Needle, Meet Haystack

Holy crap you guys, I think there are a few new challengers to the Potato Head Supremacy!*

Search	Views
salvador dali clocks	150
gi joe logo	97
astronaut	48
lips	40
twist	39
hawaii	35
salvador dali clock	33
the twist	30
handshake	21
g.i. joe logo	18
potatoe	17
film director	16
mr potato head	14
film	12
1 cent	12
far side	11
dali clocks	11
daisy of love winner	10
potatoe head	10
food stylist	9
richard simmons	9
potato head	8
mirroring body language	8
blue print	8
mr. potato	8
leg crossing	7
house of cards	7
funny dentist	6
haute couture	6
mr potato	6
potato	6
salvador clock	5
salvadore dali clocks	5
hipster	5
pictures of hawaii	5
winner of daisy of love	5
film directors	5
video game tester pictures	5
flavor	5
g.i. joe + logo	4
cobra commander	4
g.i.joe logo	4
what film directors actually do.	4
public enemy flavor flav	4
fashion designer	4
salvator dali clocks	4
real and chance	4
clocks salvador dali	4
8 mile	3
g i joe logo	3

* <span style=”font-size: xx-small;”>So I realize that I’ve been doing this on the 18th of most months, but as some of you pointed out, the first post was on the 19th, so now Search Term Roundups will be up on the 19th of each month.</span>

Now that we’re at three months, it seems like you all have decided that it’s more important to consider real food over plastic food with funny faces…

Search	Views
food stylist	8
potato head	6
how to decide whether to take a job	6
card castle	6
potatoe head	6
salvidor dali clocks	3
photos of pumper handshaker	3
legs crossed celibrity photos	3
dalì clock	3
salvador dali clocks	3
salvador dali clock	2
potatoehead	2
mindless paparazzi	2
best farside	2
dali clocks	2
house of cards	2
how to decide if you should take a job	2
watch cross leg scene basic instinct	2
deciding whether to take a job	1
how do i get on craigs list?	1
how to decide on taking the job	1
talk a lot the far side	1
too much resume	1
fireworks china	1
couture hats	1
interview body language	1
how to decide to take a different job	1
my potato head	1
“food stylist”	1
receptionist restaurant	1
how does digital tv work	1
bitter beer face guy	1
deciding whether to take a job or not	1
silly designer hats	1
cards castle	1
deciding whether to take a job or not to	1
mr potato	1
decide whether take job	1
my stylist sucks	1
what do food stylist get paid	1
mister potato head	1
astronaut writing	1
not sure whether to take a job	1
“food stylist” most jobs	1
weather fashion designer	1
breaks the needle	1
mr potatoe head	1
mr potato man	1
cake boss	1
mister potato	1

Wow.  100 posts.  That’s a lot.  Sure, some of them might not be about jobs, but that’s still a good number.  Or is it?  I mean, 100 is just as much of a number as 99 or 101…maybe there’s some undue emphasis on number milestones.

At one point in my job search, I sent out over 1,000 applications in the span of two months, with about 150 of them going out over the course of two days.  Although I got some responses, none of them were the magic job offer.

I know people who have had to look for a new careers for only three days before they got an offer.  Some others took around five months.

The truth is, the number of applications you’ve sent, the number of interview you’ve had, the number of months you’ve been looking…none of it really matters.  All you’re looking for is the one that gets you in the door.

And whether you’re on the side that’s counting the days since you started (and the hours till you can leave the office to go home) or on the side that’s counting the days since you last heard anything from a prospective employer, thanks for your support.  I hope that something on the blog has helped you with your job search or your current career.

And I promise I won’t put up anything like this again until there are 500 posts.

Wow, has it been two months already?  Well, in honor of this special day, here’s a list of the search terms you guys have used to find this site, spelling and syntax left as originally typed in.  And I must say, it’s nice that you all are diversifying from Mr. Potato Head, even if some of your searches are a bit…kinkier than I’d expected…

Search Views

hipster 26

food stylist 20

potatoe head 14

potato head 10

mister potato 7

mr potato head 7

mr potato 7

haute couture 4

how do i decide whether or not to take a 4

mr potato head hat 4

potato heads 3

mr. potato 3

michael jackson history book 2 3

potatoe 3

how to decide which job to take 2

card castle 2

michael jackson uniform 2

michael jackson sega genesis 2

the legend michael jackson 2

digital tvs 2

far side better work 2

picture of mr potato head 2

“potatoe head” 2

how to decide to take a job 2

hipster guy 2

jackson michael blog 2

mister potatohead 2

decide take job 2

hipster fashion 2

potate head 2

haystack potatoes in china 1

hipster model 1

mr. potato head original 1

mr. potatohead 1

mr. potato head 1

fancy clothes 1

mr potoato head 1

head 1

how to decide if you should take up the 1

how does digital tv work 1

potatohead 1

iconic michael jackson 1

whether to take a job 1

how to decide if i should take a job. 1

mr. potatoehead 1

making fashion jobs 1

haute-couture 1

mr potatoe head 1

restaurant chef 1

gaultier haute couture 1

Someone asked me recently what the worst thing about having this blog was.  The self-imposed deadlines?  Coming up with new content?  Trying (and failing) to be funny?

Actually, it’s that the darn spellchecker for this BLOGGING site doesn’t recognize “blog” as a word.

A few people* have asked me about the name of the blog.  While many think that it has to do with the phrase “Searching for a needle in a haystack,” referring to the difficulty in finding a good job, that’s only half right.

It’s actually based on overhearing (or reading, or saying – I don’t really remember which) the phrase “Looking for a needle in a haystack, where every piece of hay is telling you that it’s a needle.”  This is more reflective of the process of searching for a job and competing with others while trying to stand out.

Also, it makes me feel more creative/pompous/inventive.

Actual helpful post to follow.

* No one’s asked me this, but I needed some way to make this seem prompted by others and less self-congratulatory.  I’m sorry I deceived you.

So today there are going to be extra updates!  Yay!

I’m kicking things off with a complete list of search terms that you, hypothetical audience, have used to find my blog.  Why?  Mainly so I can prove to you that I’m not lying about the Mr. Potato Head thing.

So without further ado (or changes to grammar or spelling), here’s the list (names/IP addresses do not show up):

Search	Views
mr potato head	41
mr. potato head	20
mr potato	6
potatoe	5
potato head	5
potatoe head	5
water splash	3
food stylist	3
mr.potato head	3
mr potatohead	3
mr. potato	3
mister potato head	3
mr. potatoe head	2
mr.potatohead	2
how bad is unemployment	2
heads	2
mr and mrs potato head	2
señor potato	2
goldman sachs checking	1
food stylists	1
potato	1
hit in the nuts	1
how to decide whether to take a job	1
mrs.potato head	1
sweatin’ to the oldies 2	1
mr pototo	1
pictures of potatoe heads	1
how to decide which job to take	1
why does digital television suck	1
china buffet food	1
looking for needle in haystack image	1
“joey comeau”	1
mr.+potato+head	1
water splash in a glass	1
decide take job	1
evil mr. potato head	1
food splash photography	1
stylist food	1

If I had a job, I would have off from work today!

But seriously, this day is for commemorating those who sacrificed their lives so all of us can have jobs in management, food service, hospitality, marketing, retail, and pretty much anything else.  If you can, take a few minutes to say thanks.

You can find a list of Memorial Day ceremonies here.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

A little over a year ago, I graduated from a Top-100 school with a decent degree, some good contacts, and a plan for a long and lucrative career.  Instead, I’ve spent most  of my time since graduation working contracts or freelancing, constantly in search of the elusive long-term job (and benefits).

This blog is here to help explain some of the mistakes I’ve made (so you don’t) and offer some suggestions on dealing with an uncertain future.  Whether you’re another job-seeker or one of the lucky ones behind a desk that just enjoys some good old schadenfreude, I hope that you’ll learn something.

And if you’re hiring, pick me!