How to Get an SEO Internship

Search engine optimization, often referred to as SEO, is an exciting part of the computer science field that has become increasingly relevant in recent years. SEO is essentially the practice of using searchable words to boost the traffic to a site. Online content websites don't have the luxury of having a reader flip through the pages of their magazine at a newsstand, so instead they rely on internet searches. To take full advantage of search engines, most sites will use words that are highly searchable in their website to draw the highest viewership they can. Taking on an internship is an excellent way to begin a career path in the SEO industry. Follow these steps to secure an internship in search engine optimization.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Highlight any computer science, website development, Internet marketing and search optimization coursework in your resume and cover letter. Compile a portfolio of any course projects that you think would be of specific interest or would make good examples of the depth of your knowledge, experience or skill level with relevant technology.

2. Use your application and corresponding interview to demonstrate your technical expertise and experience with programming languages such as HTML, PHP and CSS. It is very important to give the employer a full summary of your technical background, as an SEO internship usually involves working with the latest technologies.

3. Join organizations such as the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization or the Association of Search Engine Optimization Professionals to increase your contacts within the community (see Resources below). Doing so may open up more internship opportunities for you and may help you get in touch with people who are willing to put in a good word for you to help you secure a position in the field.

4. Attend well-known SEO events, such as the Search Marketing Expo (SMX), to meet up with others in the field. You can use the official SMX website to register for the event (see Resources below). Attending the expo will demonstrate to future employers that you are serious about a future in SEO, and will also expand your knowledge of the industry.

5. Contact alumni from your college or university who work in the SEO field through your school's alumni office. Ask them about the companies where they have worked and interned and what technical and professional skills their employers usually look for in an SEO intern. Talk to them about the current SEO strategies that their companies use to get an idea of latest trends in the SEO industry.

Tips & Warnings

• Many SEO companies will only consider internship candidates who live within driving distance of the company's location. It is unlikely that you will be hired for an SEO internship that would require you to relocate, so it is best to concentrate your search within your immediate geographic location.
• Do your research about the company before going on an interview to get an SEO internship. SEO companies are likely to have websites that provide a good amount of background information that you can use.

Resources

• Individual membership options at the Search Marketing Professional Organization
• The Association for Search Engine Optimization Professionals for networking
• Register for the Search Marketing Expo (SMX)