Editor CV 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 CV to get an editing job?

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Table of Contents

  1. Editor CV examples
  2. What to highlight in an Editor CV
  3. The structure of an Editor CV
  4. Do’s and don’ts for an Editor CV
  5. FAQ: Editor CV Examples

Editor CV 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 CV samples to create a great CV.

What to highlight in an Editor CV

Attention to detail is by far the most important skill to include in a professional CV 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 CV, as you need strong writing skills to edit someone else’s writing.

The structure of an Editor CV

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

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

Contact information

Your CV will start with the CV 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 CV builder.

Professional summary or career objective

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

Do’s and don’ts for an Editor CV

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

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 for which you’ve signed NDAs. It’s a good idea to go back through your major projects when you write a CV 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.

FAQ: Editor CV 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. CVHelp has a cover letter builder that can help you write a great one.

Q: How can I write an editor CV 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 CV to apply to different jobs?

You should never submit the same CV to two different jobs. Instead, you should use CV keywords to personalise the CV. 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 CV, you present yourself as a candidate for which the recruiter is looking.

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