A surprising trend in the world of entry-level employment has left retail workers and hiring managers utterly perplexed. A Tesco employee has taken to social media to express their astonishment at the number of young adults, primarily men aged 18 to 25, who are being accompanied by their parents into job interviews.
The 'Cray Cray' Trend in Retail Hiring
Posting on Reddit, the anonymous worker from a large Tesco store described a recurring scene that defies conventional job-seeking etiquette. The issue isn't parents simply providing a lift to the interview location. Instead, these parents are reportedly entering the store, sitting in the waiting area, and in some cases, attempting to join their adult children in the interview room itself.
"I’m not even joking, it’s crazy the amount of times this happens," the original poster wrote. They noted the trend seems most prevalent with "young men in tracksuits with their mams going in together." The Tesco worker questioned the logic, asking: "How do you expect to get a job when you can’t even go into an interview by yourself??? Is your mammy going to hold your hand when you stock a shelf???"
A Wider Phenomenon and Professional Backlash
While many Reddit users reacted with disbelief, data suggests this may be a more common practice than it appears. A 2025 study conducted in the USA by ResumeTemplates found that a staggering 77% of people aged 18 to 28 have brought a parent to a job interview.
Julia Toothacre, Chief Career Strategist at ResumeTemplates, issued a stark warning about this behaviour. "Parents can be supportive behind the scenes, but they shouldn’t participate directly," she advised. Toothacre explained that such actions "undermine the child’s credibility" and risk stunting their professional growth. Furthermore, managers are likely to view it as a sign of immaturity and a lack of independence.
The online discussion revealed that hiring managers and fellow candidates see this as a major red flag. One commenter stated, "If I were interviewing, I’d see this as a red flag that they aren’t able to do things without having their hand held." Another speculated on parental motivation, wondering if some mothers are "so desperate for her adult son to do something with his life that she is coming into the interview to make sure he's actually doing it."
Parental Pressure vs. Personal Responsibility
Some users shared personal anecdotes, revealing that the drive for parental involvement sometimes comes from the parents themselves. One 25-year-old recalled having to insist their mother wait outside during a McDonald's interview at age 16. Others pointed out that genuine support, like a lift due to transport issues, is understandable, but crossing the threshold into the interview process is detrimental.
A contrasting story highlighted the advantage of self-sufficiency. A user who successfully interviewed for a bank role at 19 recalled feeling initially nervous until they saw other candidates in tracksuits with their parents. The sight of those "grown adults" with parental escorts immediately boosted their confidence, knowing their own preparation and independent approach set them apart.
The consensus from both professionals and the public is clear: while the job market can be intimidating, demonstrating the initiative and independence to face an interview alone is a fundamental first step towards securing employment and building a credible professional reputation.
