Contact
Subscribe
BookmarkWanted: Kansas City Advertising Agency Seeking Search Engine Optimization Specialist
I applied for a position as a Search Engine Optimization Specialist for an advertising company. I consider myself an Overland Park SEO expert and a Kansas City SEO Expert because I have made a living online for years while living in this area through the seo strategies that I have mastered that generate buying traffic. I supported myself and my child for three years also when I went back to school fulltime to earn my Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Information Management. So, I can confidently claim the title SEO guru.
The first interview went very well. It was positive and upbeat. I met with the CEO, the Director of the Media department, and an Operations Manager. I should have met with two other people, but they apparently ignored the email to meet with me. The next meeting was set for two days later so that I could come back and meet with the missing Technical Director.
He seemed fairly nice at first but things quickly turned foul when he asked me a question that did not make sense whatsoever. He asked me what tools do I use to design websites and add seo? I was confused by this because I do not rely heavily on tools. For that matter, I am the tool. And this day and age, because I am heavily into blogging, I do not design websites. Who has time to get artsy and too involved with the design when the goal of my websites are to launch them fast and get traffic to them fast. So after several attempts of him trying to repeat the same stupid question, I finally rephrased the question as: “Sir, are you asking me to explain the process of designing and launching a website?” I started to answer but then I found the CEO asking me quick questions and the only person who asked a decent SEO question was the Interactive Media Director. She was nice but of course, those were her men and that was her paycheck so she was not going to be empathetic. But she was the only person that asked actual SEO questions.
Interviewing for an SEO job is tough primarily because most companies do not have a clue of what search engine optimization really entails. The Technical Director of the company you are interviewing for may not know SEO either because he has relied on his position as being the technical authority and does not need to stay up late hours to learn strategies and techniques about SEO. They are intimidated and threatened by your presence. At times, they are aggressive and complete jerks.
Finally, the Technical Director asked me what SEO tools do I use and I replied honestly that I do not reveal such things for free. That really ticked of the CEO and the Technical Director decided to respond that he would not think favorably of me for not having diarrhea of the mouth. That is fine. I would much rather walk out of that interview with my information and without the job than tell them all of my information and not get the job.
I have spent hours upon hours of sleepless nights launching multiple websites and testing thousands of techniques to finally come up with a surefire system that creates Google crushing websites that are infused wtih seo strategies. It is not appropriate for a potential employer to ask the SEO interviewer to reveal such information. What they should look at is whether or not the person has websites both personally or for clients. Do they know the keywords that are listed and can they verify the placements for those keywords. The company should admit that they do not have a good SEO plan and respect the SEO specialist as someone who wants to help with their expertise and skill. Most companies should understand that a really good SEO Specialist has generated income from their personal websites and has done more than read a book on the subject.
Search engine optimization specialist and Technical Directors will always compete to be the company’s expert in online strategies and the Technical Director’s will need to learn to share their CEO’s attention and not be such a hater. I did not go in to compete with him but because I currently work in a huge technical organization and get along with most of the people for the most part, I did not expect to be assaulted by this Technical Director.
In the end, I realize that I must always prepare for this type of attitude. And if you are looking for a job as a Kansas City Search Engine Optimization Specialist, you should prepare for this, too.
Tags: 
Hey Kimberly,
I completely understand this! I have experienced this same thing with very small offices. When you have companies with less than 40 employees, it becomes their turf and they are very fearful of losing any “big fish, small pond” ego and opportunities.
This is very common in this area and I think that the fear of losing jobs like at Sprint is a result of this.