Helicopter Parents Hover Above HR

Helicopters in HR: Various news reports have surfaced recently that discuss a growing phenomenon: “helicopter parents” who try to strong-arm hiring managers into giving their kid a job. These well-meaning parents hover over every aspect of their children’s lives, with job interviews apparently no exception. HR professionals say they are running into situations in which a job candidate shows up for an interview, accompanied by a parent that tries to sit in on the process. Sometimes, Mom or Dad will also place follow-up calls to find out why their child wasn’t selected or, if the kid lands the job, to question performance reviews. Experience Inc., a career Web site for students, said helicopter parents are a growing problem for HR professionals. In a recent Experience survey, 25 percent of students acknowledge being embarrassed by parents who are “overly involved” in their job search.