Generational Recruiting
With a multi-generational workforce and talent pool, it's becoming evident that generational differences are creating challenges in recruitment and retention. Let's discuss...
Recently, I spoke at a SHRM Chapter meeting in Tallahassee, FL on Effective Staffing in a Multi-Generational World. Interestingly enough, one portion of the seminar that evoked the most feedback and commentary was regarding the fact that Gen Y's parents call to check on the status of their child's resume or application. Some also mentioned receiving phone calls from parents of children who were reprimanded at work for dress code violations or excessive lateness.
How are you handling these calls? If they are becoming more frequent, especially with parents having a part in the job decision making process, what is the correct way to handle this?
Scenario: A HR Director told me she had a parent call and harass her about why her child did not get a specific job. The HR Director politely told the parent that she'd be more than happy to discuss with the applicant if they wanted to give her a call. The parent insisted on knowing why and that they would pass the information on to their child. How would you handle it from here?
Why are the parents getting involved? I'd love to hear about other stories and your thoughts on this crazy and absurd topic.
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comments
What would I say
posted 5/15/2007 at 1:23 p.m. PT by Mark Newman
I would say, your child didn't get the job because they could not demonstrate responsibility and follow-up skills and must have had to pass them over to their parents.
Or perhaps - obviously your child can take care of themselves so we don't want to either
or "why didn't your child get the job? Because you called me."
This phenomenon is ridiculous. I wonder what the kid thinks. Do they think it's ok?
Mark
Ooops - TYPO
posted 5/15/2007 at 1:24 p.m. PT by Mark Newman
I mean -
"obviously your child can't take care of themselves so we don't want to either"
I would be mortified!
posted 5/15/2007 at 1:42 p.m. PT by Kristin Gissaro
Mark,
I think that's definitely what people would want to say, but could you really say that? Should you really say that? Especially if the parents play a role in the Adult Child's life and decision making?
Personally, if my mother called to check on the status of my resume, I would be mortified!
When I first heard of this happening, I thought to myself that it had to be an isolated incident. But to my surprise, it is happening everyday all over the place!
high maintenance
posted 5/15/2007 at 2:51 p.m. PT by Shally Steckerl
My questoin is at what point do "Millenials" stop being speciall and start being "spoiled"?
Parent Involvement White Paper
posted 5/15/2007 at 5:09 p.m. PT by Jon Jenks-Bauer
The Collegiate Employment Research Institute at MSU has produced a white paper on parent involvement:
http://ceri.msu.edu/publications/pdf/ceri2-07.pdf
It reports that 32% of larger companies responding have had some level of parent involvment.
The Right Thing To Say....
posted 5/15/2007 at 6:33 p.m. PT by Brenda Lepi
For Gen Y candidates, the parent(s) should be told something along the lines of, "the information you are inquiring about is confidential and I am not able to discuss it with you! Please ask 'kid's name' to call me and I will be happy to discuss the matter with them."
I am curious how other recruiters handle parents calling and asking about their minor children???
Brenda bl934@msn.com
I Agree
posted 5/16/2007 at 7:54 a.m. PT by LIsa Blount
I totally agree with Brenda. I have dealt with this situation more than once and since my company does not hire anyone under 18, I always say that I can not discuss any employee's confidential file even with anyone, even their parent.
Special vs Spoiled
posted 5/16/2007 at 8:50 a.m. PT by Kristin Gissaro
To your point Shally, from research I've seen, it says this generation is spoiled and has been led to believe they are special. I truly believe they are the product of their parents upbringing. They know there aren't enough of them out there to fill the void in the workforce therefore, knowing they are wanted.
So...does anyone think that companies should just play into these facts and fuss over the candidate as they are used to or are organizations not at that level of desperation yet? Just a thought.
No playing into it
posted 5/16/2007 at 9:12 a.m. PT by Mark Newman
There can't be any playing into it - what happens when the person has a bad day at work? What about when they don't do their job well and think they are going to get fired? What about if a boss yells at them for something? Is there parent going to call? Is there going to be a parent-boss-child conference?
I'm not far removed from this age group (I was pretty fortunate to graduate when I was 20) and I wouldn't ever expect anyone to do this. I would never hire and will never hire someone who's parents call me to check in because obviously that is someone who cannot become an effectively employee and I firmly believe that. I believe it shows zero accountability, zero independence and zero initiative.
Let me give you an example - I am a Boy Scout leader and a number of Scouts each year decide to do Eagle Projects to achieve the highest rank. We have a firm policy that the Scout needs to be the one who takes a initiative and is the one who makes the phone calls they need to make, do what they need to do and take the leadership position in getting their project signed off and completed. If a parent calls for anything (we don't care that the Scouts are 13-16), no deal and we don't do anything for them. People know this now and part of preparation and growing up is doing things for yourself and we hope our Scouts are learning something in that regard.
In other countries a job choice is a family decision - China, India - you spend as much time conveying information (hopefully just through the candidate) to the family about why they should work with your firm but in the U.S. it's not a family choice or decision it's babysitting, spoiling and what you call "special" I call ridiculous (and a few other words). I guess the safe thing to do is say "this is confidential information between us and (name) so have them call me" but I think the best thing to do is not hire the person period.
Ashamed of my generation -
Mark Newman HireVue
Great thread
posted 5/16/2007 at 7:41 p.m. PT by Paul Miller
I agree that Gen Y has a challenge ahead of them. Personally, I blame it on the rise of "participation" trophies that they received. They've been taught since day one that they are special and valued. Add to that the low unemployment, and it's a dangerous mix.
I heard an anecdotal story about a Gen Y'er who (after a week on the job) emailed the CEO of his Fortune 500 Company to tell him everything that the company was doing wrong. After a week without a response, he sent the email to THE ENTIRE COMPANY.
Now, it's easy for us to take stories like these and just say that Gen Y "doesn't get it" and blame their parents, teachers and (to some extent) our companies, for not letting them know what is/isn't appropriate. And yes, parents need to know that inquiring about their childs job status is COMPLETELY inappropriate.
But before you go down that path, remember to also take a look at the opportunity in front of us - how many companies say that no one is willing to go out on a limb to provide honest feedback? If we can harness the enthusiasm and the complete UN-willingness to accept the status quo of the Gen Y'ers, we might just find a real resource in our companies. The trick is to do it constructively, in a way that doesn't scare them into "playing it safe".
Channeling Gen Y's strong points
posted 5/17/2007 at 10:01 a.m. PT by Kristin Gissaro
I totally agree with you Paul. That is part of my presentation is how to embrace these open and proactive tendencies of Gen Y's. It is a great quality to have but if not funneled correctly, it could make for an uncomfortable work environment between the different generations who are working together.
desperate parents...
posted 5/17/2007 at 4:43 p.m. PT by Deborah Jones
are probably trying to get deadbeat Johnny out of the house. The Gen Y's are living longer with mom and dad and it clearly is affecting their sanity. Message to Gen Y parents: Tough love.
Problems are not only with external candiates
posted 5/22/2007 at 9:10 a.m. PT by Amie Ernst
I had a woman that worked at the same company with me harass me worse that external candidate parents. Her son came in and applied for one of the general positions. His work history was horrible and attitude in the interview was one of you have to hire me because my mom works here.
Needless to say, I passed on him for hire. Turn down letter sent, and the fun began. She started with emails asking why I turned him down, then left me voice messages threatening that her son was going to say I was rude and abrasive in the interview and report me to the Senior VP. She did. I also saved all interview notes, her vm's and emails.
Son was not hired and she was placed on a work action.
This was a Gen Y child and I have had many calls from parents of these children. I attribute it alot of it to Dr. Spock. If he had not told parents to not spank their children and many other ill advised notions maybe we would not have the unprepared and non employable group that is now looking for a career. Being a childs friend, and not preparing them for real life and some reasonable amount of discipline, as a parent should,will dramatically effect our world as we know it.
Amy, you are sooo right!
posted 5/22/2007 at 4:01 p.m. PT by Brenda Lepi
I agree, it is the Dr. Spock Syndrom!
Apparently It's Part of the Gen Y Package!
posted 5/30/2007 at 7:08 a.m. PT by Karla Porter
"This is Frank's mom", started the other end of the phone conversation. "I got his offer of employment letter in the mail today and it says he has to bring ID with him", she went on to say. "I keep his originals locked in the safe, is it ok for him to bring photo copies?"
I asked for her to have Frank call me so I could explain it to him....
This was not my first "parental" experience. And don't think it all comes from overbearing mothers.
"Hello, I just checked my answering machine and my daughter had a message from you about a job application," said her father.....
And so on it goes. It IS happening more and more. It appears the European tradition of living home longer and doting parents is coming to America. I don't think it is a bad thing, I think we Baby Booming independent go-getting workaholics that were raised knowing that we would be on our own at 18 need to adjust.
Examining our own generational way of comportment and understanding another's is of course, not easy. Maybe we could look at it this way; Twenty-somethings with personal personal assistants. I am envious!
My personal story....
posted 6/1/2007 at 11:49 a.m. PT by Kristin Gissaro
Many of you commented that during the interview process is when you saw parent involvment. Did any see parent involvement at the offer stage? Or the job search stage?
A few months ago, I was at our local dog park sitting on a bench and I struck up a conversation with a Boomer. She asked me what I did for a living, I explained Recruitment Communications. She asked if that was advertising related, I explained, that yes, there was an element of advertising involved. Before I knew it, she walked away, walked back with her daughter and said, "This is my daughter, she needs an internship for the summer. Do you have any openings?"
I recently had to hire two full time account managers, who are Gen Y and neither involved their parents, until the position was offered or when it was time for benefits enrollment. One explained she wanted to run everything by her parents since she really had nothing to compare it to.
I think this is a very appropriate way to involve her parents. As Gen Y steps out into the professional world, they need advice and guidance on what benefits to choose, if they can live off of the offered salary, etc.
I have to say, I did the same thing when I got my first job. If I hadn't I probably would have made a few mistakes.
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