Getting back into "real world" employment - how?

[florflor]

I'd mid 30s and been doing affiliate stuff full-time for 5 years now.

But now I can't get back into full-time employment. I can't do what I used to do as I'm considered out of the game too long. Also, people don't wanna look at you for SEO, PPC and stuff as when done commercially it's very different to how us online marketers do it, at least that's how they perceive it. There's a lot more enterprise tools and they just don't see you as having commercial experience.

So what can someone like me do? Anyone gone back into the job market? I don't wanna end up working at McDonalds or Starbucks! They probably wouldn't take me anyway, they'd just say I'm "overqualified"!

 

[BlackxHat]

is online not working out?

 

[Blog Rider]

I'm in the end of my 20's, and when I need a "real world job", which sometimes I do, I just make an impressive resume with lots of computer / webdevelopment / IM experience, using terms that most people only vaguely understand.

Even today they are still impressed with people who are computer savvy and know how to build websites.
To fill the gaps, I just state that I've been working on freelance basis online (not that far from the truth).

 

[unknownymous]

Im curious..Can i list 'Internet Marketing' (IM) as a job on resume as well?
Sure you gain skills..I guess it will help to list that on your skills.

 

[florflor]

is online not working out?

Sadly no. I make about $1,500 a month and live in UK.

It's not worth doing business alone and giving up employment if I'm living on this (I used to earn more but it went down).

Plus, if I get a job, I still have this income coming in. Better all round.

 

[florflor]

I'm in the end of my 20's, and when I need a "real world job", which sometimes I do, I just make an impressive resume with lots of computer / webdevelopment / IM experience, using terms that most people only vaguely understand.

Even today they are still impressed with people who are computer savvy and know how to build websites.
To fill the gaps, I just state that I've been working on freelance basis online (not that far from the truth).

Hard core development like PHP, java, c# and stuff will come in handy.

Just knowing how to build sites will not.

 

[florflor]

Im curious..Can i list 'Internet Marketing' (IM) as a job on resume as well?
Sure you gain skills..I guess it will help to list that on your skills.

You can try but nobody will care much. They will probably assume you are scamming people or something, let's remember what people generally thing of IM or "make money online".

I agree, I have a ton of skills. I've listed copywriting, email marketing, html, php, SEO, PPC etc.

They're not interested.

For SEO and PPC companies, they don't do it like us. They use a lot of enterprise tools to carry out this work and you need experience of them.

For "digital marketing" (what they call it) companies, it's really an offshoot of advertising almost.

I spoke to a guy from an agency today and we agreed that IM skills are specific to our own activities. Companies need people specific for their needs, whether they want an SEO consultant, an all-round digital marketer, an affiliate manager or whatever. Our skills help us to apply to a wide range of jobs but none of them fit our profile exactly. In this economy, with people getting made redundant all the time, they want as specific people as possible.

I guess this is just a warning for those who are thinking of getting back into full employment. It's not easy. Sure, I can probably find a guy who does "local SEO" and ask to join him but, think about it, if you did local SEO would you pay someone $40,000? Of course you wouldn't.

The other thing I've noticed is that marketing jobs generally pay shit! Even basic IT support pays better. I think I'm going to learn development, a couple of languages. Because development seems to pay the best of all. It is also a highly transferable skill, unlike general IM skills.

 

[christianbed]

Why not just throw up a website holding yourself out as a small firm in the industry you want to work in, then simply state that you've been running your own show at ABC Inc., but now you are looking for something a bit more stable so that you no longer have to be marketing, management, IT, finance, etc.? Worth a shot.

 

[Wings[SENSE]]

Why don't you move to another country? You could live very well and stress-free with $1,5k/Month.

 

[xTiger]

Why don't you move to another country? You could live very well and stress-free with $1,5k/Month.

Yeah.. like europe

 

[SEOnetic]

Why do you want to go for a job. Isn't online income better? Save it and invest that way you will go a long way.
But thats just me and everyone will have different opinions lol.

 

[florflor]

Why don't you move to another country? You could live very well and stress-free with $1,5k/Month.

Unfortunately I have a medical condition means I've got to stay here or in few other countries for next few years.

If I go somewhere else, they won't cover me for this.

Sad to be chained down by this. Otherwise I'd be sitting on a beach in Thailand right now instead of shitting bricks for CT scans and blood tests every few months.

 

[florflor]

Why do you want to go for a job. Isn't online income better? Save it and invest that way you will go a long way.
But thats just me and everyone will have different opinions lol.

Like I said, I have high expenses. I can't really save anything at the moment.

Why is online income "better"? It can be, but only if it's significant.

 

[blackfairy]

You could try to get into your old job again. If you have learned it, you've got at least a solid foundation. You "only" need to refresh your knowledge. How about writing companies and offer them to complete a internship? If they see that you are good at it and willing to work hard, chances are good that they hire you. And even if they don't, you can tell the next companies that you've recently refreshed your knowledge in this job.
Hope it helps. I know it's hard to find a good job nowadays.

 

[H3ktor]

Move to somewhere cheaper like Thailand and start saving $1K per month. Save $20k+ and then invest them in offline business along with IM stuffs. Be a job creator instead of job seeker.

 

[zebrahat]

As someone said, set up a quick site, using a professional looking theme or template, holding out your "ABC Inc" firm as a website developer/improver/SEO traffic service. Download screenshots of several pro templates, put them in a portfolio binder, which shows what you can do as a web/SEO consultant. Concentrate on OFFline, smaller businesses who could use a website, or a refurbished look, and/or better traffic. There are like 50+ different guides to doing offline web consulting shared on this foum, so download, study and apply.

 

[blacksb]

Where in the UK are you based. You seriously can't get a job in somewhere like London with great SEO, PPC, Email etc skills ?That's kind of mind boggling to me. There are heaps of digital marketing jobs in the UK. I know people who went from affiliate marketing into really good jobs inhouse because they were entrepreneurial and had the mindset + work rate to do their own stuff. Companies love this.

 

[jessicakihara]

I'm thinking of getting myself a "real job", also. It's funny how internet marketing is so hyped up. I remember being extremely passionate about it before, and now I realize it's not enough for me. I hate being at home, I hate working alone, and I hate the constant changes the internet brings. Of course I'll be keeping this as a side business, because it is profitable, but I don't want to depend solely on a business that requires I sit in front of a computer alone all day.

 

[florflor]

You could try to get into your old job again. If you have learned it, you've got at least a solid foundation. You "only" need to refresh your knowledge. How about writing companies and offer them to complete a internship? If they see that you are good at it and willing to work hard, chances are good that they hire you. And even if they don't, you can tell the next companies that you've recently refreshed your knowledge in this job.
Hope it helps. I know it's hard to find a good job nowadays.

Yeah I'm thinking about this. I've already lost some knowledge but maybe if I offer my services for free I can catch up and get some recent experience on my CV.

Only downside is I absolutely hate my old industry, I really do (IT Support). You get treated like total shit, very stressful. I am actually looking at marketing instead but marketing pays even worse!

 

[florflor]

Move to somewhere cheaper like Thailand and start saving $1K per month. Save $20k+ and then invest them in offline business along with IM stuffs. Be a job creator instead of job seeker.

Are you blind? I actually said I'd be on a beach in Thailand if I could. Read the thread.