Search engine marketing is a rapidly growing industry, with an ever increasing number of graduates from various disciplines applying for a job in the sector.
But just how do you get a job in search marketing?
Firstly, you don’t necessarily need to have worked in search engine optimisation or pay-per-click advertising previously. At Search Laboratory we’ve taken journalists, mathematicians, even one professional poker player and turned them into some of the best search marketers going.
As with any potential career move there are several questions you should ask yourself before applying: what industry do you want to be part of? Why do you want to apply for this job? What makes you the perfect candidate?
As an Internal Recruiter at Search Laboratory, I am heavily involved in bringing on-board fresh new talent. It is now my job to ensure we recruit and retain only the best people, so to give potential candidates an idea of what it takes to land a job in the industry I’ve put together a step-by-step guide to the recruitment process.
Cover the basics
Remember that your CV and covering letter are the only things the employers will see before making a decision on whether to discuss it with you further or not. Use these as your time to shine. In your covering letter highlight why you are interested in the company, do your research and include interesting facts about the business that encouraged you to work for them.
Explain what you found most exciting about the opportunity and what skills you believe you possess that are relevant and why. In your CV, ensure it is well structured and clear. It is best to include your personal profile at the top outlining your greatest attributes, followed by your education and then work experience. When reviewing applications, remember that we recruiters/HR staff don’t have much time to read through them, therefore make it catchy and interesting for us, and of course ensure both are written with correct grammar.
Stand out from the crowd
The search marketing industry is very popular and we receive a very high number of applications each day, so it is very important for you to add the wow factor to your application. Every CV and cover letter we receive is considered individually and we always look for candidates who we believe will add value to our growing team. Think about what you believe you have that will make you stand out from other applicants and how it could benefit us as a business. Don’t be afraid to use your creative skills and think outside the box.
Keep track of your applications
Hooray, you have been shortlisted to the interview stage. You will receive a call from an employer, in our case, from me bearing the good news. When applying for jobs, no matter how many applications you send out, it’s always a good idea to keep track of who you send them to and what for. You don’t want to find yourself in the situation where you receive a call from an employer wanting to invite you for an interview and you don’t remember that you applied there or what you applied for. This will give the employer a bad impression before you even meet them. So, do keep track of everywhere you apply and expect to receive a phone call. It is acceptable for you to rearrange this call and suggest a more appropriate time to speak, which will give you a chance to familiarise yourself with your application before discussing it further.
Do your homework
So now you are on the phone to your potential employer. The first conversation you have with them is very important as it should support your keen interest in the opportunity you applied for. Be prepared to answer questions such as: Why do you want to work for us? Why did you apply for this role? What do you know about the industry? What makes you the ideal candidate for us?
Questions may vary for different positions but usually these are the most popular ones. It will really help if you know exactly what inspired you to apply for this role – your cover letter should assist you with that as you should have already done some research when putting it together. It is always very satisfying to speak with a candidate who is passionate about the industry and shows genuine interest in this career opportunity. We enjoy hearing enthusiasm, excitement and genuine knowledge as to why you would like to be part of our search marketing family.
Prep, prep, and more prep
Use the time before your interview wisely. Go over the role description in detail, as well as the required skills section and think of an example of how you could demonstrate each one of them. This is usually the trickiest part of the interview so why not think of some examples in advance and that way, you will avoid feeling lost and will impress the interview panel.
Read up on the latest industry updates and use your initiative to find out more about future developments. You will definitely stand out from the crowd if you show how much you already know about the sector. It is also very important to just be yourself. It is common to be nervous, but try to relax and show your real self to the interviewers. Last but not least, prepare a few questions. This will demonstrate that you are serious about this role and want to take something away from it as well.
Welcome to search marketing!
Hopefully, if you’ve followed the guidance above, you may be offered a position – but the recruitment process hasn’t finished yet. As the industry is so fast paced, before you start, why not keep on top of your research and read up on the industry news to ensure you can hit the ground running.
Insights
