Source: Fortune
Summary
Kevin O’Leary, a Shark Tank investor, criticized Gen Z job seekers who bring their parents to job interviews. He recalled an instance where a candidate’s mother accompanied them to an interview, and he had to ask her to leave. A 2025 study found that 77% of surveyed Gen Z job seekers have brought a parent to a job interview. O’Leary views this trend as a “horrific signal” that suggests younger professionals can’t think or make decisions on their own.
Our Reading
The numbers tell one story.
Kevin O’Leary’s experience with a Gen Z candidate’s mother in the interview room is not an isolated incident. A 2025 study reveals that nearly 60% of students who graduated within the last year are still looking for their first full-time role. Gen Z’s economic anxiety and intensive parenting have led to a shift in norms around independence. O’Leary’s advice to business leaders? Cut the interview short if a parent is present. “It means you can’t do this on your own.”
Author: Evan Null
