I'm interviewing for the position of a junior SEO next week and I'm looking for some good ideas for questions to ask. Currently the applicants don't have any experience in SEO, so going in-depth into page optimisation and link building isn't going to achieve much. Does anyone have any good ideas as to what to focus on? Currently I'm focusing on basic search engine operations, basic website structure and some social media.
Is this for Clicks.ws? If they have absolutely no SEO experience but have experience on the internet perhaps you should ask them some basic open-ended questions, like: If you were to promote a band website do you think there are ways of promoting that website on MySpace? Why do you think that most companies aren't interested in SEO? When was the last time you read an article posted up on Digg or Del.icio.us? Just questions to get them thinking and a conversation going. I really hate all the generic questions then some interviewers heap on the interviewee: Tell me, what qualities can you bring to the company?
You may ask the question related to on-page optimization like the idea of keyword analyzing using keyword suggestion tools. Check him about the knowledge of basic html. Also you may ask how to check link popularities, about popular search engines, how to increase more traffic, questions related to social bookmarking and also about the role of forum in traffic.
No it's for another company that I manage the marketing department for Some nice questions there, I like the idea of focusing on SEO as a business and the problems that it faces being 'sold' to a potential client. Yep, me too, I'd rather get someone thinking more specifically about the company, especially in this case where enthusiasm is more important that experience.
I agree with Cottonwood. Also you should ask them about their HTML skills and about their general knowledge of the internet and how it works. Perhaps focus the conversation around search engines. "How would you find xxx on the internet?"
I think you should go for some basics HTML questions. Also questions like " How will you purchase xxxxx via internet in different ways? "
For a fresher i think you should just look out for general aptitude because after that its upto you how you teach him the work. If a person has a sharp mind hes worth hiring
That's exactly what I'm looking for. In a way I would rather they had no knowledge of SEO in preference to having picked up some bad habits from forums and blogs giving out bad advice. Anything else can be taught.
well i think you should ask the basic html second does he or she knows about meta tags and robots and the proper use of it. third ask him or her if she or he can write an article( writing article is for writers only but if an seo can write his/her own article it is a plus factor for an SEO specialist.