Many different publications utilize editors in order to complete their projects and make sure that the end result is high-quality. They exist within the world of journalism at newspapers, magazines, and even at news stations. There are also editors at book publishing companies and many other companies. Although all are editors, their specific duties vary from position to position. Some editors will focus on proofreading the work of others. Others will assign projects. There are many editors that get to contribute their own writing. There are some tried and true ways that you can land a job as an editor if this is a field of work that you’re really interested in.

Review Your Resume and Cover Letter

When you are applying to an editor position, you’ll need to submit your resume and cover letter. Your resume should detail relative jobs that you’ve had over the past ten years or so. The cover letter will be read before the resume. It should state who you are, why you are sending your information in and how you can be contacted. You can also throw some information in your cover letter that gets people interested in finding out more about you. RICS Recruit advises playing up your passion, emphasizing how you fit their brand, and if possible, using numerical evidence to support your claims.

Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of work that you usually build up over time. As you work in the field more and more, you should save work that you feel is a good representation of what you do. You should have this work organized nicely for an employer to review.

The Interview

You can utilize an interview to show an employer how professional and interested you are in the position that they have to fill. This is your opportunity to shine. As an editor, you should communicate how passionate you are about what you do. Show off your portfolio and give details about the work that is in there. Mention any awards, promotions or accolades that you’ve received during your career. Independence University advises paying special attention to your body language, appearance, and eye contact during the interview.

Consider Looking Out of Town for a Job

There aren’t hundreds of jobs in one city when you’re an editor. This is a tough market to work in, regardless of what niche you want to focus on. If you are competitive and want to get the job of your dreams, you may want to think about relocating to another city. If you don’t have a lot of experience, you may be able to find a really great editing job in a smaller town. If you’ve been working for years and have a college degree, you should consider looking at vacant positions in a larger city.

Editors are and always will be crucial to the writing process. If you have a passion for writing and editing, there are many ways that you can find the job of your dreams. It may take a little bit of time. You may go on interviews that don’t work out but don’t get discouraged when you don’t get an offer. You can keep looking for a job while you retain the one that you are currently working at.

Here at TouchPoint Press, we sometimes are looking to hire a new editor or editorial intern. Take a look at what positions we have open!