15 People Share Examples Of Inaccurate Portrayals Of Their Jobs In Movies And TV Show

We all have our own visions of other people's jobs. For instance, most people would describe a writer as someone who sits comfortably in their chair, smokes a pipe, and calmly thinks about their next sentence while gently sipping tea.

But in reality, most of the work revolves around research. It is a creative job, but it primarily involves research.

When we can't find some information or verify it, you can throw calmness out the window. We turn into angry beasts, cursing the books and the internet.

Every job has its good and bad sides. However, movies and TV shows often ignore the reality and choose to make things up.

Why? Because it looks good on screen and is beneficial for the plots.

You can't really create a plot out of a lawyer's ordinary day. The same goes for doctors, police officers, and others.

Have you seen a movie or TV show where the characters do the same job as you but misrepresent the details about the nature of the work? People share examples of how movies and TV shows inaccurately depict their careers, and after reading these comments, Hollywood certainly has some explaining to do.

We have selected 15 of the most interesting posts. Take a look:

1. Bakery

"Any movie that involves a bakery is always so romantic and features a woman with perfect hair and makeup, elegantly stirring a bowl of something. In reality, it’s 4 a.m. starts, the ovens make it hot and uncomfortable, you have your hair up in a bun (sometimes a hairnet), and you’re lifting 20 kg bags of flour, sugar, etc. — usually all while being yelled at by a small business owner who is under stress to make a profit. It’s a satisfying job, but nowhere near as glamorous as people think."

— Jstsamjake2020

Sony Music / Via giphy.com

2. Archeology

I work in archaeology, and I’ve argued for years that Indiana Jones is an absolutely terrible archaeologist. You never see him measure or map anything. I’ve never seen him put in a unit. He’s not out there submitting site forms to the SHPO (State Historic Preservation Office). I’ve never even seen him photograph an artifact in situ (before it's been moved from its original location). It’s all just grab and run, which in modern archaeology makes you a looter, not an archaeologist."

— OMGitsaClaire

Paramount / Via giphy.com

3. Law

"Being a lawyer for many involves looking at papers all day. Combing through documents is a huge part of the job. The courtroom is a very small part of the job, and many lawyers who work on cases never go to court."

— Shermy1

"Legally Blonde does not accurately portray law school. There is a lot less time for fun and personal growth, and a lot more sitting in the library for all hours of the night reading hundreds of pages of material. Similarly, no movie or TV show about lawyers accurately portrays our jobs. They’re a lot more boring. No one would ever want to watch a TV show about my job as a corporate lawyer."

— megz

"Every time someone says, 'I want to be [a] partner by 30,' I’m like, 'Me too, girl. If only.'" 

— kombuche

20th Century Fox / Via giphy.com

4. Journalism

"I worked in local news (I was a producer) for a number of years. Ironically enough, the media likes to portray journalists as slimy people who deliberately take things out of context to make a story more interesting or to screw people over, when that's not the case.There are so many laws, not to mention ethical guidelines, regarding journalism. To get my bachelor's degree in journalism, everyone in that major had to take a 400-level class that was solely about media law and ethics. At the station where I worked, we always ensured to give equal exposure to all sides of any issue we were reporting on, especially if it was political. Journalists genuinely try to provide the audience/readers with the most factual and unbiased information possible. Any opinions mentioned in the story must come from the people being interviewed, not the reporter, and they can't just take things out of context either. Any journalist who did that would face numerous legal repercussions. That's why libel rules exist."

— andirants

NBC / Via giphy.com

5. Labs

"I work in a lab. The lack of safety shown in TV shows is astounding. I work with toxic chemicals, and I literally always wear gloves and safety glasses at a minimum."

— Shauna Braun

Netflix / Via giphy.com

6. Nurses

"Don’t get me started on nurses. The only show that got it somewhat right was Scrubs. Doctors don’t ambulate our patients. We work our butts off taking care of multiple patients, knowing everything about them, their diagnoses, medications, vitals, and assessments. We are highly skilled and trained, and no one ever shows that."

— Megan

"Especially on Grey's Anatomy. Yes, the doctors perform the surgeries, but everything they show them doing is a lot of nursing work. Doctors don't do any of that. It's as if the nurses don't exist in their world."

— Fortuneandglory

NBC / Via giphy.com

7. First responders

"I work in disaster relief and response. Any time a show wants to portray the aftermath of a fire, the hallways are clear of debris, and there are chunks of stuff neatly placed around. In a real home fire, there's debris, broken glass, and standing water everywhere."

— elinumber2

Hulu / Via giphy.com

8. Low paid jobs

"Working a job that pays just a little over minimum wage means I barely have any money to spare, or time and energy. This is directed at literally all rom-coms or movies where the main character works a low-wage job and still lives a lavish lifestyle."

— greenes13

"I worked two low-wage jobs while living in California. I couldn't make ends meet with two jobs. I hate movies that show characters living well on one low-wage job; it is a lie that allows kids to think that is real life."

— palmerd45

NBC / Via giphy.com

9. Early childhood educator

"Being an early childhood educator is a complex role that goes far beyond just babysitting. It requires a deep understanding of child development and the ability to create a nurturing environment, which is often misrepresented in popular media."

— Dr. Jay McTighe, Education Expert

"The portrayal of child care in films often overlooks the critical aspects of early education. We are not just caregivers; we are educators who foster growth and learning in a safe environment, which is frequently glamorized or trivialized in entertainment."

— Dr. Becky Kennedy, Child Psychologist

NBC / Via giphy.com

10. Car mechanics

"Production cars have been predominantly fuel-injected, NOT carbureted, since the early '90s. You couldn't even buy ANY carbureted consumer vehicle in America after the 1995 model year because they literally didn't make them anymore. And yet, whenever someone is poking at a (generally late-model) misbehaving car or truck on a TV show or movie, they frequently end up saying, 'Ah, just like I thought: it's the carburetor.' Buddy, if there's a carburetor on your 2016 car, you've got bigger problems than you think."

— melissan40168c557

The WB / Via giphy.com

11. Social workers

"Social workers, counselors, and therapists don’t sleep with our clients or get super intertwined in their lives. Every time this is portrayed, it’s incredibly frustrating! 99.99% of us are ethical people who know how to set boundaries and remain professional."

— Thisissterling

HBO / Via giphy.com

12. Teachers

"I’m a high school teacher. I understand that there’s a need for drama to make good TV, but I HATE that plot lines surrounding student/teacher dynamics so often portray inappropriate, predatory, or just really bizarre behavior on the part of the fictional teacher. I do not want to sleep with my students. They are kids! I also don’t want to be their best friend or be overly involved in their lives. Again, they are kids! I have friends my own age! At the end of a long day, the very last thing I want to do is see a student in my free time. I hide from them if I spot them at the store, you know? I love my students, and that’s why healthy boundaries are absolutely non-negotiable! I wish Hollywood wasn’t so fond of making teachers look like perverts or people whose social/personal lives revolve around a bunch of teenagers."

— Hannah27

Freeform / Via giphy.com

13. Secretaries

"Secretaries are not all blonde bombshells who sleep with the boss. We're also not just there so the business has someone pretty to charm the clients."

— SpikeyBlue

AMC / Via giphy.com

14. In-home caregivers

"I am an in-home caregiver. In the movies, they show all caregivers always caring for bedridden patients or patients in a vegetative or catatonic state. None of the people I care for are like that. They are pretty lively most of the time, even feisty at times."

— palmerd45

Fox / Via giphy.com

15. Bartenders

"I’m a bartender. You don’t shake a damn martini. For the love of all that is holy, stir it."

— mattywes101

TV Land / Via giphy.com

Well, what do you think? Do these posts challenge your views about these jobs?

We can say that none of the real jobs are as romantic or dynamic as portrayed on screen. But, as we mentioned, you can’t really create a plot out of everyday tasks.

You have to spice it up a bit. Unfortunately, movie and TV show makers often go overboard.