How To Write an Editor Resume
As an editor, hiring managers will likely scrutinize your resume more than other positions. If your document is poorly written and organized, how can a company expect you to provide content editing services for their team? To make a positive impression on prospective employers, ensure your writing quality is airtight on your resume. You’ll also need to provide tangible examples of your professional experience to tell a compelling story for the hiring manager. This guide provides expert tips to help you translate your career into an accomplishment-driven resume.
1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your qualifications
Craft a dynamic and engaging summary to make a strong first impression on the hiring manager. Start with an opening sentence that includes your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that align with the job description. Emphasize your ability to enhance content quality, edit copy, and collaborate with creative teams. Showcase your proven track record of creating value for your organizations. Build an engaging snapshot of your career that encapsulates unique aspects of your experience as a professional editor.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A Senior Editor with 10+ years of professional experience, specializing in copywriting, brand messaging, content strategy, and SEO marketing. A proven track record of developing high-impact web copy to drive traffic and improve user engagement.
Entry-Level Profile Example
An Editor and Copywriter with entry-level experience specializing in content development, proofreading, journalism, and WordPress. Adept at collaborating with teams of journalists to support the delivery of high-quality online publications.
2. Add an accomplishment-driven professional experience section
You’ll need to go beyond simply listing these skill sets as you build your resume. Employers want to see clear examples of you using your writing and editing skills to enhance content and generate results. Quantifying your accomplishments can be challenging, but there are opportunities to use numbers and metrics to your advantage.
For example, you could mention the number of blogs or web pages you edited to establish a sense of scope. You could also cite an increase in web traffic, conversions, or engagements to showcase noticeable improvements you’ve made to content quality.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Editor, Western Sun Marketing Consultants, San Diego, CA
October 2016 – Present
- Oversee all aspects of content development and editing for 350+ web pages to support digital marketing initiatives for enterprise clients across various industries
- Coordinate with client marketing teams and internal content teams to create high-impact SEO strategies and develop brand messaging in alignment with customer specifications
- Manage a large-scale rebranding project to overhaul web copy for a premiere technology company, resulting in a 300% increase in web traffic within six months
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Editor, Boston Chronicle, Boston, MA
May 2021 – Present
- Perform editing, proofreading, and quality assurance activities for 15+ articles per month for a premiere online news publication covering a wide range of topics and subject matter
- Provide constructive feedback to copywriters and journalists to enhance writing quality, clarity, and conciseness while maintaining a unique voice and style
- Coordinate with the senior editor to develop style guidelines for news articles and identify opportunities to streamline the publication process in WordPress
3. Include relevant education and certifications
Highlight your education and industry certifications to establish credibility as an editor for potential companies and employers. In addition to your college degree, consider pursuing other credentials to show your commitment to honing your craft. Udemy’s Certification in Editing and Proofreading – Masterclass is a popular choice, but you could also consider the Intermediate Editing Certificate Program from the American Copy Editors Society.
Education
Template:
[Degree Name]
[School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example:
Bachelor of Arts (B.S.) English
University of Syracuse, New York, NY | May 2017
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example:
Intermediate Editing Certificate Program, American Copy Editors Society | 2018
Certification in Editing and Proofreading – Masterclass, Udemy | 2017
4. List pertinent key skills
Many organizations rely on applicant tracking systems (ATS) to identify qualified candidates for open positions. If your resume lacks a certain number of keywords, you risk being rejected by the automated system before your document reaches the hiring manager. To prevent this, carefully analyze individual job descriptions and incorporate as many key terms as possible into your bullet points, profile, and skills section. Below, you’ll find a list of keywords you might encounter during your job hunt:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Adobe Suite | AP Style |
| Blogging | Brand messaging |
| Content development | Copy editing |
| Copywriting | Digital publications |
| Editing | English |
| Google Suite | Grammar |
| Journalism | Microsoft Office Suite |
| MLA | Project management |
| Proofreading | Publishing |
| Punctuation | Quality assurance |
| Search engine optimization (SEO) marketing | Social media |
| WordPress | |
5. Showcase your leadership capabilities
In an editor position, you’ll often find yourself interfacing with teams of copywriters on a daily basis. Hiring managers value candidates who can provide quality editing services in collaborative team environments. However, the writing and editing process can sometimes be sensitive, and it’s important to highlight your ability to interface effectively with your colleagues. In the example below, the job seeker illustrates how they delivered constructive feedback on articles while working with journalists to maintain their own unique style and voice:
- Perform editing, proofreading, and quality assurance activities for over 15 articles per month for a premiere online news publication covering a wide range of topics and subject matter
- Provide constructive feedback to copywriters and journalists to enhance writing quality, clarity, and conciseness while maintaining a unique voice and style
- Coordinate with the senior editor to develop style guidelines for news articles and identify opportunities to streamline the publication process in WordPress
Editor Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
Years of Experience
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Aliya Jackson
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bridge Street, Boston, MA 12345
Profile
An Editor and Copywriter with entry-level experience specializing in content development, proofreading, journalism, and WordPress. Adept at collaborating with teams of journalists to support the delivery of high-quality online publications.
Professional Experience
Editor, Boston Chronicle, Boston, MA
May 2021 – Present
- Perform editing, proofreading, and quality assurance activities for 15+ articles per month for a premiere online news publication covering a wide range of topics and subject matter
- Provide constructive feedback to copywriters and journalists to enhance writing quality, clarity, and conciseness while maintaining a unique voice and style
- Coordinate with the senior editor to develop style guidelines for news articles and identify opportunities to streamline the publication process in WordPress
Editor, The Maltese Falcon Literary Magazine, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
September 2018 – May 2021
- Evaluated, proofread, and provided constructive feedback for 80+ poetry and short-story submissions for a bi-annual publication, which included providing editing services to students and coordinating with a team of student editors to identify quality pieces
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) English
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA September 2017 – May 2021
Key Skills
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Copywriting
- WordPress
- Journalism
John Bergsen
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Bedford Avenue, New York, NY, 12345
Profile
An accomplished Editor with five years of experience, specializing in copy editing, proofreading, copywriting, content development, and publishing. A strong history of defining style guidelines and managing the delivery of high-impact research articles.
Professional Experience
Lead Editor, Brooklyn Research Co., New York, NY
October 2019 – Present
- Manage the development, editing, and publication of online articles for an independent research firm providing in-depth analysis of medical products and pharmaceuticals
- Lead a team of researchers, copywriters, and editors to create high-impact articles and ensure compliance with APA style guidelines and quality standards
- Conduct proofreading and editing for over 130+ digital articles, ensure proper citations, identify grammatical errors, and provide recommendations to improve clarity
Editor, Liberty Financial Journal, New York, NY
May 2017 – October 2019
- Oversaw the publication process for a digital publication providing research, critical analysis, and data on strategies for investing, debt relief, and long-term financial health
- Conducted proofreading and editing of online articles in ensure adherence to quality standards and deliver accessible content to a wide range of audiences
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) English
University Of Syracuse, New York, NY September 2013 – May 2017
Key Skills
- Editing
- Digital Publishing
- Content Development
- Quality Assurance
- Style Guidelines
Meera Patel
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 12345
Profile
A Senior Editor with 10+ years of professional experience, specializing in copywriting, brand messaging, content strategy, and SEO marketing. A proven track record of developing high-impact web copy to drive traffic and improve user engagement.
Professional Experience
Senior Editor, Western Sun Marketing Consultants, San Diego, CA
October 2016 – Present
- Oversee all aspects of content development and editing for 350+ web pages to support digital marketing initiatives for enterprise clients across various industries
- Coordinate with client marketing teams and internal content teams to create high-impact SEO strategies and develop brand messaging in alignment with customer specifications
- Manage a large-scale rebranding project to overhaul web copy for a premiere technology company, resulting in a 300% increase in web traffic within six months
Editor, San Diego Brand Consulting Inc., San Diego, CA
May 2011 – October 2016
- Managed a team of copywriters and proofreaders to deliver web pages for small and medium-sized businesses throughout Southern California, which included overseeing all aspects of the editing process to enhance content quality
- Delivered constructive criticism and feedback to copywriters to improve keyword optimization and SEO impact for web copy and ensure client satisfaction
Education
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) English
University of San Diego, San Diego, CA September 2007 – May 2011
Key Skills
- Editing
- SEO Marketing
- Copywriting
- Team Management
- Client Relations
Frequently Asked Questions: Editor Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for editor resumes?+
Using the same action verbs repeatedly throughout your resume may cause your content to become stale and repetitive. Employers expect expertise in copywriting and editing, so differentiate your verbiage as you craft your bullet points to keep your content fresh and compelling. Below, you’ll find a list of action verbs to build your resume and land your next job interview:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyze | Collaborate |
| Conduct | Coordinated |
| Create | Develop |
| Design | Edit |
| Enhance | Examine |
| Execute | Identify |
| Implement | Lead |
| Manage | Oversee |
| Perform | Proofread |
| Resolve | Support |
How do you align your resume with an editor job description?+
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for editors was $73,080 in May 2022. The field is likely only to become more competitive over time, as the growth rate of editors is projected to decline by 4% from 2022 to 2032. You must align your resume with the job description to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Candidates who provide generic copy are often overlooked during the application process, so feature content that matches the needs of the organization you’re applying to. For example, suppose the company is looking for an editor with experience within the marketing sector. In that case, you may want to provide some examples of how you collaborated with copywriters and marketing teams to improve brand messaging. By tailoring your document towards each job application, you’ll significantly increase your chances of landing your next job opportunity.
What is the best editor resume format?+
The reverse chronological format is the most suitable format to highlight your career achievements and qualifications as an editor. It allows you to present your current or latest work experience towards the top of your resume. If you lack hands-on work experience, you can instead feature academic or independent projects to demonstrate your writing and editing skills. Also, consider including a link to your portfolio in your contact section or profile.
Expert advice: include a cover letter with your resume
Once you’re finished with your resume, a good way to finish it before sending it off to your prospective internship is to add a cover letter. This is a great opportunity to speak directly to the hiring manager and explain why you’re the best candidate for the job.
Remember, a cover should be fairly succinct. Don’t exceed more than 400 words — 250 to 300 is ideal. For more information and ideas, view our editor cover letter examples.
