Like all good bloggers I do my fair share of key word searching to make sure what I’m writing is relevant to what you may be looking for when it comes to job hunting.
This has been a wild ride for recruiters, companies and job-hunters alike and I thought I’d seek out some of the stranger searches that have been posted this year when it comes to job hunting.
Let’s start off the year with a lighthearted look at my 10 favorite popular searches by state as listed by the site Komando. I’ve done a little trek down memory lane – having moved over 35 times in my life, I’ve lived in a handful of states (and the District of Columbia) so I’m highlighting the top queries in the states where I’ve lived and my quick thoughts on the answer in each of these. (I’ve added a couple more states to flesh out the list)
7. Having lived in Tucson for a few years I didn’t find it all that surprising that the state of Arizona had a high number of “what should I do with my life?” queries. Because I believe everyone deserves to be happy at work, I am a big believer in asking this question regularly – what do you want to be when you grow up? This isn’t about finding ONE job forever and ever (heck, I know an oncologist who has retired and is currently working as a crossing guard while they identify their next career goal!). This question is the first step to finding your next ideal role. Make sure you work through this with a career coach that is focused on your best outcome.
6. Another state that’s near and dear to me personally is New Jersey. I was born and raised there and although I haven’t lived there full-time for more than 3 decades, I feel in my bones this popular job-related search “How to become a billionaire.” First, it’s expensive to live in this state! The state has the best twitter team ever and they pump your gas – no wonder it’s so expensive. All kidding aside, when you start thinking big about your career maybe NJ is the place for you. As a career coach I would caution you to ask yourself a few additional questions about being a billionaire – not the least of which is – what type of human do you want to be with all that money? Ask most any billionaire and they’ll let you know that money doesn’t solve all their problems – sure it makes things easier, but it doesn’t change who you are intrinsically. So, get that right and then let’s talk about getting you to billionaire status.
5. Although I never lived there, I’ve spent a great deal of time in Connecticut and am amused to see that their top search is “How to get fired.” What does that say about the working conditions in this state where the cost of living is approximately 8% higher than the average across the US? With that said, instead of searching how to get fired, I highly recommend connecting with a recruiter who works in your area of expertise to help you line up a job that fits you – so you don’t have to live with the uncertainty of where the next paycheck will come from!
4. In Delaware, New Jersey’s kid brother from the south, the number one search is “how to win the lottery.” All I can say is with all the beaches there and the fact that if you blink you might miss it – that query tracks.
3. One of my family members has lived in Colorado for 20 plus years and I’m amused that the number one query there is “quarter life crisis.” Colorado is a state that’s full of outdoor- lifestyle options, bustling city centers and an overall cool vibe. With median house prices between 400-525,000 and increasing year over year, I understand the pressure that these quarter-century professionals may be facing.
2. In Maryland (my Maryland), where a good portion of my family has lived for over a century and where I attended university, I’m delighted to see that their top query is “get paid to watch Netflix.” If that had been a major area of study I may have done better in school. Never mind that the streaming monolith wasn’t a twinkle in anyone’s eye while I was there. Still, I’m sure there’s a way to work your love of streaming shows and movies into a career – whether it’s blogging, podcasting or something else. And you won’t have to leave Maryland to do it.
1. Finally, in North Carolina, where I started my foray into adulthood the number one search is “mushroom jobs.” After watching ‘Fantastic Fungi’ (film by Louie Schwartzberg) on Netflix this year I can see the fascination. Do you have a passion you’d like to follow in your career?
I hope you’ve enjoyed this trip through 7 states that are important to me to see what topics are important to job-seekers there. It’s been a fun year sharing the job-hunting journey and I’m looking forward to all the experiences 2022 can bring.
Written by: PEGGIE ARVIDSON, Account Executive
Peggie Arvidson started recruiting in junior high school when she convinced her classmates to join her in creating a ski club. Since then, she’s held many positions from sales to recruiting to non-profit leadership and quality assurance. Her focus in her life and career is helping people to find their right work for the right pay because she believes that when people are happy at work, they are secure in life, and happy people change the world for the better.
Peggie has moved more than 30 times across 5 states and three time zones, and is not a military brat. Before COVID, she spent her free time traveling with her friends and husband and now you can find her making beautiful things out of yarn, found objects, and her imagination.
“We’re here to make good things happen for other people.“
