Art mimics life — and sometimes what it’s mimicking isn’t exactly glamorous.
As much as we all enjoy disappearing into a fantasy landscape or getting a glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and famous, most successful TV shows feature relatable characters and familiar plot devices. We like to see our own struggles portrayed on screen, but with a little more excitement and a much tidier end to the story.
That’s why for so many TV programs, career anxiety is a well-trodden narrative path. Here are six times that our favorite characters felt the angst of job hunting.
Rory from “Gilmore Girls”
In the last season of the series, Rory receives a job offer to be a reporter at The Providence Journal, a small newspaper in Rhode Island. She’s excited about the prospect but turns it down because she’s still in the running for a New York Times internship and thinks she’ll get it.
After she doesn’t receive the New York Times internship, she asks the editor from The Providence Journal if the job is still available, but they’ve already hired someone. Rory is bummed, but in typical TV fashion, she quickly gets a more interesting job offer at an online news site that she readily accepts.
Lesson: Rory takes a risk by declining The Providence Journal gig — and it eventually works out in her favor.
In reality, most recent grads should steer clear of her example. Turning down a job offer, especially in a competitive field like journalism, is a risky move with a strong chance of not paying off. It may be months until you get another offer.
Lawrence from “Insecure”
Lawrence spends the first season of “Insecure” unemployed and determined to launch his own app. But after giving up on the idea, he decides to return to his former career as a software developer. Unfortunately, his recruiter says it might be a while before he can land a full-time gig.
She recommends he get a retail job to tide him over, so he starts working at Best Buy. Lawrence is embarrassed to be working for minimum wage despite having a degree and years of professional experience. Eventually, he finds a software engineering job at a local startup.
Lesson: It’s hard to swallow your pride and work a low-paying job when you have a degree and an internship or two under your belt.
It’s always better to work, gain experience and earn money than to sit on the couch waiting for a “real job” to fall into your lap. Employers would rather see that you worked at Banana Republic for a few months than a significant time gap in your resume.
Darryl from “The Office”
When Darryl interviews to replace Michael Scott as manager in season seven of “The Office,” he assumes the job is his. He doesn’t prepare for the interview and stumbles when asked basic questions, like how he would handle interpersonal conflict. He assumes that being a current employee would be enough to get the job.
In the next season, Darryl interviews for a job at Jim’s sports marketing startup. He shows up incredibly nervous and ends up electrocuting the office fish. But because Jim vouches for him, he gets the job.
Lesson: No matter how well you know the interviewer, you should always come prepared. Taking an interview for granted makes you look entitled and lazy.
You should also work on managing your nerves before a big interview. Remind yourself why you’re qualified. Talk to a reassuring friend ahead of time and listen to an inspirational playlist. Before you walk in the building, take a few deep breaths.
George from “Seinfeld”
When George from “Seinfeld” quits his real estate job, he assumes it will be easy to find his next gig. But as he starts listing the careers he’s interested in, he realizes he’s not qualified for the jobs wants.
When he tries to get his old job back, the boss refuses.
Lesson: After he quits, George realizes that he actually had a decent gig. The moral here? Don’t quit without a back-up plan.
Even if you hate your job, it’s usually best not to quit until you have another job lined up. The only exception would be if you have enough money saved up for a sabbatical.
The average person spends 19 weeks trying to find a new job, but it may take even longer depending on your industry. If you hate your job, funnel that energy into finding a new one.
Ron from “Parks and Recreation”
In the last season, Leslie offers Ron a job with the National Park Service. As a staunch libertarian who hates the federal government, he instantly refuses.
Leslie points out that he would get to work outside all day and have little interaction with people – two things he loves. Ron quickly agrees.
Lesson: It’s easy to say you’ll never work for a certain type of company or industry, but keep an open mind. Say yes to opportunities that sound interesting, even if there are unappealing aspects.
Rose from “The Golden Girls”
When Rose is laid off from her job as a counselor, she immediately starts applying to other jobs. As weeks pass, Rose doesn’t get any offers. At first, she attributes this to her old age, but when Dorothy looks at the resume, she discovers Rose’s problem.
The resume is just a basic list of her previous jobs, but it doesn’t sell Rose as a qualified candidate. Dorothy beefs up Rose’s accomplishments and also removes the unrelated “hobbies” section on the resume.
Lesson: Having a friend look over your resume can help you spot typos, grammar mistakes and inappropriate statements. If you have a mentor in the field, ask them to read it over too.
Remember, a resume is designed to show off your skills, achievements and qualifications. It should show what you can bring to a company.
When submitting a resume online, make sure to include any keywords listed in the job application. Some companies will use software to filter out applications that don’t include these keywords.
Everyone struggles job hunting
Job hunting is a slog for most people – even fictional ones. If you’re having a hard time finding a gig, give yourself a break and keep applying.
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