When my son was in high school I often told him that if he went away to college, I would be moving next door. He hasn’t moved away, so I have no need to do that. That said, most of us as parents are very protective of our children and sometimes we go way overboard and become known as ‘helicopter parents’ – always hovering around! Of course, this can sometimes have a negative impact on the children, especially when they are in their early adult years.
In a recent survey of Executives by Officeteam, they witnessed some unusual parental behaviours:
- “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.”
Whether you are a helicopter parent or not, these five tips from Officeteam will equip you to help your son or daughter navigate the job search maze:
1. Branch out. Networking is still one of the best ways to find a job. Your friends and colleagues can help set up introductory meetings with employers and alert your job-seeking child to opportunities.
2. Give it another look. Review their resume and cover letter. Most times you can spot typos and other errors and make sure the most valuable information is included.
3. Do a test run. Offer to conduct mock interviews with them to practice responses to common questions. Give them constructive feedback on their answers and delivery.
4. Weigh the options. Offer to be their sounding board about potential opportunities. You can provide a different perspective and bring up points they could consider in their decision.
5. Offer encouragement. Looking for a job can be difficult, and it’s important to remain positive. Offer your parental advice and support throughout the process to keep them on track.
Read the full Officeteam article here
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