History Main / JadedProfessional

One example is politicians and government officials, where some people start doing it to make a change, but after a while, they learn that the ObstructiveBureaucrat and AmoralAttorney will block them at every turn, until they stop trying. Another example is the top actor or movie director who at first loves the creativity, wealth and attention, but by mid-career, they are bitter about ExecutiveMeddling in their projects and frustrated by intrusive paparazzi and fans.

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', Archer was once an AllLovingHero who made a pact with the planet to become a Counter Guardian, a mystical being summoned to defend the world in times of crisis. However, this turned out to be an ugly job in which he was repeatedly forced to kill normal humans ForTheGreaterGood, and lead Archer to become a bitter and sarcastic KnightInSourArmor. [[spoiler:When he attacks his past self Shirou in the ''Unlimited Blade Works'' route it's partly an attempt to commit suicide via GrandfatherParadox, and partly a desperate plea for Shirou to convince him that his dreams are still worth pursuing.]]

** Sae Nijima is a very similar case to Baofu. She became a prosecutor out of her belief for justice, but the corruption of the system along with the pressure on her due to [[DeliberateValuesDissonance being a woman]] led her to become obsessed with winning cases and using very underhanded means to achieve it. It gets to the point that [[spoiler:she has a whole Palace built around this concept]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', Principal Prickley is normally the antagonist, he is shown as a killjoy whose dream is being assigned as principal of a high school (so he doesn't have to deal with children anymore). In TheMovie we learn that he not only was a very joyful teacher but that he was the first person to talk against the previous principal's idea to cancel recess. He says that kids are the main reason he accepted the offer of being principal, even when he himself forgot about it.

** Parodied in one episode when Mrs. Puff is, once again, in a horrible situation due to [=SpongeBob=]'s driving skills. She asks where did she go wrong, we get a flashback of her saying that [[RousingSpeech she will never give up as long as a student wants to learn]], then [=SpongeBob=] walks into the scene as she finishes her speech.

The Jaded Professional is someone who used to love their job, but after working for a long time there, they started resenting it, if not outright hating it. Maybe the paperwork and rules of the VastBureaucracy destroys the joy of the job, or maybe the character themselves hadn't thought about any of the downsides (long hours, rapid fans, no relaxation).

One example is politicians and government officials, where some people start doing it to make a change, but after a while, they learn that the ObstructiveBureaucrat and AmoralAttorney will block them at every turn, until they stop trying. Another example is the actor of movie director who at first loves the creativity, wealth and attention, but by mid-career, they are bitter about ExecutiveMeddling in their projects and frustrated by intrusive paparazzi and fans.

The Jaded Professional is someone who used to love their job, but after working for a long time there, they started resenting it, if not outright hating it. Maybe the paperwork and rules of the VastBureacracy destroys the joy of the job, or maybe the character themselves hadn't thought about any of the downsides (long hours, rapid fans, no relaxation).

For many people, a job is normally just a paycheck to avoid being homeless, but many others dream of getting what they believe would be the best job ever, where they will love every second of it, and even get paid for enjoying it. Some are able to land this kind of job. But there can be a fine line between a dream come true... and a complete nightmare.

The Jaded Professional is someone who used to love their job, but after working some time there, they started resenting it, if not outright hating it. Maybe the system destroys the joy of the job, or maybe the character themselves hadn't thought about any of the downsides. One of the most common examples is politicians, where some people might want to make a change, but after a while, they learn that the system will block them at every turn until they stop trying.

This character tends to be an antagonist and/or mentor for the NaiveNewcomer, they may try to convince them that they should just give up. In the most idealistic works, the resolve of the protagonist will help them find joy in their job again.

* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': As a child, Maya dreamed of becoming a MasterSwordsman in her nation's famous army. [[TimeAbyss Thousands of years]] after enlisting, developing EnlightenmentSuperpowers, becoming a [[GodEmperor Demiurge]], conquering 20,000 worlds, and [[AbdicateTheThrone Abdicating the Throne]], she sincerely wishes she'd stayed a noodle vendor.

[[caption-width-right:200:Look at you, so young and happy! Where do the years go?]]

** There's also the scene in the page image, where a previously happy-looking supermarket clerk is now jaded and short-tempered. It's heavily implied that having to interact with [=SpongeBob=] on a regular basis was the reason behind the attitude shift.

The Jaded Professional is someone who used to love their job, but after working some time there, they started resenting it, if not outright hating it. Maybe the system destroys the joy of the job, or maybe the character themselves hadn't thought about any of the downsides. One of the most common examples is politicians, where some people might want to make a change, but after a while they learn that the system will block them at every turn until they stop trying.

* Margo from ''Film/{{Flashdance}}'' confides to protagonist Alex that she used to be so proud to be a dancer at Mawby's, and would routinely buy glamorous outfits for that purpose. As time went on, however, Margo stopped buying fancy outfits, and continues at Mawby's as a workaday job. "Aw, what the hell, it's showtime!" she quips to Alex. It adds one more reason for Alex to end her reticence, and audition at the Pittsburgh Repertoire Company.

* Discussed in ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'' when John is talking about the backlash the UK Labour Party received for trying to appeal to female voters... by simply painting a minibus pink. We see one female member trying to avoid answering which color the car is and John declared that she has hit rockbottom.

** Sadayo Kawakami genuinely cares about her students and dearly wants to be a good teacher, but ever since [[spoiler:she tried to personally tutor one student who was also pushed by his parents into part-time work, which lead to him being so overworked he died in an accident]], she has lost her belief that she can really help anyone and become an ApatheticTeacher. Following her Confidant link will allow her to regain her love of teaching, however.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'', Principal Prickley is normally the antagonist, he is shown as a killjoy whose dream is being assigned as principal of a high school (so he doesn't have to deal with children anymore). In TheMovie we learn that he not only was a very joyful teacher, but that he was the first person to talk agaisnt the previous principal's idea to cancel recess. He says that kids are the main reason he accepted the offer of being principal, even when he himself forgot about it.

For many people, a job is normally just a paycheck to avoid being homeless, but many others dream of getting, what they believe would be, the best job ever. Where they will love every second of it, and even get paid for enjoying it. Some are able to land this kind of job. But there can be a fine line between a dream come true... and a complete nightmare.

'''Leo:'''Dr. King.\\

The Jaded Professional is someone who used to love their job, but after working some time there, they started resenting it, if not outright hating it. Maybe the system destroys the joy of the job, or maybe the character themselves didn't thought about any of the downsides. One of the most common examples is politicians, where some people might want to make a change, but after a while they learn that the system will block them at every turn until they stop trying.

This character tends to be an antagonist and/or mentor for the NaiveNewcomer, they may try to convince them that they should just give up. In the most idealistic works, the resolve of the protagonist will help them find joy on their job again.

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', Archer was once an AllLovingHero who made a pact with the planet to become a Counter Guardian, a mystical being summoned to defend the world in times of crisis. However, this turned out to be an ugly job in which he was repeatedly forced to kill normal humans ForTheGreaterGood, and lead Archer to become a bitter and sarcastic KnightInSourArmor. [[spoiler:When he attacks his past self Shirou in the ''Unlimited Blade Works'' route it's partly an attempt to commit suicide via GrandfatherParadox, and partly a desperate plea for Shirou to convince him that his dreams are still worth pursuing]]

For many people, a job is normally just a paycheck to avoid being homeless, but many others dream of getting, what they believe would be the best job ever, where they will love every second of it, and even get paid for enjoying it. Some are able to land this kind of job. But there can be a fine line between a dream come true... and a complete nightmare.

** Kawakami from ''VideoGame/Persona5'' genuinely cares about her students and dearly wants to be a good teacher, but ever since [[spoiler:she tried to personally tutor one student who was also pushed by his parents into part-time work, which lead to him being so overworked he died in an accident]], she has lost her belief that she can really help anyone and become an ApatheticTeacher. Following her Confidant link will allow her to regain her love of teaching, however.
** Sae Nijima is a very similar case to Baofu. She became a prosecutor out of her belief for justice, but the corruption of the system along with the pressure on her due to [[ValuesDissonance being a woman]] led her to become obsessed with winning cases and using very underhanded means to achieve it. It gets to the point that [[spoiler:she has a whole Palace built around this concept]].

-->-- '''Miss Janeth''', ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' episode "[[Recap/TrollhuntersS3E3BadCoffee Bad Coffee]]"


For many people, a job is normally just a paycheck to avoid being homeless, but many others dream of getting, what they believe would be the best job ever, where they will love every second of it, and even get paid for enjoying it. Some are able to land this kind of job. But there can be a fine line between a dream come true...and a complete nightmare.

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!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film-Live Action]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* Discussed in ''Series/LastWeekTonightWithJohnOliver'' when John is talking about the backlash the UK Labour Party received for trying to appeal to female voters...by simply painting a minibus pink. We see one female member trying to avoid answering which colour the car is and John declared that she has hit rockbottom.
--> '''John''': "I got into politics to make a difference. And now I am on television, desperately trying to act like I don't know the colour pink."

-->'''Bartlet:''' 'The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral. Returning violence with violence only multiplies violence adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.'
-->'''Leo:'''Dr. King.
-->'''Bartlet:''' I'm part of that darkness now, Leo. When did that happen?
-->'''Leo:''' Dr. King wasn't wrong. He just didn't have your job.

[[folder:Theatre]]

[[folder:Videogames]]

* ''VideoGame/Persona5''

[[folder:WebComics]]
* ''Webcomic/KillSixBillionDemons'': As a child, Maya dreamed of becoming a MasterSwordsman in her nation's famous army. [[TimeAbyss Thousands of years]] after enlisting, developing EnlightenmentSuperpowers, becoming a [[GodEmperor Demiurge]], conquering 20 000 worlds, and [[AbdicateTheThrone Abdicating the Throne]], she sincerely wishes she'd stayed a noodle vendor.

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants''

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* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' when Mrs. Puff is once again in a horrible situation due to [=SpongeBob=]'s driving skills. She asks where did she go wrong, we get a flashback of her saying that [[RousingSpeech she will never give up as long as a student wants to learn]], then [=SpongeBob=] walks into the scene as she finishes her speech.

[[/folder]]

[[/folder]]

!!Indexes: BeingInThisIndexSucks, TheCynic, CynicismTropes, DoesNotLikeThisIndex, OccupationTropes, INeedAnIndexByMonday

* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' when Mrs. Puff is once again in a horrible situation due to Spongebob's driving skills. She asks where did she go wrong, we get a flashback of her saying that [[RousingSpeech she will never give up as long as a student wants to learn]], then Spongebob walks into the scene as she finishes her speech.
** There's also the scene in the page image, where a previously happy-looking supermarket clerk is now jaded and short-tempered. It's heavily implied that having to interact with Spongebob on a regular basis was the reason behind the attitude shift.

For many people, a job is normally just a paycheck to avoid being homeless, but many others dream of getting, what they believe would be ,the best job ever, where they will love every second of it, and even get paid for enjoying it. Some are able to land this kind of job. But there can be a fine line between a dream come true...and a complete nightmare.