By Jason Walsh
Good news parents—there’s still one area your Gen Z kids think you’re smarter than artificial intelligence: Job hunting.
According to a recent survey about how young people and recent college graduates conduct their job search process, only 22% reported using ChatGPT to assist in their recent job searches—compared to 70% who said they sought their parents’ assistance on the job hunt.
The data was collected this past spring by ResumeTemplates.com, a platform for downloadable resume templates. Researchers collected and analyzed responses from 1,428 Gen Zers, those ages 18 to 27, in the United States who searched for a job within the past year. Another round of research was conducted in May, surveying 2,921 Gen Zers.
Among those who did turn to ChatGPT for help, 83% utilized the AI tool for resume development, and 63% used it for crafting cover letters. Users supplied ChatGPT with key information including skills, education, years of work experience and descriptions of previous jobs, according to the survey.
ResumeTemplates’ Executive Resume Writer Andrew Stoner described it as “somewhat surprising” that so many more younger job seekers are turning to their parents over the latest technologies in their job hunts. “Some Gen Zers might feel safer or more likely to succeed with assistance from their parents on job applications instead of using ChatGPT,” he says. “Their parents might also be dissuading them from using the tool.”
Or, it could also be that parents are more invested in a successful job search outcome than a chatbot. Not only did the survey reveal that 55% of respondents asked parents for help on their resumes and 49% sought assistance with cover letters—but 24% said their parents actually submitted the job application on their behalf, while 13% had their parents complete their human resources screening calls.
And if that isn’t motherly love enough, the survey found that 26% brought their parents to an in-person interview.
One thing’s clear from the survey: While Alexa might be who your kids mostly turn to for guidance, no one wants you to find a job, cut the purse-strings and move out of the basement quite like good ol’ mom and dad.
