It’s a parenting trend that gives “mommy-and-me” a whole new meaning.
Millennial and Gen Z mothers are bringing their babies to job interviews in an effort to combat the soaring costs of child care — insisting that any company that doesn’t value or understand their role as a mother doesn’t deserve them.
“It takes hours of planning,” says Melissa Riling, 35, a jobseeking mom of one from the Hudson Valley, who totes her tiny tagalong to appointments with would-be bosses.
“I feed him, dress him in an outfit that matches mine, set up his activity center or find something to watch for screen time. It’s intense.”
She’s pitched herself for a number of positions since the top of the year, meeting with potential employers, both in-person and via Zoom, while her 11-month-old son plays, coos or catches a snooze nearby. Each time, she’s made hiring managers aware that her tot would be in tow.
“Childcare is too expensive to get every time I interview for a job that’s not guaranteed,” Riling tells The Post.
As a multi-hyphenate mama who specializes in event design, floral care and modeling, Riling is just one of many cost-conscious mamas pulling double duty these days.
While child-free Gen Zs — newcomers to the corporate world ranging in age from 18 to 27— are asking their parents to join them on job interviews for support, new mommies within the demographic (and a few who are in their thirties, like Riling) are bringing their babies along.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regards childcare affordability as a cost that does not exceed seven percent of a family’s income, according to a recent study by Robin Hood and Columbia University.
The researchers found that in New York City, the average annual cost of sitter services — support provided either at home or at a child-friendly center — is around $12,900.
Unfortunately, the eye-popping price makes proper child care unaffordable for 52% of NYC families, including both high-income and low-income earners, per the report.
Investigators, too, determined that 70% of Gotham’s youngest, infants under the age of one to toddlers up to age 4, live in “child care deserts,” or neighborhoods without a sufficient number of licensed child care providers.
But the struggle isn’t limited to residents of the Big Apple.
A September survey commissioned by BabyCenter, an online parenting hub, polled 2,000 mothers nationwide to find that the average cost of child care can exceed $14,608 a year.
It’s a strain on 76% of family budgets in the US, says the data, which also shows that 14% of parents spend more on child care than on their rent or mortgage.
More shocking, moms and dads with broods of two can shell out upwards of $30,000 on kiddie care each year, according to a 2023 study on the excessive expense.
But for Riling, whose partner works full-time and whose parents live over 90 minutes away, the steep fees aren’t worth the fuss — especially considering the uncertainty of interviews.
So far, the brunette hasn’t landed the position of her dreams. But she’s not giving up her mother-and-child interview style.
“I don’t want a job that doesn’t want to hire parents,” said Riling. “I wouldn’t want to insert myself into a company structure that isn’t made for parents.”
“That sounds like a whole headache.”
Ashley Ramos, a married mom of one, agrees.
“If I really wanted to get a job, I’m going to bring my daughter with me,” said the 22-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida.
“Us young moms are growing up with our kids,” added Ramos, a professional sports coach, who’s currently expecting her second baby. “And [jobs] that don’t respect that are just something we’re not interested in.”
Ramos’ military husband, Gabriel, is often traveling for work. So, she’s taken their two-year-old daughter, Eliana, with her on job interviews since the tike was three months old.
For the money-making mom, who’s held positions as a college admission outreach coordinator and an early education gym teacher — and landed both jobs with Eliana on her hip — juggling motherhood and job-hunting is like second nature.
“I’ve had to change dirty diapers, attend to her if she woke up from a nap,” said Ramos. “I just make it work.”
Mom Marjorie Merida, 28, too, makes it work with her 18-month-old son Santiago at her side.
“It’s almost never explicitly stated that you can’t bring your kids to an interview,” said Merida, a married social worker from Baltimore.
Rather than grimace, she says most prospective bosses go googly-eyed over her bouncing bundle of joy.
“They’re usually really lenient about it,” said the career-minded mommy, who recently ended her job search after becoming pregnant with twin girls. “[Santiago’s] usually only my lap or walking around the conference room.”
“No one seems to mind,” she chuckled. “People really love babies.”
And a love for little kids is a requirement for any company hoping to recruit Merida to its team.
“You either get me [with my child],” she said, “or you won’t get me at all.”
