Hello everyone!
I'm I, and I've been working as an SEO marketer at Coretech Inc. for three years now. Along with my colleagues O and S, I joined the company as part of the first group of recruits for SEO marketing in 2024. Today, we’ll reflect on our journey over the last two and a half years, sharing both our early challenges and recent accomplishments.
Our Academic Backgrounds
Let’s start by sharing a bit about ourselves and our university studies.
- O: I studied at the Faculty of Human Sociology, covering various subjects such as sociology, economics, and video production, but I had no exposure to SEO.
- S: I majored in economics, focusing on micro and macroeconomics, but I also lacked direct experience in web marketing or SEO.
- I: I come from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, where I studied chemistry and rarely engaged with computers or web knowledge.
Despite our diverse educational backgrounds, we all entered Coretech with no prior experience in SEO. So, what drew us to this field?
Path to Becoming SEO Marketers
Our journey into SEO started during our job hunts, thanks to various influences.
- O: An agent introduced me to the SEO marketer role, and although I was apprehensive about math, I appreciated Coretech’s team-oriented culture and supportive colleagues.
- S: My background in analyzing economic theories sparked my interest in marketing. I noticed limited positions for marketers and found Coretech’s opening appealing.
- I: I, too, was attracted to Coretech because of the friendly individuals I met during the interview process rather than a clear understanding of an SEO marketer's job.
It’s interesting how we arrived here from differing motives, but we all lacked knowledge in SEO. What was our initial experience like?
Initial Confusion and Learning
Upon starting, we encountered a steep learning curve, primarily around terminology.
- O: I was lost initially, struggling to grasp technical terms during meetings.
- S: We were uncertain if unfamiliar terms were related to SEO, IT, or business. We were often confused by katakana terminology.
- I: My first task involved summarizing meeting content despite not understanding much. I took notes and later researched terms that puzzled me.
Learning the fundamentals of SEO was vital as we transitioned into our roles. How did we approach this?
Acquiring SEO Knowledge
All three of us found different ways to increase our SEO knowledge.
- O: I learned through diligent questioning and created summary sheets to solidify my understanding with visuals.
- S: My approach was hands-on; I took notes and rephrased terms into relatable concepts to remember them.
- I: I began by emulating my seniors and dedicating time to study their reports and materials to replicate their work.
Through our experiences, we learned both by asking questions and active participation. Even without prior SEO experience, our individual skills proved beneficial.
Leveraging Past Experiences
Here’s how our backgrounds enriched our work despite our SEO inexperience:
- O: My university experiences enhanced my ability to collaborate with diverse individuals, helping me gather insights from my colleagues.
- S: My naivety about technical jargon allows me to communicate clearly, which has helped create more user-friendly documentation.
- I: My experience in scientific experimentation provided a structured approach to hypothesis testing in SEO data analytics.
It’s enlightening to see how our unique backgrounds contribute to our work as SEO marketers. Now, two and a half years in, what moments stand out?
Highlights and Challenges
I often find that the rewarding moments in our job come from conducting research and making decisions independently.
- O: I feel a sense of accomplishment now that I can conduct my research and make decisions based on my analyses.
- S: I enjoy the satisfaction of solving problems and persuading others with my findings.
- I: The thrill of seeing the results of my initiatives validates my efforts and keeps me engaged.
But it hasn’t been without challenges. Many times, we’ve hit walls when trying to identify causes or solutions.
- O: I grapple with conducting research without clear procedures, often seeking guidance from seniors.
- S: I too find it difficult when research yields no clear answers and require help to formulate my next steps.
- I: When issues arise, like drop in search rankings, troubleshooting can be frustrating without an apparent cause. Testing various hypotheses is essential.
We've all grown in our abilities to tackle these difficulties and find ways to advance our skills.
Reflections on Growth
As we reflect on our growth from our first year to now, it's evident that our inquiry and responsibilities have evolved.
- O: My questions have shifted from basic operational queries to more thoughtful inquiries about analysis purpose.
- S: I have been given more opportunities to lead projects and handle responsibilities independently.
- I: My analytical precision and ability to organize information have significantly improved over time.
We’ve each experienced growth in unique ways while enhancing our expertise as SEO marketers.
Everyday Changes
Working in SEO has even impacted our daily lives outside the office.
- O: I’ve developed a deeper understanding of website functionality, changing how I navigate sites.
- S: I’ve started tweaking URLs to reach desired pages, a habit I never had before.
- I: I find myself actively searching for information more often instead of simply relying on what I know.
Knowledge gained in the workplace has positively influenced our personal habits and perceptions.
Advising Our Past Selves
If I could impart one piece of advice to my pre-joining self, it would be this:
- O: Expect a fulfilling work environment that defies your preconceived notions of the corporate world. It's more collaborative and inspiring than I imagined!
We hope that by reflecting on our experiences, new graduates and aspiring SEO marketers can find inspiration and guidance in their journeys. Thank you for joining us on our retrospective journey!
