SEO Jobs?!

Hello guys!

I'm currently looking for SEO related jobs (Junior roles) but am REALLY struggling to get my foot through the door to companies. I would be so grateful if anybody could point me in the right direction and tell me what to do

All of the companies I have applied to are asking for examples of my work (like a portfolio), the problem is:


1) All my SEO was done on my websites - Blackhat only
2) My websites are very sketchy (game downloads/video streaming etc)


So obviously I can't provide them with my url's, is there any way I can explain this to them without them losing interest? (Junior roles don't require MUCH experience)

I've thought that possibly I could:


1) Be completely honest, explain what I have done (In detail), but not provide links.
2) Find an old website (No longer updated and with no email address listed), then provide them with an email. I.e: site: xyztiles.com email: [email protected]


I'd REALLY appreciate any help, I know I could just make a portfolio for myself over time but:


1) I don't have time.
2) I have the experience needed, just not with the right websites...


Thank you all for spending your time reading this

Had another idea too...

Could I say to them that I don't leak website url's so that customer's niches remain private?

What is the possibility of you getting a job as a trainee as opposed to a JR SEO? Sounds like that would be a better fit and better for you as well as you would learn and get paid at the same time.

BassTrackerBoats said:

What is the possibility of you getting a job as a trainee as opposed to a JR SEO? Sounds like that would be a better fit and better for you as well as you would learn and get paid at the same time.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply

There actually aren't very many internships going at the minute, they don't pay very well and I'm skilled enough to do the job as a JR SEO. Plus, for the JR SEO jobs they aren't asking for much experience, some of them only ask for an interest in it. But because I'm stating I have experience, they are asking what I have done

Cheeky92 said:

But because I'm stating I have experience, they are asking what I have done

Click to expand...

Show them then. If what you have done is transferable to the kinds of work they want done you would be a good fit.

Be upfront with the prospective employer and explain your background, show him the actual live samples of your work, share how you have done this or that and see if he or she sees you as a fit for their business.

I'd rather one be upfront with me than use the smoke and mirror thing.

I am kind of in the same boat right now like OP. What I was wondering about going by your posts. Isn't a trainee different from a purely internship based position? In my country at least, if you go by work experience and entry positions, it is Internship --> trainee ---> junior.

In terms of your original question. I agree with what has been said so far. Though they are blackhat, you should try your best to explain the challenges you had to go through (without any outside help) and what you have accomplished with those sites. Rather than purely going by results. (Although showing your ranking or generally your "success" with it will definitely help). Also, what about switching your gaming oriented sites into guides (whitehat) for games? I don't know if your main income source is cpa cracks and hacks (purely blackhat) for example, but nothing speaks against changing that for a few months to make it look more legitimate. Unless keeping this income source right now is more important than getting the job you want.

All the best

OP Just print an experience certificate for 1yr. Then apply for a job. Good luck.

Ensili said:

I am kind of in the same boat right now like OP. What I was wondering about going by your posts. Isn't a trainee different from a purely internship based position? In my country at least, if you go by work experience and entry positions, it is Internship --> trainee ---> junior.

In terms of your original question. I agree with what has been said so far. Though they are blackhat, you should try your best to explain the challenges you had to go through (without any outside help) and what you have accomplished with those sites. Rather than purely going by results. (Although showing your ranking or generally your "success" with it will definitely help). Also, what about switching your gaming oriented sites into guides (whitehat) for games? I don't know if your main income source is cpa cracks and hacks (purely blackhat) for example, but nothing speaks against changing that for a few months to make it look more legitimate. Unless keeping this income source right now is more important than getting the job you want.

All the best

Click to expand...

The Junior SEO jobs are actually trainee jobs, they just typically want some form of experience (some of them don't want any, but this is rare).

I think you guys are right though, I think with everybody asking what my experience is (as I expected they would) I need to just be honest and do as you have said. I will have a long think about how I can word my responses so that whilst it looks bad (dodgy website point of view), it does show that I can get websites to be popular...

Regarding changing my websites, it would be difficult because of the domain names, also it would be quite a lot of work (weeks possibly). On top of that they are my only source of income at the minute so it might be a bit too risky to change them

Thank you for your help though, I'm taking it all on board mate

Cheeky92 said:

The Junior SEO jobs are actually trainee jobs, they just typically want some form of experience (some of them don't want any, but this is rare).

I think you guys are right though, I think with everybody asking what my experience is (as I expected they would) I need to just be honest and do as you have said. I will have a long think about how I can word my responses so that whilst it looks bad (dodgy website point of view), it does show that I can get websites to be popular...

Regarding changing my websites, it would be difficult because of the domain names, also it would be quite a lot of work (weeks possibly). On top of that they are my only source of income at the minute so it might be a bit too risky to change them

Thank you for your help though, I'm taking it all on board mate

Click to expand...

I know what you are talking about man, it is ridiculous that companies expect you to have actual work experience in a junior and/ or trainee position. I'd still recommend you to specifically look for trainee positions. In my country, Germany, there is a clear distinction between both and in terms of real work experience trainee positions are easier to get. Also I still apply for all jobs where work experience is required. Because more often than not the person in charge of the job ad mixed up actual work experience with general experience in the field (from for example self-employment, general private projects that weren't monetized,...). Of course you won't get a job where definite 2-3 years of actual work experience at a job is needed but from my experience so far it is neither a common nor an uncommon practice.

Lastly, another idea I have in case your country isn't your main target traffic, would be to redirect your potential employer to a second site based on ip. (Take that idea with a grain of salt - a little risky). Though what still remains is the domain name - but even for that, what about a redirect? Just buy a clean domain. Cheap as fuck. Of course all of that requires some work but it may be worth it to make your experience look more legitimate.

What is problem in giving examples of links to the companies which require so? They have to see how correctly the links are created and so on. If you are not able to share your links, you can even try to create some samples for future referring and show them to whom it may concern. Wish you good luck!