Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

'Helicopter parents' crash-land on careers
Washington Times ^ | November 10, 2006 | Martha Irvine (Associated Press)

Posted on 11/10/2006 7:13:49 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

CHICAGO -- Some parents are writing their college-age children's resumes. Others are acting as their children's "representatives," hounding college career counselors, showing up at job fairs and sometimes going as far as calling employers to ask why their son or daughter didn't get a job.

It's the next phase in helicopter parenting, a term coined for those who have hovered over their children's lives from kindergarten to college. Now they are inserting themselves into their children's job searches -- and school officials and employers say it's a problem that may be hampering some young people's careers.

"It has now reached epidemic proportions," says Michael Ellis, director of career and life education at Delaware Valley College, a small private school in Doylestown, Pa.

At the school's annual job fair last year, he says, one father accompanied his daughter, handed out her resume and answered most of the questions the recruiters were asking the young woman. Even more often, Mr. Ellis receives calls from parents, only to find out later that their soon-to-be college grad was sitting next to the parent, quietly listening.

Jobs counselors at universities across the country say such experiences are commonplace.

"My main concern is the obvious need of the students to develop their independence and confidence," says Kate Brooks, director of the Liberal Arts Career Services at the University of Texas. "I think it's great that parents want to share their advice -- and even better that students of this age are willing to listen -- but I think the boundaries get crossed sometimes."

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: careers; embarassment; helicopterparents; jobs; needbiggerdiapers; noseyparents; parentaladvice; parents; shutupma
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last
To: wbill
Hi wbill-

We're reading from the same sheet of music. I turn to my parents for their insights because they are very wise. Similar to you, a candidate who visited my place of business and brought anyone to the meeting would be disqualified right on the spot.

~ Blue Jays ~

41 posted on 11/10/2006 8:27:26 AM PST by Blue Jays (Rock Hard, Ride Free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Madame Dufarge
"What the hell happened to this country?"

The dummacrats 'took care of us.'

42 posted on 11/10/2006 8:30:42 AM PST by editor-surveyor (Atheist and Fool are synonyms; Evolution is where fools hide from the sunrise)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

Hmmm ~ you gotta' understand that when the parents have $100,000 and up invested in the kid's degree, they have a serious interest.""

Any parent today has more than that invested in just birthing the kid and getting it to age 18. The "college" costs are then added to above.

IF ANY applicant for a job where I was hiring showed up with their parent(s), I would not even look at the application, and I would take them aside and make it abundently clear to them that if their "child" was now 22 +, and needed their parents at this interview, why in the world would I think the "child" was anything more than still a "child".
The parents certainly couldn't be at my place of business and assist their "child" in performing the tasks of the job. What kind of co-dependent people are we creating in the USA in the past 2 generations? I have already concluded that we have bred the survival gene out of them.


43 posted on 11/10/2006 8:36:18 AM PST by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: mr_hammer

Ya, Mom and Pop are the co-signer's on the loan. In addition they probably took a second morgate on the house to pay for college. They are going to be damn sure Junior gets a job. ""

Perhaps they are the co-signers.

In any event- the quickest way to make sure Junior gets a job is to NOT let him live at home, NOT make his NEW CAR payment, etc. Time for the birds to fly.


44 posted on 11/10/2006 8:41:42 AM PST by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
I see these pretty often, but it is usually moms, walking in unannounced with their high-school kids, trying to get their first job.

I'm happy to say that most of the kids look completely mortified to be with their moms, and that they have been drug there by their hair. If they look sufficiently embarrassed by the situation, I'll tell the mother that I'd be happy to talk to them ALONE, for a few minutes. The ones that breathe a sigh of relief get a fair shot.

Any high school graduate that walked in with their Mom, though, would be discounted immediately.
45 posted on 11/10/2006 8:41:44 AM PST by horse_doc
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ridesthemiles

On the other hand if the kid showed up with his parents and the old man owned the company you'd bow and scrape and say "yessir, yessir, ....."


46 posted on 11/10/2006 8:46:22 AM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 43 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I could care less if my kids go to college. In 9 of 10 cases, it's a total waste. In fact it's worse than a waste. It's four years of learning new vices.


47 posted on 11/10/2006 8:53:36 AM PST by Aquinasfan (When you find "Sola Scriptura" in the Bible, let me know)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wbill
But, I don't think I'd ask them to come to the job interview with me. I think that I'd automatically DQ anyone who brought Mommy to any interview that I've conducted.

That's the point, they're there to give advice, not give your answers for you at interviews, write up your resume for you, do your homework for you, etc.

48 posted on 11/10/2006 8:54:34 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce! Wooooooo-oooooooo!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

There are always exceptions...


49 posted on 11/10/2006 8:57:19 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Mashed potatoes, gravy, and cranberry sauce! Wooooooo-oooooooo!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: who_would_fardels_bear

It doesn't matter you'll probably get hit by a car anyway.


50 posted on 11/10/2006 9:06:19 AM PST by kenth (There are three kinds of people in the world. Those who can count, and those who can't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: editor-surveyor
We had a 23-year old intern at work this summer who is constantly talking about her "mommy." It's enough to make you gag.

She took one Monday off because she was going to a rock concert on Sunday and announced she'd be too hung over to come to work the next day.

Mommy's little girl was shocked to find out that, as a summer intern, she wasn't entitled to a paid vacation day to nurse her hangover.

America's future.

51 posted on 11/10/2006 9:11:26 AM PST by Madame Dufarge
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
director of the Liberal Arts Career Services at the University of Texas

And with that degree you go have a career in designing/selling/buying liberal arts?!?! A degree that should be canceled.

52 posted on 11/10/2006 10:31:00 AM PST by 69ConvertibleFirebird (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Madame Dufarge; Tolerance Sucks Rocks
This explains the infantile results of the last election. People perceive the Democrats will "take care" of them. What the hell happened to this country?

What happens when both parents work outside the home and leave their children in the care of government social workers? What happens when the majority of our population has been indoctrinated in government schools? After 12+ years of brainwashing, 8-10 hours a day?

That's what the hell happened to this country.

53 posted on 11/10/2006 10:56:33 AM PST by XR7
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

I teach in an elementary school; hovering parents come with the territory. My mother, on the other hand, teaches at a community college. She never ceases to be amazed at the parents of her students who call/visit her to ask for extensions, make-up assignments, find out why Junior got a poor grade on his test, research paper, etc. Doesn't my mother know that Junior is an "A" student?! Lol. I think that more often than not, the parents are insulted to discover that THEIR work is "C" quality.


54 posted on 11/10/2006 10:57:40 AM PST by TXBlair (Fort Hood Loves the 4th ID!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Unfortunately, most college career counselors are totally clueless, so young adults seeking their first full time, permanent jobs are even more clueless. The parents, who have often just shelled out $100,000+ for college, realize this, panic, and behave irrationally.

Solution? Colleges should set up career advising departments that are for-profit, commission-based employment agencies. That's the only way to attract "counselors" who have a clue, and who will start grooming students early for serious jobs.


55 posted on 11/10/2006 10:59:06 AM PST by GovernmentShrinker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

On the other hand if the kid showed up with his parents and the old man owned the company you'd bow and scrape and say "yessir, yessir, ....."""

Sorry for the confusion- I was referring to a company I owned...


56 posted on 11/10/2006 11:04:00 AM PST by ridesthemiles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: discostu

How'd the parent get into your wife's office to begin with? She should stick up a big sign over some chairs outside the office, reading "Parent Waiting Area", and point to it firmly every time a parent tries to get into her office.


57 posted on 11/10/2006 11:04:03 AM PST by GovernmentShrinker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: ridesthemiles

Oh, well all right then. But if it's a factory the kid's dad owns, you're in trouble.


58 posted on 11/10/2006 11:46:37 AM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: who_would_fardels_bear

Man, I haven't thought about that song in two decades.


59 posted on 11/10/2006 2:04:59 PM PST by jdub
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: ridesthemiles

Agreed, I came home one night at the age of 19 only to find my dog tied to my suitcase with a note attached.

Have a good life, love Mom & Dad.


Best thing that ever happened to me.


60 posted on 11/10/2006 3:40:21 PM PST by mr_hammer (They have eyes, but do not see . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-66 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson