Can job hopping ever be seen as a good thing?
Elizabeth landed a great SEO job just 2 months after starting her last. This is a prime example of someone bucking traditional career trends in digital marketing. When we got in touch with Elizabeth, there were 2 glaring factors which job seekers might ask themselves:
- Do I need to go to university to have a great SEO career?
- What if I start a job and don’t like it, is it ok for me to leave?
It all started with the Founder of an agency in Berkshire reaching out for our help in transforming her staffing from freelance to permanent employees.
Using my finely tuned network, I identified Elizabeth Hind as a bright, local digital marketer who offered an abundance of potential. Although she had recently started in a new role, it was still early days for her at that company, so I got in touch… just in case.
It was in our initial discussions I knew our job vacancy met 100% of Elizabeth’s ambitions and criteria. It’s only with a huge dose of listening, questioning and empathy did I understand Elizabeth better, getting beneath her comments to discover what really makes her tick. Her current role wasn’t quite what she’d hoped for and if something more in line with her ambitions were to come along, she’d jump at the chance.
Working with Elizabeth was easy. A delightful, ambitious character on the upwards curve of her career. She prepped for her interviews, delivered a credible response to the interview task and had clearly done her research as she came armed with a catalogue of questions.
It goes without saying she nailed the interviews showcasing her great personality, landed a great job offer and is now firmly entrenched in her new role. This is what she had to say about working with us…
‘I received amazing service from Natasha at clockworkTalent. To say that she goes above and beyond is an understatement. I was approached with a really good opportunity for career progression and Natasha really held my hand throughout the whole process. From talking me through the role, helping me prepare for the interview to regular calls to see how I was getting on whilst providing advice and support after I got the job.
I really was given a constant quality of service. As a 19-year-old trying to integrate myself and rise in the marketing industry and having lost my parents at 16, I had a lot of questions that really weren’t part of Natasha’s ‘job role’ to answer and advise on. Nothing was too much trouble! I’d even go as far to say she was a step-in parent for a short while! For anyone looking for a new job in the industry or companies that want someone to help them find the right candidate for their Digital Jobs, I really can’t recommend these recruiters enough.’
-Elizabeth Hind, SEO Specialist Orange Grove Designs
Working with Elizabeth brought together 2 common concerns we find our job seekers can struggle with:
- Do I need a degree to have a great SEO career?
Elizabeth is not a graduate. She had been all set to head to university but circumstances at home changed and meant she was unable to take up her place. She did, however, enrol in an Apprenticeship scheme which, along with her own drive and ambition launched her onto the SEO career ladder and discovered her love for the online marketing world.
University is just one of many routes you can take into a great digital marketing career.
- What if I start a job and it’s not what I expected?
In digital marketing, we’re a lot more forgiving about quick career moves than in other industries. Instead of timescale, we’re usually focusing on evidence of achievements during that period of employment. The digital landscape advances so quickly there’s almost always an explanation for why someone has moved jobs within 12 -18 months.
However, Elizabeth’s situation was slightly different. Our offer meant she’s be moving jobs within 2 months of joining, still in her probation period (which can be as long as 6 months at some companies).
Probation is also known as a trial period but remember, it’s a two-way trial. The company uses this time to check you’re up to expectation, but you can also test them to see if the job is what it promised. Sometimes it isn’t. On the rare occasion where you’ve got it wrong, it’s worth biting the bullet and cutting your losses early rather than realising you’ve got nowhere after months of work.
Join us in congratulating Elizabeth on a well-deserved new job and wishing her continued success in her SEO career!
If going to university isn’t an option and you’re looking for a route into Digital, have a read of our blog post Getting into Digital Marketing. I hope it prompts some more ideas for you. If you’re already in digital and are wondering about your next steps, get in touch with our team who will be happy to discuss your job options or critique your CV.
