To the editor: I read LZ Granderson's column defending members of Generation Z who bring their parents to job interviews and I have a hard time accepting some of the conclusions.
If a young adult cannot handle an interview without their parents, they may not be able to cope with the responsibilities and stress of the job, thus setting them up for failure.
Many generations of young adults have dealt with difficult childhoods: the Great Depression, parents divorcing, losing their home because parents lost their jobs, and other types of hardships. Part of the maturation process is gaining resilience.
If their parents want to help them practice interviews at home, great. But a job interview should be a solo journey.
Mary Riblett, Culver City
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To the editor: I find it ironic that Granderson's column on Generation Z and generational stress appears just after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces invaded Nazi-occupied France.
Instead of taking your parents to job interviews, maybe you should consult with your grandparents about another type of generational stress.
Evan Puziss, Mar Vista
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To the editor: I understand why a young applicant would want their parents to be at a job interview. He is someone familiar who acts as an emotional buffer during a stressful experience.
But when are they supposed to have an adult experience that helps them grow? When will helicopter parenting stop to promote that learning? Comfort does not teach; Uncomfortable challenges do.
Also, I'd love to read a follow-up story about what it's like for an employer trying to evaluate a candidate to have mom or dad possibly vouch for the applicant or question the interviewer's questions. I think it interferes with the process.
Nicholas Herlick, Apple Valley
