Zoomers’ moms emailing to set up networking calls for their kids

I’d say I get maybe a handful of these a year, when a kid’s mom will email me to try to set up a networking chat for her special little college kid (or first year analyst) to learn more about the industry. I usually just ignore them because I’d prefer not to encourage the infantilization of Gen-Z, but wanted to see how folks here typically respond to these - anyone actually take these calls?

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, the general sentiment around such situations is that they are not well-received. Many professionals view this as a sign of immaturity or lack of initiative on the part of the student or young professional. Networking is a critical skill in industries like investment banking, and having a parent step in to arrange calls can reflect poorly on the individual.

Ignoring these requests, as you mentioned, is a common approach. It avoids encouraging this behavior and places the responsibility back on the student to take ownership of their career development. If someone does choose to respond, it might be to politely suggest that the student reach out directly, emphasizing the importance of personal initiative in professional networking.

Sources: https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/why-are-zoomer-internsjunior-analysts-so-soft?customgpt=1, https://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forum/investment-banking/why-are-zoomer-internsjunior-analysts-so-soft?customgpt=1, Want to get me on the phone? Here's how - a networking overview., Bad Networking Calls - Analysts' Faults?, Want to get me on the phone? Here's how - a networking overview.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 
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Funniest

When I was in first year uni, my mom reached out to a few random people on LinkedIn essentially saying "Hey we're both immigrants from xyz country, can you talk to my son".

I was fucking mortified and deleted LinkedIn from her phone.

As an Ambassador for GenZ Bankers, give us the benefit of the doubt that it's coming from a rogue lead poisoned Boomer parent who still thinks you can get a job with a printed resume and firm handshake.

 

When I was in high school I worked at a restaurant and the assistant manager who was about 40+ would have his mom call out for him. I don't know how a grown man gets that old living like this, but it happens...

 

My mom is like this. Please give the Gen Z kid the benefit of the doubt because chances are, it wasn't in his control. GenX is known to be the "helicopter parent" generation.

 
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iercurenc

My mom is like this. Please give the Gen Z kid the benefit of the doubt because chances are, it wasn't in his control. GenX is known to be the "helicopter parent" generation.

I'm GenX, and we aren't the helicopter parents. Most true GenX who grew up in the US reject that hard. I think this is mostly Tiger Mom stuff, regardless of where you are from. 

We are in a gentrifying neighborhood, and there's tons of homeless people wandering through, smaller Section 8 projects are literally a stones throw away. Very cool neighborhood though with big old Victorian houses. We let our 10/11 yo's run the block on their own. Everyone on our block knows each other. There's enough eyes about though so people are watching even if not there with a leash on the kid. 90% of our block shares a text thread as sketchy stuff does happen. The kids also walk around with the dogs most of the time, including our Great Dane who is massive and protective. 

 

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iercurenc

My mom is like this. Please give the Gen Z kid the benefit of the doubt because chances are, it wasn't in his control. GenX is known to be the "helicopter parent" generation.

I'm GenX, and we aren't the helicopter parents. Most true GenX who grew up in the US reject that hard. I think this is mostly Tiger Mom stuff, regardless of where you are from. 

We are in a gentrifying neighborhood, and there's tons of homeless people wandering through, smaller Section 8 projects are literally a stones throw away. Very cool neighborhood though with big old Victorian houses. We let our 10/11 yo's run the block on their own. Everyone on our block knows each other. There's enough eyes about though so people are watching even if not there with a leash on the kid. 90% of our block shares a text thread as sketchy stuff does happen. The kids also walk around with the dogs most of the time, including our Great Dane who is massive and protective. 

To add on to this a bit...most of my social circle were focused on our careers and waited to have kids until our mid-30s. We're all late 40s with kids not yet in middle school. I have a 50 yo buddy from my time in NY with a 2 yo (wife is 41). We had my younger daughter when I was 40. A lot of the more successful GenX'ers kids (at least the ones from the mid/late-70s) aren't even close to college. My parents were the Silent Generation so pre-Boomer.

 

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