But that’s not where the similarities stop.  

Three of the characters who garnered Emmy noms for their respective actors work in health care, two are comedy writers, two are mid-level managers and two are lawyers — for a grand total of 20 out of 24 characters that share an occupation with at least one other Emmy-nominated character.

With all the different careers paths out there (the Bureau of Labor Statistics  lists 280 different occupations in its Occupation Outlook Handbook), that’s got to say something about our entertainment — or occupational — preferences. 

Below, a list of Emmy-nominated characters that are also professional peers.

The high school staff:

• “Glee”’s Matthew Morrison as Will Schuester, Spanish teacher and glee club director, William McKinley High School
• “Breaking Bad”’s Bryan Cranston as Walter White, high school chemistry teacher
• “Friday Night Lights”’ Kyle Chandler as Eric Taylor, coach, Dillon High School football team
• “Friday Night Lights”’ Connie Britton as Tami Taylor, guidance counselor, East Dillon High School

The investigators:

• “Monk”’s Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, police homicide consultant, San Francisco Police Department
• “Dexter”’s Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan, blood spatter analyst, homicide unit, Miami metro police department
• “The Closer”’s Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Johnson, deputy chief, Major Crimes Division, LAPD
• “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”’s Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, detective, Manhattan Special Victims Unit

The business execs:

• “30 Rock”’s Alec Baldwin as Jack Donaghy, vice president of East Coast television and microwave programming, GE
• “Mad Men”’s Jon Hamm as Don Draper, partner, advertising firm of Sterling Cooper Draper Price
• “The New Adventures Of Old Christine”’s Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Christine Campbell, owner, women’s health club
• “Damages”’ Glenn Close as Patty Hewes, partner, Hewes and Associates LLP

The health-care workers:

• “House”’s Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House, doctor and chief of diagnostic medicine, Princeton‑Plainsboro Teaching Hospital
• “Lost”’s Matthew Fox as Jack Shephard, doctor
• “Nurse Jackie”’s Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton, nurse, All Saints’ Hospital

The comedy writers:

• “Curb Your Enthusiasm”’s Larry David as himself (a comedy writer)
• “30 Rock”’s Tina Fey as Liz Lemon, head writer, sketch comedy show 

The mid-level managers:

• “The Office”’s Steve Carell as Michael Scott, regional manager, Dunder Mifflin Paper Company Inc. (A division of Sabre)
• “Parks And Recreation”’s Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, director of the Pawnee (Ind.) Department of Parks and Recreation

The lawyers:

• “Damages”’ Glenn Close as Patty Hewes, lawyer(also partner), Hewes and Associates LLP
• “The Good Wife”’s Julianna Margulies as Alicia Florrick, lawyer

The others:

• “The Big Bang Theory”’s Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, theoretical physicist
• “Glee”’s Lea Michele as Rachel Berry, student
• “United States Of Tara’’s Toni Collette as Tara Gregson, mural painter
• “Mad Men”’s January Jones as Betty Draper, housewife

Who will take home Sunday’s awards? Let us know your favorites in the comments section!

For more on work and the entertainment industry, check out:

When Celebrities Decide to Un-retire

The 10 Worst Movie Jobs

Back to Work at Sterling Cooper

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The new show, called “Hired,” made its debut in mid-May; since then we’ve seen hundreds of hopefuls vie for positions at companies like Steve Madden, VaynerMedia, Blowfish Shoes, American Rebel Public Relations and David Barton Gym.

As expected, the show is a mixture of success and failure — while some of the interviewees knock it out of the park, others make rookie mistakes. It can’t hurt to watch the series if you’re a new grad or unemployed; however, if you can’t pry your eyes away from those job-postings, below is a recap of some of the best and worst interview moments.

Rookie mistake: In episode 1, a new graduate brings in a large, impressive looking portfolio of work — except most of it was done in a college public relations class. The portfolio proves irrelevant to the job opening and a waste of time to the interviewer, leading him to remark “It’s like opening Pandora’s Box and finding a turd in there.”

How to fix it: If you have relevant work or internship experience, or if you wrote for your college newspaper, a portfolio can be a great way to supplement your application and prove you have talent. However, while a portfolio is great if you have one, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t. Hiring managers don’t expect new graduates to have tons of work examples. If you only have one or two relevant pieces, there’s no need to create an entire portfolio — just bring the examples in a folder with your other application materials. Then, focus your energy on creating a killer résumé and cover letter.

Homerun: In the episode featuring Blowfish shoes, the final interview candidates are asked to make a sales pitch about one of the company’s “classic” shoe styles. While all of the interviewees seemed moderately prepared, one girl went straight over to the company’s signature shoe and gave an accurate, confident presentation — and landed the job.

Why it worked: A rule of thumb for all interviews:  you can never be too prepared. Companies often ask candidates to prove their skills by completing a project or presentation as part of the interview process. Sometimes the assignment will be given before the interview, while other times candidates will be asked to perform on the spot, like in the interviews with Blowfish shoes.

Before any interview, study the company’s website and press releases, and do a search for the company both on the web and in recent news. That way, no matter what is asked of you, you will be ready.

Rookie Mistake: In one episode, an interviewee handed a pink résumé to the recruiter. If you’ve seen “Legally Blonde,” you probably know what comes next. The recruiter asked the candidate “is it scented, too?”

How to fix it: Just because Elle Woods peddled a pink, scented résumé in her search for a law internship doesn’t mean it’s acceptable in real life. Résumés should be professional, easy to read and consistently formatted. A résumé is a “straight to the point” document, and not the right place to demonstrate your creative flair or favorite color.

Homerun: Aspiring shoe designer Courtney impressed footwear-mogul Steve Madden by wearing shoes that she designed to the interview. Madden said he liked that Courtney showed “a little ego” by wearing her own shoes, and gave her the job.

Why it worked:  While you don’t want to show too much ego, confidence is key in landing any job. Employers want to hire candidates that are self-assured and confident in their skill set and abilities. To ensure you put your best foot forward, recite a confidence-boosting mantra before going into the interview. For example: “I’m here because I am a qualified applicant. I’ve had two successful internships, and killer recommendation letters to prove it. This employer would be lucky to have me.”

Have you seen “Hired?”  What do you think about the candidates?

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The key is identifying which skills you have and to which jobs they can be applied. Try using online tools, like CareerPath.com. You may learn that you can easily transfer into a new occupation with the expertise you have or short-term training and/or certification.

This morning, CareerBuilder’s V.P. of Human Resources Rosemary Haefner discussed this very topic on the Today Show. Watch this segment to learn about one woman who is making the move to nursing and how you can make a change, too.

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We just wanted to give you a friendly little reminder to submit and upload your videos soon, because the deadline is next Friday, July 3.

To recap, CareerBuilder is looking to job seekers to create its next Super Bowl commercial. If you win, CareerBuilder will produce your ad, send you on a trip for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the commercial and air it during Super Bowl XLIV.

Oh, and don’t forget about the $100,000 “paycheck” — or the $50,000 runner-up prize.

If you’re interested, before NEXT FRIDAY, JULY 3, go to http://www.hiremytvad.com/ and submit a 25-second video of your idea. Applications will be judged on: creativity, originality, entertainment value, performance level, humor and alignment with the CareerBuilder brand.

Good luck!

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That’s right. CareerBuilder is looking to job seekers to create its next TV spot because, after all, who knows job search better than the job seekers themselves?

If you win, CareerBuilder will produce your ad, send you on a trip for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the commercial and air it during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010. Oh, and did we mention the $100,000 “paycheck”? Or the $50,000 runner-up prize?

All you have to do is go to http://www.hiremytvad.com/ and submit a 25-second video of your idea. Applications will be judged on: creativity, originality, entertainment value, performance level, humor and alignment with the CareerBuilder brand.

Want to know more? Check out the story in today’s Wall Street Journal and go to http://www.hiremytvad.com/ for full details and to enter.

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The commercial, depicting surefire signals that it’s time to start building a better work situation, features CareerBuilder’s signature use of humor.

“We know there are a lot of people out there who are feeling anxious about the job market,” said Richard Castellini, chief marketing officer at CareerBuilder.com.

“Our recent job forecast found that, despite a tough economy, 14 percent of employers say they will be hiring full-time employees in 2009 and additionally, 19 percent say they plan to increase their online recruitment spending. We’re connecting workers with those opportunities and offering advice, with a wink and a nod, to help job seekers with some important decisions.”

The ad is part of an integrated campaign, developed by Wieden+Kennedy, includes new TV spots, print and online advertising and a viral component.

Reinforcing the company’s brand and tagline — START BUILDING — the campaign positions CareerBuilder.com as more than a place for good jobs, but as a partner that can help job seekers build their careers.

Read the entire press release here and stay tuned for the viral campaign…

Go to http://www.careerbuilder.com/tv/ to view the 60-second and 30-second spots.

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If you’re a fan of the show, you know that things on and off the island are always confusing. For every mystery solved on the show, another few pop up. By the end of the hour you have a few more wrinkles on your forehead and a need to call a fellow viewer and break apart the episode.

That’s good TV.

I won’t give any spoilers in case you didn’t catch last night’s episode, but since I’m still processing the story, I thought it’d be fun to see how much money the survivors of Oceanic flight 815 would be making if they were back home. I picked either the jobs they used to do or the jobs that would take advantage of their newfound island skills. (Salaries are in American dollars, even though I know several characters live elsewhere.)

Jack:
If there were a job where staring dramatically, crying, and being angry were assets, he’d be the clear choice. But until that job is created, he’ll have to go back to medicine.
Surgeon — $262,457

Hurley:
Perhaps the only non-working survivor who earns money legally thanks to his lottery ticket.
Lottery winner – A lot.

Sun:
She’s a savvy business woman and her ability to take control of a situation on the island makes me think she should stick with what she knows.
Managing director – $238,310

Sayid:
He worked for the Iraq Republican Guard before he became a chef, and frankly I think he prefers fighting bad guys than making a soufflé. So back on dry land, I think he should get a badge and start saving the world.
FBI special agent – $53,417

Locke:
Locke’s done a lot, and on the island most of it has been staring at the heavens wondering what it all means. But that won’t make him money. Until he gets his degree and philosophy and starts teaching, he should go back to being a collection supervisor.
Collection supervisor – $48,131

Kate:
She’s not exactly made for an office job. If she can get around that nasty murder charge, then I think she should be a firefighter. After all, she knows how to start a fire—might as well learn how to put one out.
Firefighter – $48,806

Ben:
Being creepy and widening your eyes isn’t a profession. But he’s good at whipping up a frenzy and lighting a fire under his group, so I think he’s got a future in leadership
Supervisor – $29,211

Sawyer:
Before the crash, Sawyer was a con artist. I don’t encourage illegal activity, so that’s off the list. And seeing as he spends most of his days shirtless, flirting with Kate, and tousling his mane (what conditioner is he using on that island?), he might as well make money for it. Cover boy it is!
Model – $29,681

Desmond:
What can’t Desmond do? He’s a bit of a renaissance man, really, but his best work occurred down in the hatch when he had to push a code on schedule to keep civilization alive.
Button-pusher to save the world – Priceless.

All salaries are based on data from CBSalary.com.

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When the episode started, ATJ had four remaining players left – two guys (Steven and Ben) and two women (Michaela and Sandy).

The final competitive contests revisited earlier tests for the contestants. Michaela was the first eliminated, and then Sandy. (I was surprised – I expected one of them to be in the final two, if not the winner.)

The winner? Boston-based Ben.

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Make sure you check out The Work Buzz every day for the latest updates, news and survey results.

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“30 Rock” and its NBC Thursday night companion “The Office” are both great shows (and well loved by many of us who discuss workplace issues on a regular basis).

They’re both great at showing this remarkably uncomfortable situations you have to cope with when you have an odd boss or scary co-worker.

It seems like there’s been an upswing in shows that are based in the workplace. Whether it’s a new setting, or a reflection of the economy, more and more shows center around work and feature part-time and full time workers with “work spouses” and “work families”.

Here’s a quick look at some of the industries that we’re seeing on TV:

Criminal justice. Far and away, the most popular job to have on TV. CBS loves these shows, particularly the subject matter of forensics: All three “CSI” shows, “Criminal Minds”, “Cold Case” and “NCIS” deal with forensics in some way. “Numbers” is similar but uses math theory to solve crimes. The new show “Mentalist” is a crime drama where the investigator has a keen sense of observation (and is possibly psychic).

Medicine. There may be a shortage of medical professionals in real life, but on television there are several shows based in a hospital or medical setting. The oldest, “ER”, is in its 15th and final season. The most popular, “Grey’s Anatomy,” deals less with medicine and more with the romantic lives of its staff members, as does its spinoff, “Private Practice.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hospital hold a prom (as “Grey’s Anatomy” did)!

The Fox show  ”House” is essentially a forensics-type show with a very cranky central character in Dr. Gregory House. Instead of a crime to solve, those doctors solve the mystery of the medical case they’re working on, all under the watchful, grumpy supervision of Dr. House.

If this all sounds too serious, there’s always the comedy “Scrubs” or the soapy, melodramatic “Nip/Tuck.”

Hospitality. Another popular and in-demand real-life industry, hospitality is represented on the small screen by ABC’s “Pushing Daisies,” set partly in a pie shop, and the new show “Do Not Disturb,” a comedy set in a hip, swanky hotel.

Law. The legal world has long been a fascination of TV, from “Perry Mason” to “L.A. Law”. The current crop of lawyers on TV include the folks at “Boston Legal” and the law firm on “Eli Stone”. Eli may be a bit busy to take on new cases, seeing as he may be a prophet and tends to hallucinate that George Michael is singing to him! There’s also FX’s “Damages” with Glenn Close as a cutthroat lawyer.

Publishing and advertising. Despite challenges in the industry and some falling sales figures, publishing still has a presence on TV. “Ugly Betty” centers around the publication of fashion magazine Mode, while “Lipstick Jungle” also features a character who’s a magazine publisher.

And of course, there’s ”Mad Men,” the historical drama that looks at an advertising agency in the early 1960s.

What other workplace-based shows, past or present, do you enjoy? Do you find that the shows get the small moments of those careers right, or is it complete fantasy?

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This article talks about the differences in workplace etiquette from that era to today. As the article says, “It is a different world than we know now — thanks to civil rights and employment laws passed later in the 1960s and in the ’70s — but one that really existed.”

Among the differences, then and now:

• The characters are shown drinking alcohol and smoking at the office. Smoking in public places is illegal in many areas. Drinking may be frowned upon at work and restricted by company rules, but it is not illegal.  
• A character is depicted asking a job applicant if she is married. Inquiring about age and marital status in an interview is also illegal.
• Aspects of “Mad Men” depict the friction between men vs. women in the workplace at that time, and underscores the enormous differences for women in the workplace compared to now. The male characters are shown making inappropriate remarks to the “girls.” A central story on “Mad Men” shows a female copywriter contending with the challenges of breaking into the old boys club.

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