Editor Resume Sample, Job Description & Writing Guide for 2024
The publishing industry has recognized your editing skills, and you’re renowned for turning out compelling content. Every team of writers you work with appreciates your constructive feedback, and you know you’re going places.
But that’s when you edit content on topics you love that aren’t personal.
When it comes to your editor resume, it’s not that easy. Resumes are very personal, which can challenge objectivity. This means you may need some guidance crafting a perfect resume for editing jobs.
And that’s what this resume writing guide does. Whether seasoned or novice, we'll show you how to create the perfect editing resume to land your dream job. We share crucial information, expert hints, and resume tips on what recruiters and hiring managers want. There are also editor resume examples made on our resume builder.
Our resume templates are updated regularly to match current hiring trends. Research shows that resume builder resumes are more successful in landing interviews.
Let's move on to how to write a resume for editorial position.
Editor resume writing guide: Where to start?
Career success relies on strategic job hunting; tactical decisions need a positive, focused mindset. Don’t rush the job application process and potentially waste opportunities.
Before jumping into the job market, identify your talents, strengths, weaknesses, and what you want from a potential employer. This way, you’ve got parameters to work in that let you plan each job application.
Reflect on your career history to identify your likes and dislikes. What do you enjoy, what do you put off until later, and what do you avoid? Usually, we put off things if we doubt our abilities or lack key skills. What we dislike, we mostly try to avoid. In contrast, time flies when doing what we love. With this self-knowledge, you can select job opportunities that advance your career and make you happy.
However, accurately remembering all these details becomes more difficult, depending on your years of professional experience.
Refine the process and make it easier by compiling a master resume for editor positions beforehand. When you see a fantastic opportunity, you can apply in minutes by referring to your master resume for accurate info.
There’s your starting point - compiling a master resume.
Having a detailed master resume readily available is essential to meet today’s hiring processes. Few job seekers understand how modern recruitment processes work or that AI in HR tech plays a critical role initially.
It works like this –
Hiring managers compile a list of critical skills needed for an employee to succeed in the job. Each skill gets tagged as a keyword and is written into the job description for recruiters. As the job post is loaded to job boards and social media, keywords are flagged and rated in order of significance. Recruiters use application tracking systems, or ATS, to upload vacancies to various media. All inbound applications are routed back to the ATS and scanned immediately by parsing software for keyword content. Top-ranked resumes with a high keyword ratio get moved to the recruiter’s inbox. Resumes with a low keyword ratio don’t make it through, meaning no one ever looks at them.
Examples of typical keywords for editor resumes include:
- Adobe Acrobat
- Content creation
- Digital platforms
- Social media
- Writing skills
Recruiters scan your resume within seconds if it gets through ATS. They know exactly what they’re looking for. If they find it, your resume moves to the interview list. Otherwise, it gets removed from the recruitment process.
That’s the reality of modern recruitment!
It actually works very well, considering the number of applications each job post receives. You’ve got to understand the role of AI in ATS and get around it by providing what’s required verbatim.
Doing that is straightforward. Submit a short, sharp, targeted, job-specific, and keyword-focused editorial resume with only relevant experience and skills. Not only will your resume get past ATS, but it will also impress recruiters. An application that says you can do the job and do it well meets a need and compels a response. That response is a callback and a spot on the interview shortlist.
Submitting a long resume with irrelevant information is common. Instead of impressing, it gets overlooked as no one has time to go through it in case there’s something valuable.
That brings us back to your starting point. A master editor CV to reference and ensure your job-specific resume is always on point.
Expert hint
When recruiters and hiring managers open your resume, all they want to know is whether you can do the job and what value you bring. All else is irrelevant in the screening stage. Only if they think you can do the job will they read on.
Master editing resume
A master resume details all your jobs, including your duties, education, courses, notable accomplishments, soft skills, and technical skills. It also includes study dates, education institution names, qualifications, certifications, employer names, tenure dates, each job title, and job descriptions. Awards can be listed under the relevant study or work section.
Your master resume provides a detailed and expanded view of your work history, which can help identify your strong points. It’s a crucial tool for making successful job applications. By comparing job post requirements to your master resume, you ensure nothing relevant gets omitted from your application.
There’s no specific resume format since it’s for your use only. Using the reverse chronological order makes referencing and finding details easier, though. This format begins with the most recent and continues in descending order.
Take time to compile your master resume; it must be faultless. Ultimately, time spent here saves time on job each application, and you know nothing important is left out.
Save your master and all relevant documents to an easily accessible folder so you can apply for jobs anywhere. Use it to update your LinkedIn profile, other business socials, and professional portfolios as well. Recruiters go straight to your online presence if your resume makes the interview list, so keep everything up to date.
Never apply for a job with your master resume, even if you’re in a rush. Only use it as the foundation for each job-specific resume.
Job-specific resumes for editors
The core responsibility of all editors is making sense of content, correcting errors, fact-checking, and determining content presentation. However, no two jobs are the same; each company’s style and management differ. Therefore, approach every job application as a new project.
A vital step often overlooked is establishing whether the job is a good fit for moving you closer to your career objectives. Visit prospective employers’ websites and search online business publications to learn more. Similarly, social media gives you insight into their client base, services, editorial teams, and management.
If all looks promising, compare the post to your master resume and extract matching skills and experience. Consider transferrable skills or portable skills, too. As the name implies, these soft skills can be transferred from one job role to another. Typical examples include analytical skills, critical thinking, interpersonal skills, and organizational skills.
If you meet most of the critical requirements, it's time to write a targeted, job-specific editor resume. This means a resume written explicitly for the role with only the relevant skills and experience. While taking relevant experience and skills from your master, mirror the relevant keywords exactly. That’s to ensure parsing software in application tracking systems pick up these keywords and move your resume on to the interview process. To enhance your value and potential, list your editing experience in the same order as the job description. Hiring managers tend to list responsibilities in order of importance.
Importantly, your job-specific editing resume must only include the job requirements detailed in the post. Anything else is irrelevant and can hamper your application. You can expand on your expertise once you engage with the hiring team.
Avoid exaggerating anything or keyword stuffing on your targeted resume. Both are self-destructive and likely to cost you opportunities.
Format for resumes for editors
Generally, a reverse-chronological resume works best and is the most popular resume format. On the other hand, if you’re an entry-level applicant or are changing careers, a functional or combination resume format might work better.
All job-specific resumes have mandatory and optional sections. Your resume must include the following required subdivisions:
- Resume objective
- Personal details
- Work experience
- Education/courses
- Skills
Optional sections depend on the job requirements, or you can include them if they improve your application. They include:
What about a resume photo?
Including a professional image depends on the country where the potential employer is based. Most English-speaking countries in the West have labor legislation against resume photos to avoid hiring bias. In some of these countries, resumes with a picture are deleted without being read to promote hiring transparency. The lines are less straightforward across Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America, where some countries expect a resume image and others don’t. A quick online search on labor legislation in a specific country will guide you.
Action verbs
Persuasive action verbs in your resume content are essential for reader engagement and showing your personality. Targeted resumes are relatively low in word count, so you must convey a powerful message quickly.
Cleverly weaving strong action verbs into resume summaries, work experience, and cover letters can spark readers into action. And that’s what you want – a swift response that gets you into the interview process ahead of other candidates.
Typical action verbs for editors include:
- Authored
- Conceptualized
- Designed
- Published
- Revised
- Translated
Your resume must be in a black business-style font on a white background. Include bullet points where necessary and have white space between sections. You want an ATS-friendly resume that’s scannable, easy to read, and saved in PDF format. A resume builder handles these issues, leaving you time to focus on quality content.
Finally, limit your job-specific resume to one and no more than two pages. Your crucial ability to get the job done correctly must excite readers and get you on the interview list. Wordy, irrelevant info wastes time, and will likely see your resume binned.
Expert hint
Only include relevant skills, work experience, and qualifications in your job-specific resume. If you’ve got more skills, add “detailed resume available on request” at the end of your resume.
Editor resume example
In the first editor resume sample, fashion editor Erin has selected our Standford resume template in pink. Notice how she emphasizes editing content rather than her qualifications. That’s because she’s a senior editor. On the other hand, Aidan highlights his education as he has less experience in writing and editing. Aidan has opted for our Harvard resume template in green.
How to write a resume for an editorial position? Writing tips and examples
The job post always prescribes what details to have in all sections of your CV for editor vacancies. A compelling resume includes all your skills and experience that meet the job requirements. It can also have other details that enhance your application. Look for mentions in the job ad like “added advantage” or “a bonus.” While not essential, these experiences or skills boost your application. Don’t add anything just for the sake of it, though; if it doesn’t add value, it doesn’t belong.
Successful resume writing is a delicate balance. Too much detail makes your resume tedious and more likely to be overlooked. Too little, and it seems you don’t have the required experience. Keep assessing if including optional information, like accomplishments, adds, or takes away from your application.
How to write a personal profile on an editor resume
Everything needs a captivating intro to draw viewers or readers in, whether a video, online content, or work in print. Your editing resume is no different and must have a brief overview as an opener. Known as a personal profile, resume objective, or resume summary, it’s the first thing readers see after your resume header.
Consider it a blurb for your resume content. Resume summaries comprise around 80 to 100 words, giving readers insight into relevant qualifications, work experience, skills, and notable achievements. It’s your only chance to impress because it’s the first thing readers see, so it can make or break your application.
Write your resume objective after you’ve completed your job-specific resume to ensure it’s relevant to the role and your resume. Write in a confident, persuasive tone, including keywords, specifics, statistics, outcomes, and action verbs. It must be interesting enough to stir a reader’s curiosity to keep reading.
One thing to keep in mind is that a resume objective isn’t a cover or motivation letter. Every resume wants a resume objective, but not every job application needs a cover letter.
A resume objective is part of a targeted, job-specific resume. It gives a short summary of what you bring related to the job. Conversely, a cover letter is separate and more detailed, covering background details, intentions, and ambitions. Write it in 300 to 400 words, broken into three to six paragraphs on a single page.
Usually, a cover letter is addressed to someone specific by name, much like a business letter. Cover letters are targeted to individual job applications, too. Avoid generic cover letters sent with every application. They’re pointless and off-putting, doing more harm than good.
Cover letters motivate job applications, articulating to prospective employers why you’re the best candidate. They provide information backed up on the resume to give deeper insight into your application.
Include keywords from the job post in cover letters as well. Otherwise, the additional content can confuse ATS, reducing the keyword ratio.
Not every job application needs a cover letter. Only include one if:
- The job post specifies the inclusion of a cover letter.
- You’re applying directly to a company without replying to a job ad.
Editor CV resume objective examples
Assistant editor resume objective example
Creative, curious, and detailed assistant editor with B.J. and 5+ years of editing experience at ABC News. Working in a cross-functional team to produce content for publication within editorial guidelines and production schedules. Ensuring copy conforms to style guides, proofreading, providing feedback to copywriters, managing editorial calendar, updating content management systems, and formatting social media posts. Critical thinker with strong analytical skills and organizational skills. Seeking a production editor position to broaden my experience and improve my annual salary.
Managing editor resume summary example
Detail-oriented news editor, BComm, and 8+ years of experience in a management position in the publishing industry. Managing a team of 10 editorial assistants, 5 freelance writers, a freelance editor, and a production editor. Responsible for all aspects of content development, online publication, special projects, social media platforms, and American blog content. Project management, quality assurance, ensuring high-quality content, news stories, and editorial content. Accustomed to fast-paced team environments and extensive experience in style guidelines, the Chicago Manual of Style, technical documents, and academic publishing. Looking forward to hearing from ABC Publishing Company and contributing to the company’s success.
Freelance writer editor resume objective example
Self-starter freelance writer editor with experience writing original content on various topics across business sectors. My passion for writing includes a passion for storytelling in any type of content, including social media posts, social media engagement, and blog posts. Strong writing and editing abilities, copyediting skills, proofreading skills, brilliant oral communication skills, interpersonal skills, excellent computer skills, above-average knowledge of grammar, and advanced skills in Adobe Express. Able to give constructive feedback to copywriters, manage all aspects of content development, and work independently.
Video editor resume objective example
Self-motivated, innovative video editor, BFA with 5+ years of experience at a busy marketing agency. Sound technical knowledge, outstanding communication skills, and a passion for storytelling across a wide range of industry marketing collateral and digital platforms. Excellent computer skills and video editing abilities for various digital media marketing materials for social media posts and other digital content for publication. Regularly produce high-quality content, including special projects for the production editor, using graphic design skills, Adobe Express, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Acrobat Professional, and Adobe Illustrator in the production process. Giving constructive feedback to graphic designer and junior video editors. Looking for new challenges to bring any type of content to life in audiovisual.
Skills to list on an editor resume
Editor resume skills are essential to your resume and the first place ATS, recruiters, and hiring managers scan through.
You want only the skills listed in the employer job listings, irrespective of how many other skills you have. Editing includes technical and soft skills that you’ll find in the job description.
Soft skills are inherent or developed personality traits acquired through family or social interactions. They’re not acquired through traditional education, but we can improve them through personal or career coaching. A perfect example is creativity. We’re not all born creative, but we can learn to be.
All technical skills are learned through education, training, and hands-on experience. Initial foundational training continues developing through practice and continuous use. For instance, take Adobe Express. At first, it can be somewhat confusing. Regular use, however, improves skills, and soon you’re an expert.
The more editing experience you’ve, the more skills you accumulate. All skills must be in your master resume, but they don’t all belong in your job-specific editing skills resume. A targeted, job-specific resume only lists skills stated in the job listing.
Write each skill individually in the precise way it appears in the post, then rate each one from beginner to expert.
Typical editing resume skills include:
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Proofreading skills
- Writing skills
Expert hint
Skills are always keywords. List them verbatim with a proficiency rating per skill. Don’t elaborate further and only include skills from the post.
How to write work experience on an editor's resume
The work experience section in resumes for writers and editors is second in significance only to the skills section. Once you’ve reached the interview stage, it becomes even more critical. The info here will form the basis of the hiring team’s interview questions.
Your resume objective gave a brief overview of what you have to offer. Here’s where you expand on it and present your knowledge and abilities as the solution to the potential employer’s need. They need to fill an editor position, and you must convince them you’re the perfect candidate. In hiring, it’s not necessarily the most experienced or best-priced applicant that gets the job; it’s the first candidate most likely to succeed in the role. Employees who enjoy their jobs do well and stay. In the publishing industry, staff retention equates directly to business success and profitability.
Make your editing resume convincing enough to get an interview. Ensure it authenticates who you are and what you bring when you meet the hiring team. Write honestly and confidently, using strong action verbs and listing your work experience in the same order as the job description.
Use a business font, bullet points, and white space to make your resume reader-friendly. Fit each core responsibility into a single bullet point, including exact keywords. Various people will likely view your resume when you apply to large establishments. Make it easy to comment on, follow, and share.
How to list courses and certificates on an editor resume
Complimenting your degree with courses is very beneficial for video editors. Keeping abreast of the latest tools and trends is essential to success as it updates your technical knowledge.
Whether short, online courses or extensive in-class training, additional training improves your editing experience and strengthens your resume. Popular courses include:
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Express
- Adobe Acrobat Pro
- Adobe Acrobat Professional
- Adobe Illustrator
Keep degrees separate from courses on your video editor resume. Include only relevant qualifications from the post on your job-specific resume.
Include the training institution, course name, and date achieved in descending date order. There’s no need to add subjects and results unless you have no work experience.
Key takeaways on building professional editor resumes
So, there you have it! You know how to write a professional resume targeted at specific editor jobs.
Using this resume writing guide, editor resume examples, resume tips, and expert hints will get you on the interview shortlist.
Let’s sum up the most significant points:
- Create a detailed master editing resume upfront.
- Read job adverts thoroughly before applying.
- Research the company to ensure it’s a good fit for you.
- Match the job requirements to your master resume.
- Compile a job-specific resume targeting the role.
- Limit your resume to no more than two pages.
- A professionally designed editor resume template is best.
- Proofread and re-check your resume before submission.
- Always save and submit your resume in PDF format.
- For absolute professionalism, use a resume builder.
- If in doubt, opt for a professional resume writer service.
Next steps?
Find the best editing resume templates
First impressions are crucial in job hunting, particularly in the early screening stage. Hiring happens in fast-paced team environments, and resumes get scanned for suitability in seconds.
Presentation plays a massive role in making an outstanding first impression. Even if parsers move your resume on, recruiters won’t spend much time on an unstructured, hard-to-read resume.
Selecting a template download from our vast CVMaker library of professional resume templates means you get a modern template that’s reader and ATS-friendly. Each template has a range of color options, and you can change templates and colors with a single click at any time.
Many job seekers make the mistake of creating a DIY resume template. That’s a bad idea unless you know precisely what ATS and recruiters expect. Instead, deliver an impressive editor resume on point in layout, style, and content with CVMaker's resume builder.
Resume writing service
Yes, even an editor with extensive experience can do with help sometimes, especially when it comes to something so personal. Don’t miss out on brilliant editing jobs just because you can’t find the right words. Our amazingly talented professional resume writers are a click away. They’re at the top of their game regarding optimizing resume keywords and following current hiring trends in the publishing industry. Do you know a well-styled and written resume made on a resume builder is more likely to get you into the interview seat? We want you to succeed and can’t wait to start writing your winning editor CV.
Click Resume Writing Service on the CVMaker website now.
FAQs
Are editors journalists?
An editor decides what’s included in newspapers, magazines, and online publications. In the news industry, they’re responsible for all the content acquired and written by journalists. Editors can have a hierarchy of assistants depending on the organization's size. Not all editors, however, work in news. The publishing industry has various types of editors, from book to video editors.
Can editors work from home?
As an editor, you can quite easily work from home as long as you have a computer, reliable internet access, and editing and writing tools. Team collaboration tools are another essential, but with the right technology and self-motivation, you can work for any company across the globe.
What is a resume editor?
A professional resume writer has the experience and expertise to create editor resumes that meet publishing industry standards. They also know resume keyword optimization and how to target your resume to meet the job requirements. Aside from saving you time, their research and writing skills can be the difference between getting a callback or never hearing back.
Do resumes for editors need resume headlines?
Resume headlines are not necessary, particularly if you have a resume objective. That said, if you have a particular achievement or worked for an instantly recognizable organization, it serves as a resume hook. For example, “Reuters news editor with 10+ years of newsroom experience.” Or “Experienced editors and recipient of the 2023 International Editor of the Year Award.”