There are a number of factors that can make a difference to your income, with people in the job market looking for the right move in their career. However, with job hunting comes worries and considerations. With that in mind, we wanted to know how these worries have changed over time, dating back to 2014.
Our Method
We used search data to assess what worries people are having in today’s job market. Through keyword research, we discovered the most popular searches for those in the job seeking process, including interviewing, CVs, salary and roles. We used the data to determine any notable trends in these searches over the years.
Our Findings
Out of the top 10 worries that job seekers have, 4 of them centre around CV writing, totalling 17,900 collectively. It seems that writing a CV is a skill that many aren’t confident in, with simple queries like “how to write a CV” being at the top of our list of average search volume, with 12,100 average searches per month. This query saw a drop during 2020 during the pandemic.
Job seekers were also curious about the interview process, with queries like “what to wear in an interview”, “how to introduce yourself in an interview”, and “what questions to ask in an interview” all being top considerations for those seeking employment.
Surprisingly, some job seekers aren’t sure what jobs they’re looking for, with “what job should I do” and “what is the most suitable job for me” seeing large search volumes that peaked in the wake of the pandemic when the job market was uncertain.
Interview Related Searches
Interviews are about setting a good impression, which we can see is something people are hoping to achieve with queries like “what questions to ask in an interview” and “what to wear in an interview” being at the forefront of people’s minds with 2,400 monthly searches each, according to the search volume that we assessed.
These types of queries have seen a rise in recent years, with “what questions to ask in an interview” peaking in 2022, suggesting that people are preparing more for interviews than they used to.
Despite searches around what to wear in an interview being high, they have seen a slight decline in recent years. This could be due to the fact that interviews are taking place in a digital capacity more than ever, meaning that most people aren’t physically present for their interviews.
Understanding interview etiquette is also clearly a concern for job seekers, with “can you take notes into an interview” having around 480 average searches per month. This might indicate that job seekers are hoping to balance their preparation with professionalism.
Post-interview anxiety is clear from the search term “how to know if an interview went well,” averaging 390 searches per month. Candidates are often looking for reassurances or signs of whether the interview was successful, and may reflect a significant number of individuals looking for advice on how to interpret their interview.
Searches Related to CVs
When it comes to writing the perfect CV, job seekers have a wide range of concerns, as shown in common search queries. The most searched query, “how to write a CV” (12,100 average monthly searches) shows that many people are seeking detailed guidance to ensure their CV stands out. This high search volume indicates that writing a CV is a significant challenge for many, whether they are new to the job market or just want to make a strong impression.
The second most popular query, “how long should a CV be” has 2,900 searches on average per month, highlighting the anxiety around meeting industry standards and employer expectations. Interest in this question has peaked in 2024, suggesting a growing concern, possibly due to changing job market trends. Similarly, “what to include in a CV” with 1,600 average monthly searches reveals that many job seekers are unsure about what content is essential, reflecting a worry that they might miss key details that could affect their chances of landing an interview or role.
With queries like “how to write a CV with no experience” gaining around 590 average monthly searches, it’s clear that there is a group of people out there just starting their careers or making a career shift. This could be students or graduates, who may be lacking direct experience.
On the other hand, queries like “can you lie on your CV” with 260 average monthly searches suggests that a small number of people are contemplating unethical practices to enhance their CV. However, this search volume is low, showing that most people are either aware of the risks or have never considered this as an option.
Job Searching Searches
Job seekers often have a variety of concerns when exploring their career paths, as reflected in the volume of search queries. The most popular query, “what job should I do,” is searched around 5,400 times each month, indicating that many people are uncertain about their career choices and are actively seeking guidance. This high search volume highlights that indecision in careers is a significant issue, affecting more than just those entering the workforce for the first time but also those changing careers, or workers re-evaluating their current job situation. Interest in this question peaked in 2015, while 2021 saw the fewest searches, perhaps due to more uncertainty in the job market which meant people were changing jobs less frequently.
Another common query, “what is the most suitable job for me,” is searched about 1,300 times monthly, showing an interest in personalised career advice. While many seek general guidance, this search term suggests that a group of people out there are looking for more tailored advice to find a career that matches their specific skills and interests.
Concerns about being overqualified are reflected in the search query “can you be overqualified for a job,” which sees around 40 searches each month on average. Although this issue affects only a small number of job seekers, it’s clear that some worry about the potential downsides of being seen as too experienced.
Salary-Related Searches
One of the primary concerns among job seekers is how to navigate salary discussions, as evidenced by the high search volume for “how to negotiate salary,” which averages 1,900 searches per month. This reflects the widespread anxiety surrounding salary negotiations, with many people seeking advice on securing fair compensation. The peak interest in 2022 likely correlates with economic factors such as inflation, job market fluctuations, or heightened job mobility post-pandemic.
In contrast, the lower search volume in 2016 suggests a more stable job market or perhaps a lack of awareness regarding the importance of salary negotiation during that period. Similarly, the query “how to answer salary expectations,” which averages 720 searches per month, underscores the concern job seekers have about discussing salary during interviews. The rise in search volume leading into 2024 indicates growing apprehension about this issue, possibly due to changes in how salary is negotiated or discussed during the hiring process.
Searches Related to New Jobs
When it comes to searches related to starting new jobs, “how to announce a new job on LinkedIn” and “how to find a new job” both rank high, with 260 searches per month each on average. This shows that while finding a job is obviously very important, the rise of social media platforms means that announcements to followers can be an equally important part of the job search.
The interest in job searching, particularly the peak in 2024, may reflect ongoing economic challenges, with more people seeking guidance on transitioning into a more lucrative career during the cost-of-living crisis. On the other hand, the query “why are you looking for a new job,” with 170 searches per month, shows that job seekers are also focused on demonstrating a positive narrative for their job changes.
The search for advice on “how long to settle into a new job,” with 90 searches per month, indicates a small concern about the adjustment period when starting a new job, which seems to be a secondary worry compared to finding and securing a new job. This, again, links to the modern push towards happiness in the workplace.
As you can see, there’s a number of different concerns and considerations being made by job seekers in today’s market. The pressure to perform well and be successful in the interview process, not to mention negotiating an attractive salary, are all clearly important as candidates search for their next step.
