can provide a different perspective and bring up points to consider in your decision.

5. Get encouragement. Looking for a job can be difficult, and it’s important to remain positive. Seek parental advice and support throughout the process to keep on track.

Kimberly Stiener-Murphy is Sacramento Branch Manager for OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in temporary placements of highly skilled office and administrative support professionals. For online job search services, free digital-age etiquette tips, a video clip on “Career Bloopers” to avoid, and more, visit OfficeTeam.com.