A look into 3 non-traditional career options and how to succeed in them
With the advancement of technology, there's no doubt that the traditional workplace has significantly evolved and gradually turned digital within the past decade. A host of new jobs are now gaining momentum and have become an important part of almost every company’s growth and success. These include Blogging, SEO Consulting and Graphic Designing.
But what exactly do you need to break into one of these in-demand careers? Well, while the individual job duties and responsibilities differ with each job – the common traits that are required to succeed in all of these professions include creativity, the ability to analyze and conceptualize, a desire to keep learning, and of course, passion.
Rebecca Bollwitt, founder of the popular local blog Miss 604, shares some insight into the world of blogging and its growing importance in today’s workforce. She explains blogs can “create online visibility for brands, have trusted audiences, and have the potential to be a very profitable career with low overhead. She also points out that the “flexibility of the medium mixed with people sharing what they are passionate about” makes it an ideal career option for people of various backgrounds, including students and stay-at-home parents.
Bollwitt, who has authored two books related to the subject, further shares that in order to break into the profession; individuals should start by finding a topic that they are passionate about, sign up for a blog and then begin writing.
Manny Bahia, who co-founded Vancity Buzz six years back agrees but also points out that individuals must stay up to date with digital advances in order to successfully maintain and sustain a blog. He adds that it's a good idea to have knowledge about elements like web design and search engine optimization.
Vancity Buzz, started out as a “passion project” to highlight the positive aspects of life in Vancouver. Interestingly enough, today it is known as the largest digital publication in Vancouver.
"Blogging will always exist as a channel of communication. It can create a livelihood to support one person or to build a company.” Bahia, who is now the Chief Development Officer at Vancity Buzz adds, “Many times it is best to let go of your personal blog to join a larger company to move up the ranks.”
Vancouver based freelance Digital Marketing and SEO Consultant Jesse Ringer says in his profession it is vital to keep up to date with the latest technologies and do a lot of self-learning, as the industry is always changing. He explains that it is beneficial for SEO aspirants to have knowledge about various web specific skills, like HTML and programming, social media marketing, graphic design and search engine marketing, and to also take some Google certification programs.
"Twitter has always been a great source of industry information for me. It’s timely so you’ll be able to find the newest trends. Reading a lot of articles and White papers will give you great perspective on the different ways to successfully optimize a website," says Ringer.
He adds that community forums can also act as a great source of information. "You get to read about real world problems and see how other SEOs have solved that problem…There aren't clear-cut ways to optimize a site, you [have to] piece together different ideas to create your own solution that works", explains Ringer
But what does an SEO Consultant do exactly? Ringer explains that his job is essentially to help websites show up in search results. “Beyond that,
I make sure visitors to the site find what they’re looking for and take the desired action. That comes in many forms: signing up to receive a newsletter, booking an appointment, downloading a PDF…" Besides all of this, he also spends time writing fresh content, making changes to websites and checking for Google updates, among other things.
Ringer, who likes both the analytical and creative aspects associated with SEO Consulting, says that he got his start in the profession because of a friend. "[He] asked if I knew anything about search engine optimization and if I’d be interested managing his business’s website. It evolved from there.”
Graphic Designer Jag Nagra made a deliberate decision to pursue a career in designing after obtaining a two year diploma in General Studies from the University of the Fraser Valley.
Uncertain of what to do after graduation, she was inspired when she recalled the Graphic Design courses her brother had taken as part of his degree. "I was amazed that people did this kind of work for a living. It was a small introduction to a world I never knew existed. I applied to The Art Institute of Vancouver, and fell in love," says Nagra.
After 6 years working as a Lead Designer at RMS Inc, Nagra decided to strike out on her own and established her own company, Page 84 Design.
"In 2012, I started a personal 365-day journey where I illustrated one character every day and posted it online. Having had no formal illustration training whatsoever, this was incredibly challenging, but that’s what I was after. I inadvertently ended up launching my illustration career.” Due to her online portfolio, Nagra eventually earned opportunities to produce work for companies like Microsoft and Clearly Contacts. She currently also does brand and packing designing as well as produces custom wedding invitations.
Nagra advises aspiring designers to avoid short-term design courses. Instead, they should research and apply to reputable post-secondary institutions which offer Graphic Design diplomas or degrees. She also suggests that individuals should avoid working for free in order to gain experience and build a portfolio for themselves instead.
Indeed, whether it be blogging, SEO consulting or graphic designing, a career in the digital sphere can be undeniably satisfying for a number of reasons, however perhaps it is most rewarding because as Nagra rightly points out, "every day is different than the last."
