Getting a job can be stressful. You’ve probably sifted through hundreds of job openings and sat through tens of interviews.
Often, job seekers face mountains of challenges when looking for their dream job.
If that describes you, you are not alone.
What you need to do right now is to maintain focus and continue to stay motivated.
Sounds hard?
Let’s watch some of the best movies to help inspire job seekers like you!
With at least 5 career lessons you’ll learn from each of these movies. These movies may even help you in your job search!
Enjoy!
1. The Intern (2015)
Starring Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro, “The Intern” revolves around a lady boss (the founder) running a fashion start-up, with Robert De Niro who is a 70-year-old widower as her intern. With some of the movie’s plot roots in real life, a must-watch for girls who want to chase their dreams and passions.
Career Lesson:
- It’s never too late to learn something new.
- Your habits create your future.
- Experience is something that money cannot buy.
- You know your dream best.
- Don’t underestimate the potential of people.
2. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Starring Will Smith, Thandie Newton, and Jaden Smith, “The Pursuit of Happyness” is an autobiographical film that tells the story of Chris Gardner. A man who rose from homelessness to becoming the CEO of his own stock brokerage firm.
In a story about rags-to-riches, Gardner faced his challenges with the right attitude and determination for the love of his young son. A movie about getting a job he had never dreamed of. A journey that will inspire each and every job seekers who want to seek out better opportunities for themselves and their families.
Career Lesson:
- Being poor does not determine what you will become in the future.
- Even when faced with challenges, do not lose hope.
- Don’t let others discourage you from your dreams.
- When things get bad, relax.
- Love can be a very strong force to help you achieve success.
3. The Social Network (2010)
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Armie Hammer, and Max Minghella, “The Social Network” talks about the start of the social giant, Facebook. Revolves around ethics, lawsuits, intellectual property, and relationships, an interesting movie for anyone who is in the field of IT.
Warning: You may have a strong impulse of learning programming after watching the movie.
Career Lesson:
- Always think long-term.
- When in any negotiations, always have signed agreements.
- Business ideas aren’t as protected as you might have thought.
- There is a huge difference between arrogance and confidence.
- What you don’t know will hurt you.
4. A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Starring Russell Crowe, Ed Harris, and Jennifer Connelly, “A Beautiful Mind” is a biographical film based on the life of John Nash, a mathematician genius and an Abel Prize winner.
A story about overcoming our limitations. John Nash was a brilliant and promising man when he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 30 years old. Facing the cruelty of his mental illness, he has learned to live with his hallucinations and rise to be one of the most important mathematicians in history.
Career Lesson:
- Conviction is not a measure of truth
- We cannot erase certain problems in our lives.
- We choose the way we want to live.
- When we don’t know what to do, we think out of the box.
- It is our choice to create our own stable world in a constantly changing world.
5. Forrest Gump (1994)
Starring Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, and Sally Field, “Forrest Gump” is based on the 1986 novel by Winston Groom. It is a heartwarming tale of a kind-hearted but slow-witted man from Alabama who unwittingly influences historical events in the 20th-century United States.
This is the perfect movie for anyone who is at any stage in life. Finding your dream job might be hard, but the story of this incredible man will surely inspire you in many ways.
Career Lesson:
- Always appreciate life.
- You’ll never know what you are capable of until you’ve tried.
- Money doesn’t always make you happy.
- Happy endings take effort and determination.
- Don’t be afraid to make new friends.
6. Rocky (1976)
Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, and Burgess Meredith, “Rocky” is an American sports classic. Rocky Balboa, was a kind-hearted working class who took up boxing as his career. A story of rags-to-riches, he was raised from a small-time club fighter to a world heavyweight championship.
Chase your dreams when you are young, you never know what you can achieve in life. Finding your dream job might be hard, but don’t give up!
Career Lesson:
- If you have a goal, chase after it!
- When faced with a massive challenge, work harder and stay focused.
- Never quit.
- Losing does not mean the end of the world, it only means the start of a new journey.
- Persistence is the key to success.
7. Wold Of Wallstreet (2013)
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, and Margot Robbie, “The Wolf of Wall Street” is a biographical black comedy crime film. Based on the true story recounted by Jordan Belfort (The Real Wolf) on his career as a stockbroker. The story tells about the rampant corruption, drugs, and fraud on the wall-street which ultimately led to his arrest by the FBI in Florida.
A ridiculously entertaining movie that will surely keep you up all night.
Career Lesson:
- Ethics is what keeps us from doing evil.
- For success, you need to simplify the process.
- Put together a good team, and you are on your way to success.
- Welcome diversification, you’ll create greater things this way.
- Always dress for success.
8. Yes Man (2008)
Starring Jim Carrey, “Yes Man” is a comedy film based on the novel by Danny Wallace who chose to say “Yes” to any offers for a year. A story where you say “Yes” to everything and discover the amazing things that can happen to your life.
During your job search, there is always the fear of the unknown. Thus, you may not want to get out of your comfort zone. Discover the changes that can happen if you embrace the fear and experience the unknown.
Career Lesson:
- Don’t ignore opportunities.
- Learning to say “Yes” more often can open your mind to new possibilities.
- Don’t let your past take control of you.
- You can choose to live the life you truly want.
- A little willingness to say yes goes a long way.
9. Hidden Figures (2016)
Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, and Jim Parsons, “Hidden Figures” is a biographical film about 3 female African American mathematicians who worked at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) during the Space Race.
Life of the minority especially as a woman in a male-oriented era is not easy, but hard work and determination can help guide you to your goal. Finding your dream job is just the same.
Career Lesson:
- Focus on what you can control and not what you can’t.
- Cultivate a strong bond with your peers and create a support group on which you can rely.
- Look at the big picture, your work might just be the cornerstone that supports the future.
- Don’t leave opportunities to chances, always grab hold of your opportunities.
- Find a good mentor, it makes a difference.
Surprised?
Which of these do you want to watch right now?
The modern classic, “The Pursue of Happiness”, or the 90’s favorite “Forrest Gump”. Whatever you choose, just sit down, relax, and enjoy!
What movies do you think should be on this list?
Let us know in the comments below!
PS. Be inspired and stay motivated during your job search! Even if you are a stay home mom, or looking to make money online, there are always jobs made just for you.
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