Getting back into "real world" employment - how?

zebrahat said:
As someone said, set up a quick site, using a profession 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, a refurbished look, and/or better traffic, anThere are like 50+ different guides to doing offline web consulting shared on this foum, so download, study and apply.
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I do not wish to do offline consulting. Taking on even two or three clients will transform your business in that you suddenly have a big support burden.

Not to mention that UK clients are more cynical than American ones (there is talk about this elsewhere on this forum) and want to pay less. Also, when you see the effects of Panda etc. there are too many risks in offline marketing. I can only imagine how many angry offline clients there are out there thanks to being sunk due to bad backlinks.

Offline marketing is just not for me and never has been.
 
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blacksb said:
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.
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I'm in London.

The problem is that I have a range of skills. Companies aren't interested in that. They want someone who does one thing and one thing only.

Most of these digital marketing jobs tend to be SEO+PPC. SEO is pretty basic as we all know, it's not exactly rocket science. PPC in the corporate world uses a lot of tools. Tools that most people in internet marketing have never heard of.

In this market, many people have been made redundant. It's an employer's market rather than a worker's market. They don't hire people like me because they don't have to. Yes, I can add many more things than they want, I can add huge value, but they just want what the job spec says, many people are narrow-minded and don't "think big". Human stupidity, really.

I'm kinda surprised at your friends' success. I'm just not seeing it. I did interview not long ago with a big digital marketing boutique. I knew way more than the owner (he had some ridiculous idea about Google algo updates, I didn't have the heart to tell him he was wrong, plus he uses paid links, lol!) and then he failed me on something ridiculous, like some BS I didn't see on their site. And to be honest, it pays so shit that I'm not sure I want a digital marketing job anyway. Very few of these jobs pay even 30k. Most pay 25k and some even lower! There's no real career path either.
 
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They have degree or certificate programs to go to school, so why would you not be able to put it on your resume? A lot depends on what jobs you are applying for. If you re not applying for a CPU job, it doesnt matter if your good in web design.


Anyway, to the original poster, what skills in computers do you have? I am building a new project and I am looking for someone to join in. Someone with more skills in running and website and adding/modifying things to it. Site has good potential. Atleast I think it does. So, if interested send me a pm. If you have a skype send that too.

Thanks.
 
Hi mate, I feel for you. I started doing desktop support after 2 years at college, got my first job in in 2000 and took on some skills as I moved through jobs since then. I started to focus on supporting products made by software companies to make a bit more money and got some consulting experience.
You're right, it is very stressful, I'm looking for another job at the moment but my situation is kinda opposite to yours since I want to move into IM full time, I just need a pay rise in the meantime to fund it.

I'd recommend you make 2 CV's, one for IT & one for IM, simply describe yourself as a freelance technical/web consultant on the IT one (depends on exactly what you've been doing) and an IM expert on the other. If you make $1500 per month via IM then you must be skilled in a popular digital marketing discipline, if an agency knows you can use that skill to get 1.5k pm then if you keep plugging somebody will recognise you know stuff that can make their agency money. If you're IM stuff is whitehat and clean, perhaps you can add some case studies to your CV ?

Where you live is relevant as well, I'd be interested to know. Since we're both in the UK IT job market at the moment PM me. Perhaps you can help me get $1500 PM via IM & perhaps I can help you get a job ! All the best either way and don't give up.
 
jtos32 said:
Anyway, to the original poster, what skills in computers do you have? I am building a new project and I am looking for someone to join in. Someone with more skills in running and website and adding/modifying things to it. Site has good potential. Atleast I think it does. So, if interested send me a pm. If you have a skype send that too.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm a general all-rounder. I know PCs like the back of my hand. I can basic code in anything, I tend to learn what is required for the job. I'm more a breadth rather than depth person.

No offence but I'm looking for a career now, something with long term progression rather than helping out on a project. Thanks anyway.
 
bluecoyote said:
flor

I don't understand

if you are making $1500 er month

then systimize the processes and scale.. just get off your ass man
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Wow you must have come straight from the Warrior Forum school of "rinse and repeat!" LOL!!

You cannot always scale up in business. There are often limiting factors. Believe me, if I could double or triple my income I would.
 
yrkraf said:
Hi mate, I feel for you. I started doing desktop support after 2 years at college, got my first job in in 2000 and took on some skills as I moved through jobs since then. I started to focus on supporting products made by software companies to make a bit more money and got some consulting experience.
You're right, it is very stressful, I'm looking for another job at the moment but my situation is kinda opposite to yours since I want to move into IM full time, I just need a pay rise in the meantime to fund it.

I'd recommend you make 2 CV's, one for IT & one for IM, simply describe yourself as a freelance technical/web consultant on the IT one (depends on exactly what you've been doing) and an IM expert on the other. If you make $1500 per month via IM then you must be skilled in a popular digital marketing discipline, if an agency knows you can use that skill to get 1.5k pm then if you keep plugging somebody will recognise you know stuff that can make their agency money. If you're IM stuff is whitehat and clean, perhaps you can add some case studies to your CV ?

Where you live is relevant as well, I'd be interested to know. Since we're both in the UK IT job market at the moment PM me. Perhaps you can help me get $1500 PM via IM & perhaps I can help you get a job ! All the best either way and don't give up.
Click to expand...


Yeah mate I'm in London as mentioned. I've been looking at marketing jobs so far but they all look as hard to get as any other so I'm actually considering going back into IT Support. I'd need to catch up a little though as I haven't supported Windows 7.

I really don't like IT Support but at my age I'm thinking "F**K" I need a career again. Yeah maybe we can help each other, where are you? Feel free to send me a PM mate.
 
I think the best way to get back into the market is to sign up with a Temp Agency. You'll get back into the flow of socializing, you won't have to work every day, and you'll build a lot of different skills fast. The plus is that many times the companies that turn to Staffing Agencies are usually looking for permanent hires, so you might just walk into a Full-Time gig if they like you.
 
Do you have a degree? If you don't you are going to have a real tough time getting a job at an agency; they will expect a bachelor's degree at a very minimum. Doesn't matter if you are the most skilled PPC/SEO guy in the world.

If I were you I would start your own SEO agency. That'd probably be the closest thing to working for somebody else (you are working for your clients) and they won't check if you have a degree when you are securing a $1,000/mo contract with them!
 
florflor said:
I'm in London.

The problem is that I have a range of skills. Companies aren't interested in that. They want someone who does one thing and one thing only.

Most of these digital marketing jobs tend to be SEO+PPC. SEO is pretty basic as we all know, it's not exactly rocket science. PPC in the corporate world uses a lot of tools. Tools that most people in internet marketing have never heard of.

In this market, many people have been made redundant. It's an employer's market rather than a worker's market. They don't hire people like me because they don't have to. Yes, I can add many more things than they want, I can add huge value, but they just want what the job spec says, many people are narrow-minded and don't "think big". Human stupidity, really.

I'm kinda surprised at your friends' success. I'm just not seeing it. I did interview not long ago with a big digital marketing boutique. I knew way more than the owner (he had some ridiculous idea about Google algo updates, I didn't have the heart to tell him he was wrong, plus he uses paid links, lol!) and then he failed me on something ridiculous, like some BS I didn't see on their site. And to be honest, it pays so shit that I'm not sure I want a digital marketing job anyway. Very few of these jobs pay even 30k. Most pay 25k and some even lower! There's no real career path either.
Click to expand...

Hey florflor,
What are those PPC tools you talked about?
Have you tried learning how to operate them?
 
This is a very good thread and people should really analyze their situation before they get into IM full time. If you don't have a backup plan and you end up failing in IM, you could end up on the streets. I think I will focus on completing my Uni degree, unless of course I make millions beforehand. But then, even if I did, I would probably stay in Uni because I wouldn't have to worry about the financial side of things and at the same time I would get a degree, have time to educate myself further, and have a social life, not that you can't have one without Uni. This thread should be a real mind opener to some of you, especially the young folks like me who at times take things for granted. Follow your dream, but don't be stupid.
 
Jimmy_James said:
I think the best way to get back into the market is to sign up with a Temp Agency. You'll get back into the flow of socializing, you won't have to work every day, and you'll build a lot of different skills fast. The plus is that many times the companies that turn to Staffing Agencies are usually looking for permanent hires, so you might just walk into a Full-Time gig if they like you.
Click to expand...

I'm going to try this. Less commitment means they will "risk" taking me on lol. Hopefully I can get at least a 3 month contract or something.
 
artificial_genius said:
Do you have a degree? If you don't you are going to have a real tough time getting a job at an agency; they will expect a bachelor's degree at a very minimum. Doesn't matter if you are the most skilled PPC/SEO guy in the world.

If I were you I would start your own SEO agency. That'd probably be the closest thing to working for somebody else (you are working for your clients) and they won't check if you have a degree when you are securing a $1,000/mo contract with them!
Click to expand...

Yes I already have a degree.

No, I don't want to go into offline marketing. I already explained why above.
 
lostpassword said:
Hey florflor,
What are those PPC tools you talked about?
Have you tried learning how to operate them?
Click to expand...

Bestbuyfoam said:
I would like to hear more about this also. Thanks.
Click to expand...



Sorry I don't remember any specific names.

Seriously, all you have to do is go to monster.com and search for PPC, PPC executive, digital marketing etc. You'll soon see a bundle of these names.

I have no idea how to get this s/w, this is not the usual thing comes up on a warez search. They may even use a central database for all I know. What I've learned is that, unlike in our world, PPC in the real world is not about hiring an expert guy who knows how to write great converting ads and how to choose great converting keywords and group them accordingly, and with great landing pages.

Instead, it's much more mechanistic. Yes, there is strategising but most people involved in the process just run tools like grunts. Very different to our world.
 
ShadeDream said:
This is a very good thread and people should really analyze their situation before they get into IM full time. If you don't have a backup plan and you end up failing in IM, you could end up on the streets. I think I will focus on completing my Uni degree, unless of course I make millions beforehand. But then, even if I did, I would probably stay in Uni because I wouldn't have to worry about the financial side of things and at the same time I would get a degree, have time to educate myself further, and have a social life, not that you can't have one without Uni. This thread should be a real mind opener to some of you, especially the young folks like me who at times take things for granted. Follow your dream, but don't be stupid.
Click to expand...


I have a degree and experience but what this thread is really about is that going FT into self-employment means that the regular job market treats you like a leper afterwards. Treats you like you've actually been unemployed. No matter what your preparations, this is going to happen to some lesser or greater degree. Sucks but hopefully I can navigate around it somehow.

The problem with IM is that it's NOT a career. Who knows is internet as we know it will even exist in 10 or 20 years. Could look, very, very different.
 
I admit that I have not read all the posts on this thread but difficult as it is business right now, there is in fact no better time to be working on one's own in business because once the global economy kicks back in all the struggles folks are experiencing now will be in the past as the money rolls in $$$$$$$$$$$$

The opportunity to make money working for a company as a paid employee means that you get a wage that's it!

Unless you are in the elite like lawyers bankers et al

OP your quote

The problem with IM is that it's NOT a career. Who knows is internet as we know it will even exist in 10 or 20 years. Could look, very, very different.

I 100% disagree the IM sector is still in nappies the future could NOT BE BRIGHTER! A bright guy like you with your background and versatility will make millions $$$$$$$$$$$$ in the next 10 to 20 years on the net

My 2 cents
 
Hey florflor, I know this thread is 2 years old but I'm curious about how full-time employment along with your 1.5k a month is working out for you now?
 
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