Gen Z is taking job interviews on their phones — hiring managers call it 'incredibly disrespectful.' What to do instead

Gen Z already has a public-relations problem at work. Taking job interviews from an iPhone is probably not going to help.

The pandemic normalized remote hiring, giving applicants the freedom to log on from almost anywhere. For Jason Rogers, that meant using his phone while interviewing for his first job out of college as a content writer.

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"I thought I was underprepared, but the setup was more solid than I imagined," he told MarketWatch. "The pressure was different as well, since holding the device in your hand changes the way you hold yourself in the conversation."

Rogers landed the job and continued taking interviews from his iPhone without receiving any criticism. But as phone interviews become more common among younger applicants, the practice is starting to irritate hiring managers who see it as yet another sign that some members of Gen Z are treating the job hunt a little too casually.

That is not exactly the reputation the generation needs right now. Gen Z workers have already been accused of arriving late, ghosting recruiters and refusing to complete lengthy screening assignments, all while older workers complain that they are unwilling to "bust their behinds" like previous generations.

The criticism comes at an especially unforgiving time. Recent graduates are entering the weakest entry-level job market since the pandemic, while the underemployment rate reached 41.5%.

With fewer openings and more applicants competing for them, seemingly minor details can carry more weight. Joining a job interview from a phone may feel no different from hopping onto FaceTime, but to some hiring managers, it can read as unprepared or overly casual.

Sophie Rocha, a 23-year-old marketing professional and Gen Z career influencer, admits she is beginning to understand where some employers are coming from. After interviewing an applicant who joined the call from a phone, Rocha posted a TikTok suggesting her generation's workplace reputation may not be entirely undeserved.

"I fear that the people who say that Gen Z aren't getting jobs because of their attitude are slightly accurate," Rocha, who goes by @Sopharoch, said in a TikTok.

Gen Z is already entering a difficult job market. Demand for entry-level workers has been cut in half since early 2022, with active U.S. job postings for those roles down 50% as of June 2025, according to Revelio Labs.

That makes every interview opportunity more important, and some recruiters believe joining from a phone can send the wrong message.

"Joining from your phone is incredibly disrespectful," Melissa Marcus, a career coach who worked as a recruiter for 20 years, told MarketWatch. "In this job market, interviews are precious. I don't think the phone gives you the best ability to make a connection with the individual you're interviewing."

Still, the habit may not be entirely about attitude. Many recent graduates came of age professionally during the pandemic, when virtual interviews, barking dogs and meetings taken from the couch became normal parts of working life.

Gen Z also grew up using smartphones for nearly everything. Career coach Lindsay Boccardo told the news outlet that interviewing by phone may reflect familiarity with the device rather than a lack of respect.

"There are a lot of unspoken rules around professionalism that older generations carry from pre-COVID," Boccardo said.

Access can also play a role. While smartphones are found in 90% of U.S. households, laptops are available in 81%, according to Census Bureau data.

In 2024, 28% of adults in households earning less than $30,000 were "smartphone-dependent," meaning they owned a smartphone but lacked home broadband, compared with just 4% of those earning at least $100,000, according to Pew Research Center.

Whether the interview happens in an office or over Zoom, candidates should treat it like the real thing.

That means signing on a few minutes early, dressing appropriately and testing the camera, microphone and internet connection beforehand. Anyone logging on from home should also sit upright at a desk or table in a quiet, well-lit space.

A laptop or desktop computer is generally the safer choice because it provides a steadier image and makes it easier to maintain eye contact. Candidates who have no choice but to use a phone should prop it up at eye level rather than hold it, turn off notifications and make sure it is fully charged.

A phone may be convenient, but in a crowded job market, convenience is not necessarily the impression candidates want to leave.

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This article originally appeared on Moneywise.com under the title: Gen Z is taking job interviews on their phones — hiring managers call it 'incredibly disrespectful.' What to do instead

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