My Life

I recently spend 2 weeks hunting for a new role and through i’d document some of my experiences which i hope will help you in your quest for a new SEO position. In all fairness it took me a total of 4 days to find a new job but i spent the two weeks being thorough and applying/interviewing for everything that came my way.

Contact all of the recruiters you can find

When it comes to looking for a new SEO role don’t be shy. Get on the phone and call as many recruitment companies as you can. Get them all to send you an intro outlining their service and documenting your discussion so you know they’ve taken on board all of your comments. Think about the roles they have discussed and look at tailoring several versions of your CV to cater for each different type of jobs.

Many will tout the same roles

You will have noticed by now that many recruiters will be selling the same roles. Be careful as this can be a problem and it makes it easy to get mixed up with who is referring you to whom. Make a spreadsheet and keep a record of the agent and relevant vacancies. Let them know the state of play at each turn… you will quickly be left with a small pool of recruiters who will work hard to place you.

Know who you want to work for

Take a look through the job spec’s (if you’re lucky to get them) and do your research. Sites like Twitter, Linkedin and Facebook are great at introducing their clients, methods and style whilst a good look through company’s house will tell you more about the company financials.

Use Monster …but don’t expect a quick up-take.

In the 3rd week I was still getting calls from recruiters and at this point I already had several offers in the bag. CV’s on monster can haunt you as people think your info is fresh even months after you’ve found a new role.

Apply direct

Don’t rely on recruiters. Do a search in your field and look at the Jobs pages. Ask around on twitter and Facebook and see what other opportunities come your way.

Keep your options open

You might have a background in SEO but are you suited to other lateral roles? Keep your options open. Roles like Ecommerce Manager and Social Media Consultant are all aligned with SEO and should be easy for you to move into. Also be flexible to where you want to work.

See as many people as you can

In the first instance say no to no one. Get your face out there and see what people are like, what questions they ask, how they respond to your comments etc. It will all make you a stronger candidate.

Be prepared to do a lot of leg work

I arranged my appointments so that I had multiple around the same location in the same day. This meant that I had a lot of walking to do. Arrive early. Pop into the loo and freshen up before each interview. Expect to have 2nd and 3rd interviews which can be exhausting.

…and write a lot of documentation

Many businesses will ask you to present some information or produce a report. Expect to spend at least a day putting one together and order your time accordingly. Focus on what the problem is, and how it can be solved but be careful not to document your process as you will need to…

…be prepared for businesses that are using recruitment to solve their client problems by picking your brain

Many agencies simply want to pick your brains or validate their own processes. Whilst it’s great to show off your skills… don’t give the game away.

Be harsh on businesses that don’t live up to their end of the bargain

Many companies may look and sound great but if they don’t take your recruitment seriously then they’re not worth perusing. Job hunting is a two way street. They expect you to be punctual and responsive and you have every right to expect a call when they say they will call you etc.

More to add including…

Be flexible
Its not all about money
Think about a change of scenery
Set a deadline and stick to it
Keep your recruiters up to date
Presenting Yourself