Hello. My name is Dan Alderson.
I’m a 25 year old SEO Executive working for Mediaedge:cia. I am a self confessed mac addict and my favorite color is blue.
The idea behind this blog is to give my viewpoint on SEO and updates on my career as a SEO where I will post what I learn and research I do on here. I would also like to grow this website into a handy guide series for other newbies to come and read and learn all about SEO. This past year I have learnt a lot from just reading other peoples blogs and I do hope that this blog will someday help someone else learn.
View my profile on Linked In
View my twitter page
And if you ever feel like having a chat about SEO and Social Media related things give me a shout on Skype – Dana2109
Hi Dan,
I was just wondering how you got a job as a junior SEO in the first place. As I have recently graduated in Computing, have some SEO experience along with web development but I am struggling to find any jobs through ‘lack of experience’. And I cannot find any junior SEO jobs around to get my foot in the door. Hope you can advise, thank you.
Julie
Hi Julie.
I was very lucky as I got my first SEO agency job through my neighbor who was head of SEO there. I had background knowledge of the web from my course at University and had a little understanding of SEO. From what you have said you are in the same situation. It is hard to get your first job, being told sorry no due to ‘lack of experience’ seems to happen far too many times.
Probably the best advice I can give to you is to:
A – get yourself a blog. If you are passionate about SEO then a blog can really make you stand out from the crowd (just make sure you update it more then I do with mine!). Post your thoughts on the latest goings on in the world of SEO. And interviewers like to see examples of sites you have optimised, so why not optimise an SEO blog.
B – Be active on other SEO sites, SEO forums and Twitter. These can not only help you gain more knowledge of SEO but also get your name out there and recognised by other SEO’s which can help come interview times. Name some people and what posts they have recently written etc. Also by being active on twitter can get you talking to people who may or know someone who is looking to hire a Junior SEO.
Hope you find the advice useful. I hope you get a job soon!
Dan
Great advice Dan! Julie I definitely agree with what Dan has said. The very best way to demonstrate the fact you’re interested in SEO is to build a website which you can optimise!
I graduated from my Master’s in September 09 and just two weeks later I was fortunate enough to get a role as a SEO junior.
Indeed, there are not a lot of jobs around. I found that most jobs started appearing around April/May time for graduates. I recently attended SEOmoz Pro Training Seminar 2009 where some of the leading speakers in SEO gave presentations. The general consensus is, and from my experience is that firms are not so bothered about SEO knowledge. What is critical is interpersonal & communications skills (when are they not?!) and a burning passion for digital marketing.
If you have experience then all the better. What really impresses is demonstrating enthusiasm.
Good luck on your quest.