Career Advice for an Editor

Working as an Editor, you will review articles and photographs, contribute to content, and manage the daily operations of the publication team.

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How to Become an Editor

Choosing your career path and learning how to become the person you aspire to be is not always straight forward; getting a job in your chosen industry will take dedication, focus and the right qualifications.

When you have chosen the career path you wish to follow, you will need to learn how to become an Editor

Should you wish to work as an Editor you will need to evaluate what courses are required, their cost and what qualifications you need. It is important that you also assess whether you have the right credentials from a personality point of view, what the demands of the job are and whether they complement the lifestyle that you desire.

Another factor to consider, should you wish to fulfil your career aspirations, is the number of jobs you will need to have to reach your ultimate job, and the length of time it will take to reach this goal.

Common Qualifications for an Editor

  • Five GCSEs.
  • Two A Levels.
  • A qualification from the National Council for the Training of Journalists, The Publishing Training Centre, or Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.
  • A Degree in Journalism or Communications.

Key Responsibilities for an Editor

  • Reviewing and editing articles for grammar accuracy and writing style.
  • Hiring, training, and coaching junior writers.
  • Assessing content and making publication decisions.
  • Acting as the publication’s representative at events.
  • Developing the publication’s success.
  • Commissioning articles and managing the publication’s layout.

What to expect as an Editor

When you become an Editor, you will work in an office, leveraging your knowledge of communications and media production. To find success, you will need excellent English language skills, attention to detail, computer software proficiency, and decision-making skills.

Recommended Editor Jobs

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How to get Editor Jobs

Our advice on how to get an Editor job is to focus on preparation and personalisation.

Preparation

This occurs before you write a CV cover letter or complete an Editor application. If you have not held an Editor position before, it will help to research the industry and review what a typical career path might look like. If you have held an Editor role, focus your research on the company where you are seeking employment.

Valuable resources that will help you learn about the employer include the company’s career page, social media page, blog, job ad, and job description. Helpful information will consist of the company’s mission statement, values, and vision. You could also use an employer review site to gain insights on average salaries, what current employees say about the company culture, and what it is like to work for the organisation.

Personalisation

You are now in a position to use what you have learned in your Editor CV, cover letter, and application. You should personalise each Editor application, cover letter, and CV; prioritising job skills and relevant experience and providing examples that show you have similar values and goals.

This pre-application stage is a crucial step in how to become an Editor in the UK. It puts you in a superbly informed state, ready for forthcoming telephone, video, or in-person interviews.

Students: How to Become an Editor 

As with all professions, choose your study topics carefully. Review the qualifications needed to be an Editor and the subjects you will need to enrol in certification courses, higher education, or online courses. 

Aligning your study subjects

The more closely you align your study subjects with your career path, the more likely you will be to have projects and modules that you can refer to and show a prospective employer that you have practical or theoretical Editor experience.

How to get Editor Experience

What does it take to be an Editor? The best way to find out is to get work experience, which will be invaluable when applying for Editor jobs. You can learn how to be a successful Editor through internships, apprenticeships, or volunteering for a local business.

How to be an Editor Part-Time 

If you are wondering how to get into Editor part-time, there are several possibilities. You might find a new employer looking for a part-time Editor or find your existing employer is amenable. Often companies recognise the value of flexible hours and having more staff at work during busy times of the day. 

Editor freelance work

If you have impressive Editor qualifications and experience, you could take on the challenges of working freelance with control over your schedule.

Making a Career Change

How to start a career in this profession if you work in another industry may require studying for qualifications online and focusing on transferable skills when writing your CV and attending job interviews.