Kevin O’Leary, the investor best known from Shark Tank, is sounding an alarm over what he calls a “horrific” new habit among some Gen Z job seekers: bringing their parents into the interview process.

Speaking on Fox Business’ Varney & Co., O’Leary said he has personally encountered candidates who appeared for virtual interviews with a parent visible on the call. In one case, he recalled a young applicant logging into Zoom with their mother already on screen. O’Leary said he immediately halted the conversation and delivered an ultimatum: the parent leaves, or the interview ends.

For O’Leary, the issue is not generational style but a fundamental question of independence. “What’s she doing here?” he said of parents who join interviews. He argued that employers are trying to assess whether a candidate can think and act on their own, especially under pressure. A visible parent, he said, answers that question before the candidate speaks.

“Do you want me to hire your mother or you?” O’Leary said he would ask. In his view, any resume associated with a parent-attended interview “goes right into the garbage.” He described the practice as “a big red flag” that suggests a lack of confidence and readiness for real responsibility.

His comments follow survey findings from career platform Zety, which reported that a small but notable share of Gen Z applicants involve parents directly in hiring conversations. The research found that some young candidates have parents sit in on virtual interviews or accompany them to in-person meetings. Others reported that parents had contacted employers or recruiters on their behalf.

At the same time, the data show that most Gen Z workers are not taking things that far. The majority said their parents play no role in interviews, and many indicated they would feel embarrassed or upset if a parent reached out to an employer without permission.

Other experts echo O’Leary’s concern while drawing a line between private preparation and public participation. Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, has said that getting help from parents to refine a resume or rehearse questions is sensible. But once the formal interview begins, he argues, the candidate must stand alone if they want to be taken seriously.