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Euphoria<\/em>, Sam Levinson’s Gen Z-focused HBO drama, has never been grounded in reality. But a job-seeking scene might be asking viewers to suspend their disbelief a little too much.<\/p>\n The series revolves around the lives of messy teenagers navigating drugs, bad decisions, and a lot of glitter. Its third season\u2014which is a five-year time jump from the last\u2014is raising eyebrows among viewers, particularly a scene from last Sunday’s episode that feels especially misplaced in today’s tense job market.<\/p>\n The scene in question features Maddy Perez, one of the show’s main characters, who is desperately seeking a job in Los Angeles. Perez is seen ambushing a high-powered Hollywood executive at a restaurant, convincing her of offering a job based solely only on a short speech.<\/p>\n “I know I’m not what you are looking for. I didn’t go to USC. I didn’t even apply for college. My parents were immigrants,” Maddy told the executive after being told she wasn’t hiring.<\/p>\n She continued, “I know my generation is entitled, but I don’t believe anybody owes me anything. I’m not a victim. I won’t be an HR nightmare and I believe in capitalism.”<\/p>\n Maddy then goes on to answer the executive’s phone, acting as an executive assistant\u2014and landing the job.<\/p>\n While a young and scrappy person begging for a chance is a common trope in movies and TV, the idea of actually landing a job this way in today’s job market is striking many as unrealistic.<\/p>\n A user on Threads poked fun at the unrealistic scene, sharing the clip alongside the caption “how my parents think u get a job in 2026.” The post has now garnered over 25,200 likes<\/a> and sparked debate online.<\/p>\n Many speculated the speech must have been written by someone out of touch with the current job climate.<\/p>\n “The people who write these scenes did not have to look for jobs in the past 20 years,” a user responded<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Boomer fantasy slop is out of control lol,” another added<\/a>.<\/p>\n For professionals watching the clip, they agreed it read unrealistic.<\/p>\n “I\u2019ve been in HR spanning three decades and not only is this decidedly NOT how it works\u2014despite my Boomer parents being sure of it\u2014she probably would be a nightmare,” one user said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Another added, “no one in LA would give her the time of day IRL, and this type of stunt would probably result in her being blacklisted.” <\/p>\n Earlier this year, the unemployment rate for Gen Z was double that of the national average, and recent data shows that younger workers and jobseekers is still disproportionately rely on some financial help from their parents.<\/p>\n And its not for a lack of trying. Recent data from Criteria shows that 53% of job seekers have experienced<\/a> ghosting.<\/p>\n Despite this reality, the fantasy job market appears to be alive and well.<\/p>\nAn outdated trope in the age of employer ghosting<\/h2>\n