Canadians are famously humble. You may not hear us brag about it too often, but Canada is actually one of the best countries to live in if you want to work in the SEO sector.
We welcome the opportunity to open our doors to the finest SEO minds in the world, and offer a wealth of opportunities and positions for those just starting to carve out their career paths.
We’re also the second-largest landmass in the world. So, on the surface, we may seem large and overwhelming. You may have no idea where to start.
But it can be easier than you think.
Establish Your Niche
You want to work in SEO. Great! But in what capacity?
Are you looking to get into SEO copywriting or blogging? Are you a developer or coder? Maybe you’re a link builder, or you want to work in client relations or sales.
These are all very solid career paths to take in the world of SEO. But the sooner you pick your specific direction, the more marketable you become to would-be employers. Of course, there is always room to move laterally between different parts of the SEO world. But setting out with a specific destination in mind will help.
A passion to start learning is good. But a passion to learn a specific area is even better.
Build Your Skills and Your Portfolio
The good news is that SEO is pretty much a meritocracy. Most employers don’t care if you learned SEO across town or across the globe.
Your future bosses likely only care about 3 things:
- Do you have the skills required for this position?
- Can you prove it?
- How will you fit in with my existing team?
Your portfolio and your certifications are your competitive advantage in this game.
Go Where The Jobs Are
As vast as Canada is, the bulk of the SEO jobs will be in Vancouver, Montreal, or Toronto. Also, Waterloo has the fastest-growing technical sector in the world right now.
Do you have to live in these major city centres to find work in SEO? Absolutely not. Smaller cities still have SEO companies and job opportunities. However, positions don’t come up as often, and you will most likely be representing local clients. But bigger cities offer the bigger agencies that fill your portfolio with international clients.
Beware of Fake Marketing Jobs
When you start looking for entry-level jobs in the marketing/ SEO sector, you may notice an irritating trend. A number of companies have realized the stigma attached to certain sales jobs, so they have repackaged these jobs under deceiving job titles that include the words marketing, PR, or branding.
During the interview, ask for specifics as to what the position entails. You may discover that the role is actually a commission-based job in door-to-door sales, a call centre, or running a booth/kiosk at public events. These jobs have almost nothing to do with marketing, so don’t be fooled.
As a whole, you shouldn’t have much difficulty landing an SEO job in Canada, if you have skills and drive. One of the reasons we were recently voted the top destination for international workers was our abundance of opportunity.
