
I have also interviewed many exceptional and less-than-stellar candidates for SEO roles. What does it take to get a job as an SEO professional? What is the difference between the great and the average candidates in SEO?
This step-by-step guide will show you how to accelerate your SEO career. It will also give you the secrets to a successful job search.
Are you ready to take on the job? OK, let’s go!
Step 1. Step 1.
It may surprise you that many hiring managers don’t seek SEO experts for entry-level jobs.
They don’t expect you to have a college degree. According to our survey of hiring managers, they are looking for passion and attention to detail.
These hiring managers will not even give you their time if you don’t know SEO basics.
What SEO basics do you need?
For a start, check out our beginner’s SEO video course. If you prefer to read, check out our beginner’s guide to SEO.
These resources will provide you with a solid foundation in SEO principles that will allow you to talk about SEO during an interview confidently.
You can refer to our SEO glossary for more information about the meanings of some of the more complex terms in SEO.
After you’ve completed the training and are comfortable with SEO terminology, your SEO education continues. You must learn some basic skills.
Skill 1. Confidently use Excel or Google Sheets
You can be an expert in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel to get a job as an SEO professional. However, knowing how to use formulas such as VLOOKUP, LOOKUP, and Power Query is a great way to jump-start.
Excel and Google Sheets will be the most used tools in your SEO career. Getting these skills is a good idea if you don’t know them.
You will be more productive if you spend more time learning Excel and Google Sheets. This is a skill that is hiring managers value.
Skill 2. Use popular SEO tools
SEOs have many tools for collecting data. You need to be able to use them. Our survey shows that SEO tool-using experience is highly valued by hiring managers.
Skill 3. Learn the basics of keyword research
Many entry-level SEO positions require you to perform keyword research. It is a skill that most jobs will require.