Neil Middlemass
Founder, Assembl
SEO is a digital discipline unlike others, and recruiting for it has unique complexities. Neil offers advice for both SEOs and businesses looking to hire around issues like evaluating good fit, why SEOs should land grab, and how companies can handle availability gaps.
About Neil
Neil has been hiring into the digital market for 15 years, with a specialisation of helping businesses to build, scale or in-house their performance marketing teams. Neil is the cofounder of Assembl, a disruptive hiring solution that aims to fix a broken recruitment market model. The platform uses intelligent automation technology, a dynamic fee structure, and in-person expertise to deliver a hiring solution tailored to the complexities of the modern market.
Think Land Grab: Career Advice for SEOs and Their Employers
“…Generally speaking, the most successful SEO careers begin agency-side. Our data shows that agencies are better at mobilising talent, so career progression is generally faster agency-side. On top of this, agencies offer exposure to multiple clients with differing business challenges and objectives.
In the last 12 months, around a third of all agency-side SEO specialists leaving their company have moved in-house. As in-housing becomes more visible and more prevalent, there are many more in-house options for the SEO specialist.”
Q&A with Neil Middlemass
What was your first ever job?
I set up a car washing business when I was about 11 and counted Wolf from Gladiators amongst my clients.
How did you get into SEO?
I started recruiting into the SEO market in 2006 when SEO jobs were in their relative infancy - at least as an agency proposition. The market has twisted and turned so many times over the period of time I still find it a fascinating sector to be involved in.
What inspired you to choose the topic of your chapter? Why is it important to you?
I think there are a lot of misconceptions by agency SEOs about working in-house and I’ve seen many people blinded by the lights of a sexy brand, without considering the nuances of the role itself - and having a bad experience as a result. Having some structured and objective considerations outside of the company and the sector they operate in can help people to make more positive career moves, and that’s what we’re all about at Assembl.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Measure twice, cut once. It’s my dad’s mantra and one I’ll always stand by!
What one tip would you give someone who would like to get into SEO as a career?
Always stay curious, always stay learning. Learn some coding skills. Smile - modern SEO is all about collaboration so relationships across the business matter.
What is your favourite SEO / marketing related resource or book? (other than Mastering In-House SEO of course!)
I still like ‘Don’t Make Me Think’ by Steve Krug - an oldie but still relevant today. How do you relax when you aren’t working? I love anything outdoors - on land, under the land, on water, in the water. And mud. I like mud.