It’s no surprise that Google partner companies are getting a lot of attention from Millennial job seekers: the success of shows like Silicon Valley and the ubiquity of Android, Apple, and internet technology has made SEO, digital marketing, and content creation work seem more relevant, cutting-edge, and engaging than ever.
So what does it take to work in this field, exactly?
In this post, we describe some of the skills and attitudes that translate best into careers in SEO and digital marketing.
Emotional and Skill Requirements for SEO and Digital Marketing Work
Do you have the right attitude for a career working with Google partner companies?
- Self-discipline. Many modern Google partner companies don’t adhere to rigid 9-to-5 schedules, which is great news for Millennials. Some are starting to experiment with the idea of a 6-hour work day, while others allow for work from home arrangements that are paid according to work completed rather than hours invested. In any case, flexibility is an asset, and the ability to work independently is key. This is not the kind of job where a manager will be hovering over your shoulder all day, so being self-motivated is very important.
- Excellent communication skills. A large part of your work will require you to strategize and collaborate with team members. From a customer service perspective, you’ll also be asked to distill complex issues into simple language that less tech-savvy clients can understand. You will need to know how to clearly communicate your ideas and findings.
- Empathy. A good portion of SEO and digital marketing work involves seeing things from the client’s perspective, and feeling their “pain points.” Whether they’re a mom-and-pop shop who feels bullied out of their market share, or a larger company scrambling for a concrete brand identity, you will need to empathize with their goals to find the best solutions. For better or worse, you will share some small part of your client’s failures and success.
- Interest in continuing education. The online world is evolving right before our eyes; there may be no other industry prone to such frequent paradigm-shifts. If you want to succeed in the SEO and digital marketing world, you’ll need to commit yourself to continuing education. This means staying informed about industry trends, algorithm updates, and evolving best practices.
Recommended Skill Acquisitions for SEO and Digital Marketing Careers
This is a brief list of skills that Google partner companies are looking for:
- Capable content development. Astute writers, diligent video editors, creative social media personalities: these skills are all welcome as part of your desired company’s content development strategy.
- Mastery of a second language. Being bilingual is a huge asset for SEO and digital marketing employees. Though much of our work centers on local search, the internet has opened up a global economy, and diverse lingual skills will always come in handy!
- Site development and engineering skills. Though SEO doesn’t necessary involve site design outside of optimization insights, it really helps to understand the nuts and bolts of web development. Your chosen company could even leverage your skills into a website, app, or widget development department.
- Pay-per-click skills. Google is steadily moving towards monetizing local search engine results. Understanding Google Adwords will take you far as this trend continues!
Join the 360 Team
If you’d like to learn more about employment opportunities with 360, please apply online here!
Speaking from my own experience, I can say that working in this industry has been very rewarding. Creativity is highly valued here, and the business-casual office culture is a really refreshing. Best of luck with your applications!