80 and more SEO Job Interview Questions

I’ve written a few questions that might help structure a SEO interview or even help someone get an SEO job.  I think though, there are a great deal of ways to answer many of these questions.  I’ve toyed with the idea of writing example answers but I think as long as you have a clear idea of the kind of answer you expect to hear back then this should do the trick.
A SEO interview needn’t be a long list of technical questions (as I expect many people might have differing perspectives anyway) but rather a chance for you, as the interviewer, to understand their technical SEO skills, depth of knowledge and interest the candidate has in SEO.
Some people might also disagree with the ethics of asking some of these questions, but feel free not ask them if, of course, you don’t want to. 

SEO Interview Questions

Death by interview has been known so I wouldn’t recommend asking all of these questions.  Pick and choose at will…

Open-ended SEO questions

1. What is your favourite aspect of SEO?
2. What is the most difficult aspect of SEO for you?
3. What has been your biggest mistake in optimising a website for search engines?
4. What has been you biggest success in SEO?
5. Do you have your own website(s)?  What are they?  What is their purpose? How effective have they been?
6. What business sectors have you previously worked in as a SEO?
7. What is the most competitive sector you have worked in as a SEO specialist?
8. Do you like Matt Cutt’s?! 

Knowledge of the SEO Industry / engagement in learning about SEO and engagement with the SEO Community

9. What is your favourite SEO website/blog, and why?
10. Who do you most respect in the SEO industry, and why?
11. Who do you least respect in the SEO industry, and why?
12. Which website do you go to learn something new every time?

Analytics

13. What Analytics packages have you used?
14. Talk me through the process of setting conversion goals?
15. Explain the process of advanced segmentation and an example of why you might use this?
16. If you could develop a new feature for an analytics package that is not currently/easily available what would it be?

Algorithms

17. Please explain the PageRank algorithm…
18. What is the most important aspect to you of the PageRank algorithm for link-building?
19. What is page segmentation?
20. What is LSI / LSA and its relevance to SEO?
21. Explain to me how phrase-base algorithms work?  Clustering?
22. Describe any perceived differences in the main search engines?
23. Have you noticed any algorithm changes lately that you believe to have affected your rankings?  How do you work to protect your online visibility?

Keywords

24. What process do you typically go through when researching keywords?
25. How could this process be improved?
26. How do you carry out competitive analysis of keywords/SERPs as part of the keyword research process?
27. When targeting keywords on-page, discuss some considerations you might make?

Accessibility

28. What factors hinder search engines access to a website’s content?
29. What is the most responsible way of using Flash?
30. Tell me how you might use the Robots.txt file?
31. What is the difference between an xml sitemap and an html sitemap?

On-page Ranking Factors

32. If you were reviewing a landing page, what on-page ranking factors would you consider?
33. How would you analyse the strength of that page as part of the site?
34. Are you competent with HTML and CSS?

Onsite Ranking Factors

35. Talk me through factors you would consider in building an optimised website. (Possible answers might include the discussion around information architecture, site structure, title tags, link structures, keyword relevance, etc).
36. What are onsite ranking factors for building a successful landing page strategy?
37. Please provide examples of blackhat SEO techniques?
38. What are your thoughts on blackhat SEO techniques?  What, if any, have you used, or tested?

Offsite Ranking Factors

39. What would the perfect inbound link look like?
40. What do you like and not like about link-building?
41. Explain to me your involvement in link-building in the past?
42. What approach to link-building have you had most success?

Linkbait Development and Marketing

43. Would you consider yourself as creative?
44. Have you ever successfully carried out a linkbait campaign for a client / in-house? What was the success?
45. Talk me through the process you might go through in developing a linkbait strategy?

Copywriting

46. Are you confident writing and publishing content online?
47. Please provide examples of the content that you have written. What was the purpose of this content and what keywords were you targeting?

SEO Tools

48. What keyword research tools do you use and why?
49. What is your favourite ‘SEO tool’? Why?
50. Do you think SEO tools are effective in competitive markets? Why?

Testing

51. Have you carried-out split-testing / multivariate testing of content?
52. What did you learn from this process?

Image Optimisation

53. What factors can you do to encourage the chance of ranking for images?
54. What is hotlinking? How can this be successfully optimised?

Video optimisation

55. Have you ever carried out video optimisation?
56. What are a few considerations of optimising video content?

Social Media Interview Questions

Open-ended Social Media Questions

57. Which social media sites do you most like?  Why?
58. Which social media sites do you most dislike?  Why?
59. What has been your biggest achievement in SMM?
60. Do you feel that you are well connected in Social media spheres?  Does your social media account carry influence?
61. Do you prefer to use the same pseudonym across your social media profiles? What are the pros and cons of doing this?
62. When did you get into social media (and marketing)?
63. What is your oldest social media profile?
64. Would you ever sell or buy social media profiles?
65. What has been the most effective social media marketing campaign you have been involved in?  How was it effective?  Metrics / exposure / links?
66. How do you effectively use social media to support SEO campaigns, or vice versa?

PPC Interview questions

67. Although not strictly SEO, the understanding of the cross-over of visibility in paid-listings can be very important for effective SEO campaigns.
68. Have you worked on/with PPC accounts?  How did it go?
69. How do you integrate PPC and SEO?
70. What considerations might you make when carrying out paid search competitive analysis?

Business Acumen and ROI

71. What are the key performance metrics you have previously reported to clients?
72. What are effective metrics for highlighting return on investment from SEO?
73. What would you like to change about the SEO reporting process?
74. What other areas of business present opportunities for organic search visibility?
75. If your SEO efforts aren’t getting the visibility you would hope, what would you do?

Pitching for Business

76. Have you prepared proposals for SEO clients?
77. Have you presented proposals to SEO clients? How did it go?
78. What was the biggest mistake you have made in a meeting with a client?
79. What is your greatest strength when presenting to prospective SEO clients?

Retaining Business

80. What do you think is the most important factor in retaining a client?
81. From the previous company that you worked for, what was one process that they could have improved in retaining and gaining clients?

Closing questions

82. Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
83. What are you salary expectations?  Availability?  Etc, etc…
84. How did you feel the interview went?!

The Right Interview Attire

Selecting the job interview attire that makes the right impression can make you anxious. Follow these simple guidelines and be ready for success.

The rule of thumb is to dress in a professional and neat manner. It is better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.

The job candidate who arrives in a smart outfit will always make a great first impression, whatever the work environment.

The classic black business suit is a clever option when deciding on your interview attire. It always looks professional and smart.

It can be worn in any environment and can be paired with either the basic white blouse or a colored blouse if you prefer.

You cannot go wrong with the classic white blouse - nothing is more tried and true!

   

Accessorize the white blouse with a simple black bead necklace or a long silver pendant-type necklace.

Alternatively wear a choker-style necklace. Whatever jewelry you select remember it should be understated and not distracting for the interviewer. So avoid big, dangling necklaces that make clanking sounds every time you move!

The hem of your skirt should fall just on your knees. When you sit down at the interview your skirt always rides up a little. A shorter skirt often results in having to tug it down during the interview!

Classic black pumps are appropriate for any job interview. Look for a heel that is over an inch high, but not too difficult to walk in, to complete your professional look.

What to do with your hair? The most important thing is that your hair should look neat and tidy. If you have long hair you can brush it behind your ears.

Or put it up neatly in a style of your choice. The important thing is that your hair should not fall over you face in any way or require you to keep brushing it off your face during the interview. This will only irritate the interviewer.

Women Interview Clothing

Here we look at job interview clothing for a less formal environment or perhaps a less senior position. If you do not have a business suit these are some other appropriate dress options for your job interview.

This outfit is suitable for a job interview in a more casual environment. The candidate is neatly dressed, simply accessorized and her hair is tidy and out of her face.

This outfit, as well as a simple but well-cut dress like this black and white dress, can be made to look more formal by adding a summer-style jacket.

A black jacket, like the one below, is a valuable asset to any working wardrobe in summer. It smartens up an outfit and is very versatile.

A patterned jacket can be successfully worn over a plain colored dress. Adding a plain, well-tailored black dress to your wardrobe is a clever option. It can be used for all work environments when accessorized properly.

Men Interview Dresses

What you need to know about the right interview dress. Advice and ideas for men on selecting the most appropriate interview attire for job interview success.

Go here if you are looking for advice and tips on Interview Attire for Women.

Create the right first impression by knowing exactly what to wear to your interview.

The safe standard interview dress for men is the classic dark business suit.

Other acceptable alternatives include a gray, charcoal or dark blue business suit. These suits can be worn with a white long-sleeve shirt. A white shirt gives the impression of authority.

If you prefer a colored shirt rather choose a light color that co-ordinates with the suit and is not overpowering. Image consultants suggest that a colored shirt can make you appear more friendly. Striped shirts are also an option.