'Grown adults bringing their parents to interviews?': Supermarket employee reveals that "18 to 25-year-old boys" keep bringing their parents along during job interviews

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Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Jan 20, 2026 11:00 AM EST

This grocery store worker is insisting that there's a bizarre job interviewing phenomenon that they keep witnessing! 

The way my jaw would drop if a job candidate showed up to an interview with their Mom by their side… It sounds far-fetched, but this person is insisting that they've witnessed the phenomenon firsthand. 

It doesn't matter which industry you're necessarily in, there are some things that you just don't do at job interviews. The rules haven't really changed that much over the years, despite the changes in technology. Once you agree to a time for the job interview, you need to spend a few days preparing. You'll need a freshly laundered suit — a suit jacket is usually a requirement, regardless of your gender, as well as some smart shoes and a crisp shirt. You'll be expected to show up with several copies of your resume (yes, even in current year, we still have to seek out a printer and print off a few of those, just in case the interviewer requests it. Oh yeah, and don't forget to show up 10 or 15 minutes early… some interviewers do judge you on this. 

One more big rule here, and I apologize in advance for saying something so blatantly obvious for most of us who would never do such a thing… but don't bring anyone else along to the interview, okay? Leave your kids, pets, friends, and parents at home. Unless you are going to be working with another person every day, you simply cannot bring that person to the interview! It's fascinating that this person claims to see a pattern of this behavior. Maybe these young people are too nervous to go alone, or maybe they're just a little socially stunted and can't figure out how to navigate a conversation without Mom around. I just can't really imagine any scenario where someone brings a parent to a job interview and then gets that job. Even if they're the finest candidate for the job, and have ever possible qualification, they're going to be know as the guy who brought his Dad to the interview. 

Check out what this grocery store worker had to say about it. In the comments, people questioned the trend for themselves, both in disbelief and in amusement. Let's hope this trend fades away quickly so that teens can get their jobs the normal way — by showing up to a job interview with no parental intervention needed. 

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  • 01

    'Grown adults bringing their parents to interviews???'

    Man in apron writes on clipboard in grocery store setting
    via Getty Images For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • 02
    I work in a big tesco and the amount of times people have had their parents bring them to interviews. Not even just
    via u/poprocksp*ssy
  • 03
    drop them off, literally come in to sit with them and do the interview is so cray cray to me. Seems to be 18-25 year old boys
    via u/poprocksp*ssy
  • 04
    bringing their mam into the interview most times. I'd understand if they have some sort of disability but it's so many
    via u/poprocksp*ssy
  • 05
    people bringing their mam??? Have some independence??
    via u/poprocksp*ssy
  • 06
    SlipOutra... Reminds me of when I was 19 and applied to work at a high street bank. I had barely any proper work experience so I came dressed in a white shirt and professional trousers
    via u/SlipOutrageous5333
  • 07
    and spent ages preparing. When I saw the amount of people in the interview waiting area I panicked, until I saw grown adults wearing tracksuits looking bored and young teenagers
    via u/SlipOutrageous5333
  • 08
    with their parents practically holding their hand. I knew I got the job at that point.
    via u/SlipOutrageous5333
  • 09
    _lisa_nee... Could it be that the mum is 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?
    via u/_lisa_needs_braces
  • 10
    MattBur They dont want to jobs, its just a requirement from the job centre to go or their payments will stop
    via u/MattBur
  • 11
    salmonsc... That's so cringe?? Are they not self aware?? I'm embarrassed for them wtf
    via u/salmonscented
  • 12
    Cosmickil... I'm 25 now, but when I had my first interview at 16 at a Maccies I had to demand my mum wait outside as she insisted on coming in with me, but then she was always the
    via u/Cosmick*llercon
  • 13
    overbearing type. So could be more the parents thinking they're doing good but not realising it's having the opposite effect.
    via u/Cosmick*llercon
  • 14
    RabidRuber When I worked Sainsbury's, a man came in and demanded we give his son an interview. Then when his son didn't get hired, he came in to tell us off
    via u/RabidRuber
  • 15
    tartandavy Maybe they might need a nappy change during the interview?
    via u/tartandavy
  • 16
    All jokes aside if your taking a parent into a job interview your getting a rejection response within the hour.
    via u/tartandavy
  • 17
    These-Co... I think having my mum in the interview would give me more anxiety
    via u/These-Cockroach5543

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