Parent-Teacher Conference: A teacher-dad on parenting teens

Parent-Teacher Conference: A teacher-dad on parenting teens

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Parent-Teacher Conference: A teacher-dad on parenting teens
Parent-Teacher Conference: A teacher-dad on parenting teens
How helicopter parenting and other adult errors are making some employers less likely to hire Gen Z employees

How helicopter parenting and other adult errors are making some employers less likely to hire Gen Z employees

A new survey reveals that many employers are steering clear of hiring Gen Z workers, who have not been well served or prepared by the adults in their lives.

Braden Bell's avatar
Braden Bell
Jan 18, 2024
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Parent-Teacher Conference: A teacher-dad on parenting teens
Parent-Teacher Conference: A teacher-dad on parenting teens
How helicopter parenting and other adult errors are making some employers less likely to hire Gen Z employees
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Okay, you REALLY need to read the piece I’m going to share, think about it, and then share with friends. It might make you mad or defensive or guilty. But it’s important. This has to be something we confront for the sake of our kids. (And yes, I know I just said the other day that I wasn’t going to be a regular at sending stuff but I also said that I would still pass things along sometimes, I just could no longer commit to doing it regularly):

One of my big themes over the years—and something many, many others have been saying as well—is that when we over-parent—when we helicopter or snowplow parent—we are doing our kids a big disservice and creating a situation that will eventually have serious consequences.

There is always going to be a bill that eventually comes due for helicopter parenting, and it is inevitably a bill our kids will have to pay.

At some point, there will be a problem we can’t fix or manage, inevitably, there will be an authority we can’t cajole, push, persuade, pressure, influence, plead with, etc.

Here is some evidence of that. Employers may well be steering clear of hiring Gen Z employees, and much of this is really more about parenting than about the kids themselves.

My friend Suzanne Lucas, aka the Evil H.R. Lady has this stunning breakdown in a piece she wrote for Workable titled, Reverse ageism: why do companies avoid Gen Z workers? and I strongly encourage you to read the whole thing.

A few highlights, however:

The survey found that many managers prefer working with older, more experienced employees and are willing to pay a premium to ensure that.

Here are some key points from the Intelligent.com study:

  • 38% of employers avoid hiring recent college graduates in favor of older employees

  • 1 in 5 employers have had a recent college graduate bring a parent to a job interview

  • 58% say recent college graduates are unprepared for the workforce

  • Nearly half of employers have had to fire a recent college graduate

  • 53% say recent college grads struggle with eye contact

  • 50% say recent college grads ask for unreasonable compensation

  • 47% say candidates show up dressed inappropriately

  • 21% say candidates refused to turn on cameras for video interviews

  • 63% say new grads can’t handle their workload

Does it surprise you that 20% of the companies surveyed said that they had parents who showed up to job interviews? I will bet you that zero teachers/coaches/etc. are surprised.

Professionally, Suzanne is an HR professional who spends a whole lot of time thinking, writing, and speaking about the workplace and is always worth a read. She is also a mom and understands parenting today. With these two perspectives, she has some blunt and bracing thoughts for the parents, professors, and employers of Gen Z.

There is a lot here that’s especially important for parents. Again, pease, do yourself and your child a favor and read the whole thing here, but Suzanne makes a few key points worth sharing:

Parent-Teacher Conference is a reader-supported publication. It takes a lot of time and work to put these out, so I’d be grateful if you’d consider becoming a paid subscriber. It’s only $5.00 a month!

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