Editor Resume Examples to Help You Build Yours

An editor needs a sharp eye for detail and an incredible grasp of their target language. How can you write a great editor resume to get an editing job?

BROWSE EXAMPLES Build my resume

OUR USERS HAVE BEEN HIRED BY

Editor Resume Examples

An editor is any person who reviews written content and ensures it’s up to specific standards. These standards may depend on the subject matter and the exact job you’re applying for, but in general, as an editor, you’re reading significant amounts of content, then making sure it all looks great. If you’re thinking about applying for a position in this field, here’s how you can use editor resume samples to create a great resume.

CREATE YOUR RESUME

What to Highlight in an Editor Resume

Attention to detail is by far the most important skill to include in a professional resume for an editor job. When you’re proofreading, it’s easy to miss little mistakes, but you need to be able to catch all of those little tiny errors. Proofing is a hard job for people who don’t take their time to read a document thoroughly. You should also highlight your writing skills in an editor resume, as you need strong writing skills to edit someone else’s writing.

The Structure of an Editor Resume

One of the elements that will change your resume structure is your resume format. Depending on your career path, you may benefit from the chronological format, which emphasizes work experience, the functional format, which emphasizes skills, or the combination format, which emphasizes both.

Regardless of your resume format, however, you’ll use many of the same sections. Here’s how an editor resume example might look for you.

Contact information

Your resume will start with the resume header. This is where you put your contact information and your professional links, such as a link to a portfolio website or your LinkedIn. There’s typically a graphic design flair in the header as well, which you can get automatically with a resume builder.

Resume summary

Next is your resume summary or resume objective. This is a 2-3 sentence paragraph at the very top of your resume. The resume summary generally highlights your most important skills and achievements. If you have little work experience, you should opt for a resume objective where you will convey your career goals.

Skills

Your skills section will likely be pretty full, especially if you don’t have a lot of work history to show. Here are a few top skills you might want to consider:

Proofreading
Command of the English language
Time management
Copyediting
Attention to detail
Collaboration
General editing skills
SEO/HTML for online marketing
Teamwork
Written and verbal communication
Multimedia editing
Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Word
Public relations knowledge
Multitasking
Managing submissions

Note that this includes both soft skills and hard skills, an important part of showcasing why you’re the best person for the job.

Work history

Your work experience section should include any previous jobs you’ve held as an editor, whether it was officially, such as in the capacity of an assistant editor, in freelance or contract projects, or in previous jobs where you were tasked with editing duties

Education

Your education section should include any education or certification you have as an editor. Although you can become an editor with a high school diploma, many people get a bachelor’s degree in a field like English, which should be featured here.

Create Your Resume

Do’s and Don’ts for an Editor Resume

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind while writing your editor resume:

Do:

Mention any large projects that you’ve worked on. These can be important accomplishments that prove your skills.
List skills that you’re interested in using on a day-to-day basis. These skills will be what the hiring manager uses to place you in the company, after all.
Discuss any writing projects you have. Sometimes, it’s the best way to show off your writing skills.

Don’t:

Mention products you’ve signed NDAs for. It’s a good idea to go back through your major projects when you write a resume for the first time and confirm which ones you’re legally allowed to talk about.
Use the job title “freelancer”, in your work history section. Instead, give yourself a descriptive job title, like “editor”.
Exclusively show off one type of content management. If you want an editor position that’s higher-up, like a managing editor or senior editor, you want to show off many types of editorial content.

Create Your Resume

FAQ: Editor Resume Examples

Q: Do I need to include a cover letter for an editor application?

Yes. A cover letter is always a great idea for any application because it provides you with three distinct benefits. First, it allows you to communicate directly to the hiring manager and give more details about your background. Second, it allows you to expand upon experiences and achievements that are good for the position. Third, this is your opportunity to ask for a job interview directly. If you’re not confident in your abilities to write a cover letter, no worries. ResumeHelp has a cover letter builder that can help you write a great one.

Q: How can I write an editor resume without a lot of experience?

If you’re not well-experienced in being an editor, you want to ensure that you’re largely leaning on your skills. However, certifications may also be an important part of applying to an editor job without a lot of experience. These certifications can help you show off your skills even when you don’t have a lot of work experience. You can also show off experience from other jobs where copywriting was part of the job.

Q: How do I change my editor resume to apply to different jobs?

You should never submit the same resume to two different jobs. Instead, you should use resume keywords to personalize the resume. These keywords are in the job description (e.g., specific skills and job requirements) and give insight into what the recruiter is looking for in their perfect employee. By matching these keywords with as many of your own skills as you can, and featuring them in your resume, you present yourself as a candidate that the recruiter is looking for.

Move your resume to the top of the yes pile!

Get Started