8 Shows Like Not Suitable for Work You Must See

Created by Mindy Kaling, Hulu’s ‘Not Suitable for Work’ is a sitcom set in Manhattan’s Murray Hill neighborhood. It is the tale of a group of ambitious twenty-somethings as they navigate the challenges of professional life while searching for personal fulfillment. At the center of the story is AJ Pascarelli (Ella Hunt), a first-year analyst at an investment bank who works alongside her neighbor, Davis Beau Bradley Barrett III (Will Angus). AJ shares an apartment with her best friend, Abhinaya Chilukuri, AKA Abby (Avantika Vandanapu), an assistant to a celebrity stylist. Across the hall, Davis lives with his childhood friends Kel Washington (Nicholas Duvernay), who leaves medical school to pursue acting, and Josh Teitelbaum (Jack Martin), an aspiring journalist.

Focused on career advancement, the friends find themselves balancing uncertainties. As the group spends more time together, friendships, ambitions, and romantic interests become increasingly intertwined and chaotic. The show is a meaningful representation of the crisis of youth in the modern world. If you are interested in more shows similar to ‘Not Suitable for Work’ that capture the essence of ambition, passion, and youthful desire, this list is for you.

8. Survival of the Thickest (2023-2026)

Netflix’s ‘Survival of the Thickest’ is a comedy-drama series that revolves around Mavis Beaumont (Michelle Buteau), a plus-size stylist living in NYC whose life is thrown into turmoil following a difficult breakup. She is now forced to reassess her future and rebuild both her personal life and her career. As she works toward establishing herself in the fashion industry, Mavis encounters a series of professional obstacles, dating challenges, and emotional setbacks. Supported by a close circle of friends and her chosen family, she navigates the realities of single life while striving to regain her confidence and pursue her goals on her own terms.

The show is based on the eponymous memoir by Michelle Buteau, who co-created the show with Danielle Sanchez-Witzel. While ‘Survival of the Thickest’ is about the aftermath of a troubling development in one woman’s life, ‘Not Suitable for Work’ focuses on the eternal chaos that follows people at work and in their personal lives.

7. Dollface (2019-2022)

‘Dollface’ is the story of Jules Wiley (Kat Dennings), a young woman whose life is upended when her long-term boyfriend unexpectedly ends their relationship. Suddenly, on her own, Jules realizes she has neglected many of her friendships while focusing on her romantic life and now struggles to reconnect with the people she once considered close. As she recovers from the breakup, Jules sets out to rebuild the friendships she left behind and reestablish her place within her old social circle. Along the way, she faces practical and emotional challenges of starting over while confronting her own imagination, which often shapes how she views the world around her. With Jordan Weiss at the creative helm, the Hulu comedy series is a nuanced exploration of female friendships, desire, and the value of standing up for oneself in demanding environments, much like ‘Not Suitable for Work.’

6. Broad City (2014-2019)

Set in the hustle and chaos of NYC, ‘Broad City’ is a sitcom that follows best friends Abbi Abrams (Abbi Jacobson) and Ilana Wexler (Ilana Glazer). As they survive on limited budgets and try to establish themselves as adults, the two face the challenges of their twenties while relying on their friendship. While Abbi works toward building a career as an artist, Ilana does everything she can to avoid work. Their attempts to manage jobs, relationships, and city life often lead them into bizarre situations and unexpected adventures that not only test their survival skills but also their bond.

Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson steer this show, which is based on their eponymous independent web series. The hilarious moments and the chaotic situations that the two main characters in the show get into will remind you of ‘Not Suitable for Work’ and the trials and tribulations of the quirky characters.

5. Girls (2012-2017)

HBO’s ‘Girls’ is a comedy-drama series that follows Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham), an aspiring writer living in Brooklyn, as her life is thrown into uncertainty when her parents decide to stop financially supporting her. This forces Hannah to navigate adulthood while pursuing her creative ambitions. Alongside Hannah are her close friends: Marnie Michaels (Allison Williams), a woman balancing a stable job and relationship; Jessa Johansson (Jemima Kirke), a free-spirited person; and Shoshanna Shapiro (Zosia Mamet), Jessa’s cousin and an NYU student.

As the four women move through their 20s, they grapple with careers, friendships, and relationships, while trying to understand themselves better. The Lena Dunham creation complements ‘Not Suitable for Work’ through its perspectives on the challenges of navigating life in a city where ambitions are high and empathy is rare. Both shows feature young characters who face professional and personal setbacks as they strive to improve.

4. Younger (2015-2021)

Based on Pamela Redmond Satran’s novel of the same name, ‘Younger’ unfolds in NYC and follows Liza Miller (Sutton Foster), a forty-year-old single mother. She starts looking for work after a difficult divorce, only to find it more challenging than she expected. As she struggles to support her daughter’s college education, Liza becomes increasingly frustrated by the barriers she faces because of her age. After a chance encounter with a tattoo artist who mistakes her for someone much younger, Liza adopts a bold strategy.

She reinvents herself as a 26-year-old and successfully lands a job. Liza begins pursuing the career she has always wanted, but maintaining her fabricated identity proves increasingly complicated. Created by Darren Star, the show is a nuanced exploration of the sacrifices necessary for professional success in demanding environments. These themes and visual elements connect it to the world of ‘Not Suitable for Work.’

3. The Mindy Project (2012-2017)

In ‘The Mindy Project,’ Mindy Lahiri (Mindy Kaling) is a talented obstetrician-gynecologist working in NYC. She struggles to achieve the same level of success in her personal and professional affairs and aims to improve her life. Along with this, she also looks for romance and an ideal happy ending. As Mindy works to balance everything, she relies on the support of her eccentric colleagues, such as Danny Castellano (Chris Messina).

Surrounded by friends and co-workers who frequently get involved in her adventures and missteps, Mindy continues to pursue success and love. Mindy Kaling holds the reins of the Fox romantic comedy series, which takes inspiration from her own experiences. Akin to ‘Not Suitable for Work,’ the hustle and bustle of NYC comes alive in this show, which also includes messy relationships, complex professional dynamics, and the never-ending chaos of finding oneself in a fast-paced world.

2. The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021-2025)

Crafted by the ideas of Mindy Kaling and Justin Noble, HBO Max’s ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’ centers on four freshman roommates whose lives intertwine as they adjust to the challenges of college life and the energy of youth. The group consists of Kimberly Finkle (Pauline Chalamet), a working-class student from Arizona, Bela Malhotra (Amrit Kaur), an Indian American aspiring to be a comedy writer, Whitney Chase (Alyah Chanelle Scott), a gifted soccer player, and Leighton Murray (Reneé Rapp), a wealthy student dealing with family expectations.

Although their personalities and backgrounds differ, the four girls gradually form a strong friendship as they explore the complexities of life in and around Essex College in New England. The comedy-drama series delves into the intimate experiences of young characters while also navigating the various facets of their personalities and relationships with one another. This is similar to what ‘Not Suitable for Work’ does in a workplace setting featuring slightly older characters.

1. The Bold Type (2017-2021)

Inspired by the life and career of Joanna Coles, ‘The Bold Type’ is a comedy-drama series that takes place in NYC. It is the tale of best friends Jane Sloan (Katie Stevens), Kat Edison (Aisha Dee), and Sutton Brady (Meghann Fahy). The three young women work at Scarlet, a global women’s magazine led by editor-in-chief Jacqueline Carlyle (Melora Hardin). Together, they strive to build successful careers in a demanding industry while supporting one another through the challenges of adulthood. As they collaborate on producing the magazine, Jane, Kat, and Sutton navigate ambitions, friendships, and romance.

While each pursues her own goals, the trio continues to rely on their close bond to help them manage city life. Through their shared experiences, they seek their place in the world. The Sarah Watson creation is a celebration of the spirit of working together and the value of holding on to dreams and professional ambitions. Both ‘The Bold Type’ and ‘Not Suitable for Work’ feature these themes and a lighthearted tone that grounds the characters in human emotions.