I’ve been in SEO for over 15 years, and while I’m freelance now, that wasn’t always the case. Early in my career, I felt the thrill and anxiety of walking into SEO job interviews, excited for the opportunity but nervous about what I would be asked. Over the years, I have also sat on the other side of the table, hiring SEOs myself. And I have seen candidates stand out for both the right reasons and the very wrong ones.
Sound familiar?
If you’re gearing up for an SEO interview, I get it. Interviews can be unpredictable, and SEO is such a broad field that you never know exactly what will come up. But one thing I’ve learned? Preparation makes all the difference.
Let’s break down how to prepare so you can walk into your next SEO interview feeling confident and ready to land the job.
How to Prepare for an SEO Job Interview
1. Understand the Role
Every SEO job is different. Some roles are heavy on technical tasks, while others focus more on content strategy or link building. Before your interview, read the job description carefully and figure out:
- What SEO skills do they care about most?
- How does your experience align with their needs?
- What tools and platforms do they mention? (Semrush, Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, Google Search Console, etc.)
I’ve been on both sides of the hiring process, and I can tell you that hiring managers don’t just want an SEO; they want the right SEO for their needs. The more you tailor your responses to their specific challenges, the better your chances are of getting a job offer.
If you’re unsure which SEO career path fits you best, check out the SEO Career Path Guide for an overview of different roles and skills.
2. Research the Company and Its Health
One of the biggest mistakes I see is when candidates walk into an interview without fully understanding the company’s business and how SEO contributes to it. SEO does not exist in a vacuum. If you do not know what drives revenue for the company, you will struggle to connect your SEO strategies to real business impact.
Before your interview, take time to research:
- Google the company. If they are a public company, check their revenues, recent earnings reports, and any financial trends. If they are private, look for funding rounds, years in business, and major shifts in their product or service. Understanding their financial health and business trajectory gives you better insight into how SEO fits into their larger strategy.
- Learn about their industry. Who are their biggest competitors? Are they in a rapidly growing market or a more stagnant one? Are they a leader in their space, or are they fighting to gain market share? The more you understand the landscape, the better you can position SEO as a competitive advantage.
- Look for recent news or company updates. Have they launched a new product? Rebranded? Expanded into new markets? Major business changes often come with shifts in marketing priorities, which can influence how SEO plays a role.
- Understand their business model. Are they a subscription-based company, an e-commerce retailer, or a lead-generation business? Each model has different SEO priorities, and demonstrating that you understand what drives their revenue will set you apart from other candidates.
By going beyond surface-level SEO research and truly understanding the company’s business, you can answer interview questions with a strategic mindset, connecting SEO to broader growth goals.
3. Practice Common SEO Interview Questions
One of the biggest challenges in SEO interviews is the vast range of topics they can cover. Some hiring managers might focus on technical SEO, while others delve into content strategies, link building, local SEO, or emerging trends like AI. Being well-prepared across these areas is crucial.
Here are some common SEO interview questions you should be ready for:
Technical SEO Questions
- How do you typically approach a technical SEO audit, and what tools do you use?
- Can you walk me through the steps you’d take to fix duplicate content issues on a site?
On-Page SEO Questions
- How do you approach optimizing images for SEO, and what role does image alt text play?
- What does a well-optimized content page look like to you, and how do you ensure it provides value beyond keywords?
Off-Page SEO Questions
- How do you typically conduct a competitor backlink analysis, and what tools do you use?
- When you’re doing outreach for link building, what makes your pitch stand out to publishers or journalists?
Local SEO Questions
- How do you optimize a Google My Business listing to ensure it ranks well in local search results?
- How do reviews impact local SEO, and what strategies do you use to help businesses earn legitimate reviews?
AI in SEO Questions
- How do you integrate AI into a long-term SEO strategy?
- How do you handle Google’s evolving stance on AI-generated content?
A strong answer doesn’t just explain the concept, it tells a bigger story.
Instead of saying:
“I optimize site speed by reducing image sizes and using caching.”
Say:
“One client had slow load times due to unoptimized images and excessive third-party scripts. I implemented lazy loading, optimized assets, and reduced script bloat, which cut load times by 50% and significantly improved Core Web Vitals scores.”
Want to test yourself? Try out our Interview Questions Simulator for real-world SEO interview practice.
4. Showcase Your SEO Wins
Hiring managers don’t just want to hear what you know. They want to see what you’ve done and how that experience translates to their business and their objectives.
Before your interview, consider two or three SEO success stories demonstrating your impact.
- Did you increase organic traffic for a client?
- Support a large migration project?
- Getting buy-in with individuals who may not prioritize SEO first.
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response.
For example:
“Leadership was hesitant to allocate dev resources for SEO fixes, prioritizing UX updates instead. I reframed SEO recommendations as revenue opportunities, showing how site speed improvements could reduce bounce rates and increase conversions. We secured buy-in for key technical changes by aligning SEO with business goals, leading to a 20 percent lift in organic-driven conversions within three months.”
5. Be Ready for Behavioral Questions
SEO is not just about technical knowledge but also about communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. Expect questions like the ones below. (I see you rolling your eyes, I know, but you gotta play the game!)
- Tell me about a time you disagreed with a client’s SEO strategy. How did you handle it?
- Describe a challenging SEO project. What obstacles did you face?
- Have you ever worked with developers on an SEO project? How did you ensure your recommendations were implemented?
A well-structured response highlights your problem-solving skills and ability to work with teams.
Final Tips for Acing the SEO Interview
Dress for the Culture
Research the company’s culture before deciding what to wear. Agencies tend to be more casual, while enterprise SEO roles may expect business casual. Dressing appropriately shows professionalism and attention to detail.
Ask Questions
I recently joined an SEO hiring panel discussion hosted by Noah Learner in his free SEO Community. The entire panel agreed that asking questions in an interview is critical. It shows genuine interest in the role and helps you stand out. Walking in without questions can signal a lack of curiosity or engagement, which is the last impression you want to leave.
Follow Up
Always send a thank-you email after the interview. Reference something specific from the conversation to reinforce your interest and show that you were actively engaged. A thoughtful follow-up can set you apart from other candidates.
Bottom Line: Show You Can Do the Job
SEO interviews are not about memorizing ranking factors. They are about proving you can think strategically, solve problems, and drive results.
If you are preparing for an SEO interview, focus on practicing your answers, refining your success stories, and researching the company. The more prepared you are, the easier it is to land the job and start thinking about how to negotiate your salary.
