So, you’re thinking about getting a job in SEO? That’s cute. But let’s slow down and hit the brakes for a second. It’s time for a reality check — a big, bold, unapologetic one. Because SEO work might just not be the dream job you’ve imagined.
Forget the Glamour
First things first. SEO is not glamorous. You’re not hacking Google’s algorithm. You’re not waving a magic wand and making a website blow up overnight. Most days, you’ll just be staring at spreadsheets, tweaking titles, analyzing graphs, and begging Google to notice you.
Still sound like fun? Let’s dig deeper.
The Google Rollercoaster
Google is your boss. But not the kind of boss who gives you birthday cards and raises. It’s the evil genius boss who changes plans every other week and never tells you why.
One day you’re ranking #1. The next day? Gone. Just gone. No email. No warning. No “Dear John” letter. Welcome to the Google algorithm update.
Being in SEO is like trying to stand on a floating balloon in the middle of the ocean.
The Clients. Oh, the Clients.
If you work at an agency (or freelance), clients will emotionally scar you. They’ll ask for miracles on a $99 budget.
- “Why am I not ranking yet?”
- “Can you SEO our TikTok channel?”
- “I want to be #1 on Google for ‘shoes’. How long will it take?”
And don’t expect sympathy. If their traffic drops because a developer accidentally deleted a page during a redesign, it’s still your fault. Yep. Yours.
The Endless Learning Loop
SEO is not something you learn once and coast on forever. It’s a constant game of cat and mouse.
You’ll spend more hours on SEO blogs, online forums, and obscure YouTube videos than you will sleeping. Every week, there’s a “new best practice” and “the old method is dead.” Sounds fun until your brain gives up and starts buffering.
Remember when keyword stuffing was in? Yeah. Those were the good old days…for five minutes.
So Much Work. So Little Glory.
Here’s the real kicker: when you do SEO well, no one notices.
- The dev team thinks the site loads fast because of their code.
- The marketing team says the leads are all from their Instagram strategy.
- The CEO has no clue what you even do.
But when traffic drops? Suddenly everyone remembers you exist. You’re the SEO wizard who failed. Great.
The Tools That Don’t Stop Talking
There are a million tools in SEO. All with names that sound like rejected Star Wars droids: Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, Screaming Frog, Ubersuggest.
Each tool claims it knows what Google wants. But — plot twist — they all say different things. So guess what? Now it’s your job to play detective and hope your “gut feeling” is right.
Still Want That Job?
Look, SEO isn’t all bad. If you love puzzles, data, writing, and pain — you might thrive.
But most people don’t know what they’re signing up for. They think SEO is wearing a hoodie, sipping coffee, and ranking websites while lo-fi plays in the background. The truth is a little more… exhausting.
Before You Jump In
If you’re still tempted, ask yourself:
- Can I handle constant change?
- Am I okay with being invisible when I do amazing work?
- Do I enjoy reading forums more than sleeping?
- How well do I cope with chaos?
If the answer is “yes” to all, congrats — you’re a little bit broken in the right way. SEO might be for you.
Final Thoughts
SEO isn’t just marketing. It’s war. Against Google. Against time. Against clueless clients. It’s not a job for the faint-hearted.
So, before you fill out that job app for “Junior SEO Specialist,” take a beat. Breathe. Think it over.
Or maybe… run.
You’ve been warned.
