News Releases

Tips on Parental Involvement from the Business Career Services Center

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Business Career Services Center (BCSC) wants all Business students to have every advantage possible when it comes to finding and getting an internship or full-time job. And while meeting with the BCSC during their job search creates an obvious advantage, a less obvious one can come from including parents into this process. Parents can assist with networking opportunities, career guidance, and offer evaluation. However, parents can also become too involved in this process and actually hurt their student's job prospects. Therefore, the BCSC reached out to its recruiting partners to identify what is viewed as normal and welcome assistance from parents and what things can have a negative impact on the process. Below are a few of the questions asked and some of the representative responses received:

What advice would you give to parents wanting to help their student with an internship or job search?

¥I would recommend that parents wishing to assist their children provide encouragement to their kids about where to look or how to approach the job market. They should provide their knowledge and experience in the workforce to assist their child in identifying the appropriate avenues to seek a position (online job boards, career fairs, and company career websites).
¥My advice for parents would be to provide all the BEHIND THE SCENES help they can. This might include encouraging the student early in fall semester to start signing up for interviews with companies that interest them (both full-time and internships).

What sort of behaviors would you consider "out-of-bounds" or inappropriate for parents to engage in?

¥Contacting their son or daughter's recruiter with questions, recommendations, etc. Attending any part of the interview/recruiting process with their son or daughter (unless specified as an event for parents).
¥Parents should not contact companies, or recruiters. Parents should advise their children, but make sure that the students aren't saying "Well, I need to talk to my parent(s) about the offer, or the job, etc."
¥I would consider parents calling employers, applying online, responding to emails, and attending career fairs on behalf of their children to be "out of bounds" behavior. The student should be the one making all the contact with the employers. Allowing students to be the point of contact, instead of a parent, establishes a relationship between the employer and student and shows that the student can take the initiative.

Would you ever eliminate a candidate due to involvement by a parent? And what type of specific behaviors would warrant this response?

¥A candidate might be eliminated if they demonstrate that they are incapable of navigating the interview/hiring process independently. There is an expectation that students will seek parental help, but they need to show confidence and business savvy in their interactions with recruiters and managers. If a candidate pulled their parents directly into the interview/hiring process, this could reflect negatively on his or her ability to take initiative and face challenges.
¥Yes, in extreme cases. If the parent is calling the employer on behalf of the student, asking questions on behalf of the student, attending the interview with the student, or intervening with the offer, this could be means to discontinue interest in a candidate.

Do any of the above responses change when someone is seeking an internship versus a full-time position?

¥No. I view internship applicants the same as full time applicants. Parents should be a great source for advice, but not be "seen or heard."

Please provide any other thoughts, suggestions, or general information for parents.

¥Parents need to allow their children to accomplish things on their own. If parents get involved in the p...