9 Jobs That Were Wrongly Portrayed In Hollywood

Jessica Wilson
Oct 12, 2022
Oct 12, 2022

TV shows and Movies often go wrong with certain things about real life. For example, two people can fall in love within minutes or a criminal easily escape through airport security. It’s no exception when it comes to jobs.
Movie creators tend to pick up certain stereotypes or clichés about a job and hold onto them. Many viewers have noticed that doctors consistently sleep with their coworkers or all writer always are under great pressure. Furthermore, a genius can be seen as a genius in everything. However, in real life, mathematicians who can double and triple integrals in their heads may be really bad at working with numbers. These jobs were wrongly portrayed in Hollywood.
We’ve rounded up some movies and TV shows which get wrong about jobs that are misrepresented in Hollywood. These jobs that are misrepresented in Hollywood might be seen here.

#1 Archaeologists don't crash through the jungle, looting temples

job were wrongly portrayed in Hollywood Source: © Raiders of the Lost Ark / Paramount Pictures, © Bruce Turner / flickr.com, © CC BY 2.0

The job of a real archaeologist is not as adventurous as we’ve seen on screen. For many, it is so boring. They dig the ground inch by inch, swear at tree roots, stare at tiny pieces until they go cross-eyed, and read huge reports. Then they have to classify odd things into different bags.

#2 Lifeguards don’t jump in to help so often

job were wrongly portrayed in Hollywood Source: © Baywatch / Paramount Pictures, © Sasha Kargaltsev / Wikimedia Commons, © CC BY 2.0

We often see the scene where a lifeguard saves others who are in danger but in reality, it rarely happens. Lifeguards don’t do CPR on the daily basis. Their job mostly is to prevent worst-case scenarios from happening. They spend their time yelling at people a lot enforcing them to be more careful.

#3 In movies, mental health specialists easily breach ethical boundaries

job were wrongly portrayed in Hollywood

Source: © Hannibal / Sony Pictures Television, © Army Medicine / flickr.com, © CC BY 2.0

There are many intense relationships between mental health specialists and their patients. In real life, they don’t meet them at odd locations or hours to help them overcome some situations. There are no dramatic moments when everything comes together.

#4 Actual kitchens are quite a messy place to be

Source: © Burnt / The Weinstein Company, © George N / flickr.com, © CC BY 2.0

Chefs always try to create tasty dishes which are of course clean but their kitchens aren’t always. While in movies, everything is so neat and clean, in reality, people often lose their temper, screaming at each other from across the kitchen. All focus on making food well.

#5 Bar musicians are not all depressed dreamers

Source: © La La Land / Lionsgate Films, © Marc Cooper / flickr.com, © CC BY-SA 2.0

Most bar musicians in movies have big dreams and hate their current job. However, in reality, not all of them are depressed waiting for some big talent agent to come to the bar and notice them. Many enjoy every moment when playing in bars.

#6 Librarians are not all nerds and bookworms

Source: © The Librarians / Electric Entertainment, © Valerie Hinojosa / flickr.com, © CC BY-SA 2.0

We always believe that all librarians know everything, reading thousands of books. Unlike the job on screen, it is all about paperwork, being a teacher, immigration clerk, social worker, and tech support, not mentioning babysitting.

#7 The job of a private investigator is more like an office job

Being a private investigator, we don’t try to find any hidden tricks or unmask a potential liar. It’s not necessary to run around a city to find evidence. Real investigators spend their time sitting in front of their computers identifying and verifying information, looking for potential leads, making phone calls, and conducting interviews over the phone.

#8 University professors have no time for inspirational lectures that will change their students’ lives and futures

It is true that not many university professors give inspirational lectures that change their students’ lives. It just happens in movies. A professor has to work from 60 to 80 hours a week planning lessons, doing administrative work, personal research, presentations, and more. They don’t have more time for life coaching things.

#9 Most fashion designers work for labels and are quite happy with that

Fashion designer work may be the job that is portrayed partially right. As a rule, they prefer working with their hands and making things. But in real life, designers desire to work for reputable companies.

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