Laughter at friends’ career night to explain their jobs: “So Chandler Bing”

Ever wondered what it is that your friends actually do for a living, but you’re too afraid to ask because realistically you should know by now? Well, one friendship group has mastered a way to learn what they all do for work, and the internet has hailed it as a genius idea.

The hilarious clip was shared on TikTok by user Casandra Suarez (@cashmula209), a licensed clinical social worker from San Diego, showing her friends gathered around for a “career night” to learn what each of them do for a living. The clip shows each person taking turns to show their presentation about their job, the sorts of tasks they have to carry out, and even a question-and-answer section at the end.

The idea has delighted social media users, who can’t get enough of the creativity and commitment each guest upheld. The video has gone viral since it was shared, already gaining more than 2.5 million views and over 224,900 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.

Suarez told Newsweek that the online reaction has been “really positive,” and it’s even opened a lot of people’s eyes to how little they understand the work their own friends do. Who knows, this could even inspire more people to host their own career nights too.

Many have hailed it for being something that Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry’s character) from Friends would do, as an ongoing theme in the sitcom was that no one really knew what he did.

“People realized that they also don’t know what their friends or the people around them do for work. And a lot of others are just surprised that I have such a large group of friends,” Suarez said.

According to a tracker poll by YouGov, over 57 percent of Americans are happy in their job and content with staying at the same organization for the foreseeable future. This compares to 12 percent who don’t like their job and want to find something new.

Indeed, for many people, it’s important to know that they’re doing something important with their time. We spend most of our time at work, so it should be enjoyable. However, one in five Americans think their job is actually meaningless, according to a 2021 survey by YouGov.

The results highlighted that 55 percent of respondents believe their job makes a meaningful contribution to the world, while 22 percent say otherwise. Among those who felt their career gave the most back to society, 73 percent were in the healthcare industry, 72 percent in education, and 64 percent in law and legal services.

The industries that people feel are the least meaningful include hospitality, with 37 percent of Americans saying their job doesn’t have any lasting contribution to the world, and wholesale trade at 44 percent.

Despite whether their job is meaningful or not, it can still be fulfilling to the individual. The YouGov data highlights that 42 percent of people who say their work isn’t significant still find it fulfilling.

How Did TikTok React?

Although Casandra jokes that she still doesn’t really understand what all of her friends do, the internet has hailed their creative idea, nonetheless.

In just a few days, the clip has gone viral and amassed more than 1,500 comments on TikTok. Many people were left in stitches by some of the presentations, while others joked that it’s absolutely something that Chandler Bing would do.

One comment reads: “I love this! All the Chandler Bing jobs unite.”

Another TikTok user responded: “This is so Chandler Bing of y’all.”

“Come to think of it, i have no idea what my friends do,” added another TikTok user.

While another comment jests: “I couldn’t participate in this because even I can’t explain what I do for a living.”

Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.