If you are a fresh graduate and a student completing the last semester in college, you are entering one of the most competitive job markets. Fortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has not slowed down the marketing industry. Instead, the postings for SEO positions seem to have increased.
Put otherwise, despite being at the height of the crisis, you have the chance of starting your SEO career with the job you seek. And here, we have prepared a complete guide that can help you with that.
Get Some Experience
There is no need to explain why it is crucial that you have some kind of work experience listed on your resume, even as a fresh graduate. For one, it will be a plus point and put you ahead of the competition. Secondly, and perhaps, most importantly, doing an internship will tell you whether you are actually interested in pursuing SEO as your career.
Now, this does not mean that you need to dedicate a few months to work full-time with minimal or no pay. Instead, you can find part-time jobs or freelance while in college. With a reliable thesis paper writing service like WritePaper, you will be able to delegate your college assignments and find some spare time to fit a job in your schedule. In fact, it is pretty common for students to rely on such academic platforms to get through their courses.
In a nutshell, trying out a short-term will tell you whether you are moving in the right direction by looking for a long-term SEO position.
Start Your Own Project
Whether you are doing a three-year college degree or doing an online SEO course, it will pay for you to prove to your potential employers how good you are with some real-time statistics. You can do this by initiating a project on your own, launching a blog, or working on a website.
Your project is, perhaps, the best opportunity for you to implement new tactics and use trial and error. You can also showcase this in your portfolio, and employers are likely to react positively and appreciate your effort.
Narrow Your Niche
SEO specialist is a broad term that can encompass a variety of specializations and tasks. In the current market landscape, you have better chances of finding a job if you choose a specific area and work on upskilling in that niche.
For instance, as an SEO specialist, you can work in data analysis, blogging, content marketing, social media marketing, and more. You need to spend some time dabbling with a few areas in order to identify where your strengths lie and how you can showcase them to your clients and employers.
Get Your Resume Ready
Once you have a clear idea of where you want to find a job and what kind of position you are looking for, you can prepare your resume. Instead of having a standard version to apply for all positions, it would be better to start with a base template, which can be edited to tailor to specific roles.
This would mean that you will want to include specific keywords, adjust the skill sets and job description to fit the requirements of the company and the role you are applying for. This will increase your chances of getting through Applicant Tracking Systems, which are programs commonly used by recruiters these days to weed out candidates that do not match their criteria.
Work On Your Network
It is always good to invest in networking, no matter how ahead you are in your career. You never know when a contact might prove to be your most valuable asset. And as a recent graduate, it is crucial that you develop a professional network and continue maintaining it.
These contacts can come in handy when looking for a job, getting a reference letter, or even getting some advice on how to proceed during a job search. Fortunately, with platforms like LinkedIn, there are plenty of opportunities for you to meet people virtually.
Change The Direction
There are always chances that your job search does not go the way you expected it to. You might not get a position in your top choices or for the specific role you seek. However, this can be perceived as an opportunity to change direction. As we discussed earlier, there are several areas of SEO that you could focus on.
This is where your network can be of big help. If you are not getting the results you hoped for, it might be a good idea to reach out to an experienced professional in the industry who might be able to mentor you or steer you in the right direction.
Try Out The Gig Market
If you are not having enough luck in the job market, do not hesitate to try freelancing. Marketing is one area where you can find opportunities in the gig economy. With websites such as Upwork and Fiverr, you can create a profile and bid on different job openings. This will also allow you to gain more exposure and find more clients.
Later, these short-term projects can be listed as work experience in your resume, along with quantifiable results.
Keep Upskilling
The rules of SEO can change pretty much overnight, and it is imperative that you keep up with the trends. Even if you are a fresh graduate, what you learned in the first year, or six months back for that matter, might not be relevant for a project that you take up tomorrow.
As such, you need to make sure that you do not fall behind by following the old practices or developing an outdated strategy. It might not be sufficient that you are learning about the new techniques, you might also want to consider obtaining certifications that can be added to your resume.
Learn Coding
Although not a prerequisite, it turns out that employers prefer SEO specialists who also know a bit of coding. So, it might be a good idea to spend some time learning HTML, C++, Javascript, and PHP. These are the most sought-out programming languages in the SO field, but knowing even more, would also be appreciated.
These days, almost any job you take up can benefit from knowing how to code, and you will not be wasting any time even if you decide to dedicate six months of your life to acquiring this skill. Moreover, this allows you to expand your job search criteria significantly and even change your career in the future if needed.
Prepare For The Interview
Lastly, whether you are applying for a full-time SEO position or working as a freelancer, you will have to invariably go through an interview session with your employer. Make sure that you research the company or are well informed about the type of work you are undertaking.
Do not hesitate to find through your friends or the internet the kind of questions to expect and to be updated with the latest development in your industry.
As a diverse industry, SEO provides you with several career choices. The key is to continue learning and feature your skill set in the right way. After all, a candidate who can market himself or herself well is a quality that is likely to impress any employer.
