Editor Resume Examples & Guide for 2023

Content creation is fun and exciting! You explore different topics and experiment with countless mediums.

What’s more fulfilling than this?

Becoming the visionary who guides the content creation process - the Editor.

And you want to take your career to this next level. But you struggle with presenting your work and quantifying your achievements.

So, how do you write an outstanding Editor resume?

Choose the most suitable format for your editor resume

You already know that no matter the content, style and format are key.

If you think about it, the resume is also a piece of content. And it, too, has its own characteristics and requirements.

The only difference? It first has to be vetted by a non-human editor. Also known as the ATS software.

Recently, we tested several ATS tools to see what they consider to be best practices when it comes to resume formats.

It all boils down to avoiding typos, spelling mistakes and keeping your formatting consistent.

Here is what else the research showed:

• Lengths/Columns: There aren’t any strict rules on how long your resume should be. But if you want to stand out, be succinct.
• Fonts: As long as you stick to any of the popular Google formats, you’re good.
• Colors and design: There are no limits on design and colors. You can even stay on brand with your potential employer by using their company colors.
• Section headings: Make sure to label your sections correctly. The software keeps track of keywords, such as “education” or “experience.
• File format: The ATS tools accept both MS Office and PDF documents. But PDFs are preferred because they best preserve the format and styling of your resume.

Depending on your circumstances and your work history, you have three options. The first one is the reverse-chronological resume.

If you have experience as an in-house editor, it’s best to lay out your achievements chronologically. Starting with your most recent ones, of course.

This resume format is also a good option for those who have plenty of experience reporting on a particular topic. Or an industry.

By contrast, if you are a freelance editor or you operate within different verticals, use the hybrid resume format. This way you can exhibit a variety of projects.

Finally, if you’re not a content creator, but you’re an authority in your niche, opt for the functional format.

Regardless of your writing experience, you can still become an entry-level editor. All you need is your good communication skills and your industry-specific knowledge.

Link to your portfolio in the resume header

The resume header is usually reserved for your contact details. But in order to impress recruiters right from the get-go, add a link to your website or portfolio.

Some hiring managers tend to click on these links before they continue reading. After all, your work says a lot more than what’s on your resume.

And it’s a much better way to get to know you.

Along with your portfolio, don’t forget to add your:

• Full name
• Job title
• Phone number
• Professional email
• Address
• Social media accounts, such as LinkedIn and Twitter

If possible, hint at the scope of your work you do by expanding your job title.

Instead of listing Editor or Content Creator, point to the type of expertise you have. Alternatively, you can mention your business niche or scope of responsibilities like so:

Showcase your accomplishments in the editor resume summary

Now that you’ve impressed recruiters with your portfolio, it’s time you wow them with your achievements.

Cement your position as the perfect candidate by creating a compelling resume summary.

In one short paragraph, synopsize:

• The number of years you’ve worked as a content creator, editor or an industry expert.
• Your top career accomplishments
• Any important prizes and awards you’ve won

It may seem like a lot of information to fit into 5-6 sentences, but its purpose is twofold:

• To provide a short summary of your career.
• To pass the ATS tool vetting system by mentioning job-related keywords near the top of your resume.

The two examples below demonstrate how powerful your resume summary can sound. Regardless of the amount of experience you have.

Take a look:

Display your career growth in the editor experience section

Making hiring managers glance at your resume for more than 6 seconds is only half of the job. The other is to actually prove why you’re the perfect match for the job.

As a result, the experience section takes up the majority of your resume.

So, use the opportunity to show a clear career progression by detailing what you’ve accomplished so far. The basic structure for each entry goes like this:

• The full name and location of the company. If listing a project instead of a company name, you can omit the location.
• Company or project description and a link to a relevant website.
• Your job title or main duty (if you’re a freelancer)
• Dates of employment or project involvement. If it’s ongoing, remember to substitute the end date with the word “Present”.
• Achievements which highlight both impressive work results and the breadth of your expertise

The last bit is tricky because content is sometimes like art - it’s all subjective. Yet, there are ways to display your achievements so that no one can dispute their validity.

How?

Quantify your accomplishments by providing data. Numbers may not be your strength, but they are key here.

For instance, assume you were conducting some investigative journalism. And you created an eye-opening exposé on a major social problem in your local community.

Consequently, your work has prompted a local political debate and the passing of an important ordinance.

One way to describe this achievement would be:

“Published a video exposé on the challenges VAs face when frequently exposed to celebration pyrotechnics which led the NYC City Council adopting Ordinance #14/21.”

If your writing or video editing can move mountains, it’s definitely worth mentioning on your resume.

Another example would be:

“Expanded the writers’ team by 7 team members by guiding the interview process, selecting candidates and mentoring the newly-recruited individuals.”

This one shows not only that you can create content, but you can evaluate other people’s work. And guide them once they get hired. Being able to mentor is a crucial skill for editors.

Think of other ways you’ve helped your employer.

Use the sentence structures above to write each bullet point. Then, follow the sample below to build your experience section:

List your education and professional qualifications

Not every editor has a traditional academic background. But it’s important to include it.

Why?

You may not be a master of the English language. But if you work in an industry which requires very specific technical knowledge, your degree may be relevant.

So, add an education section to your resume. Don’t forget to mention:

• The university, issuing institution or college name
• The degree name
• The number of years it took you to complete the course
• The location (if it’s relevant to the position)
• Any relevant majors or minors

Here is how to structure it:

Accentuate your relevant editor skills

Depending on the type of editing you’ll be doing, there are many talents you can list on your resume.

Some positions require more technical skills and ability to work with specific software. While others focus on mentorship, interpersonal communication and soft skills in general.

However, it’s vital you include both hard skills and social abilities. The first will help you get vetted by the ATS tools. And the latter will convince recruiters to give you a callback.

Let’s review which tech skills are currently in for editors:

There are many to choose from and absolutely easy to describe.

What about soft skills?

Remember how you build the experience section entries:

• Think of a professional contribution you’ve made
• Measure its impact
• Use the provided sentence structures

If you need more examples, check out the ones in the table below:

Short, sweet and effective!

Other social talents which will get you noticed by hiring managers include:

Feature your editor certificates

Recruiters always search for candidates who are up to date on industry events.

And the best way to exhibit you’re informed on current trends is to add a certificates section on your resume.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but don’t forget to list:

• The name of your certificate
• The issuer’s name
• The year or expected date of obtainment
• The date of validity (if applicable)

So, which certificates are worth mentioning?

Incorporate other relevant sections to stand out

Here’s a fun fact: the ATS software doesn’t really process the names of sections other than the mandatory ones.

Yet, the vetting tool doesn’t hinder any good candidate from passing its tests. Hence, these extra sections are used mainly to impress hiring managers.

Some of these segments include:

• Association memberships ( ASJA, ASCAP, SPJ, AAJS, AWP, etc.)
• Conferences (ACES, ASJA, SFWC, AWWP, SPJSC, etc.)
• Prizes and awards
• Languages

One lesser known secret to being a successful editor is the ability to network.

By mentioning how active you are in the creators’ circles outside of your daily work, you can prove that you have what it takes for the job.

Foolproof your Editor resume with an impactful cover letter

The cover letter is the cherry on top of your application. Generally, most applicants don’t take this extra step because it’s too much of a hassle.

Attaching a cover letter to your resume will really highlight your eagerness to fill the available position.

If you’ve never written one, this simple layout can be your starting point:

• Personalize the cover letter by addressing the hiring manager by their first and last name.
• Begin by flaunting your best professional achievements.
• Devote the second paragraph for other relevant skills you have to offer, but couldn’t fit onto your resume.
• Express your gratitude and relay your excitement to receive further information from the recruiter.

Key takeaways

• Select a format which best reflects your experience
• Link to your website or your portfolio in the resume header
• Showcase your best achievements in the resume summary
• Lead each experience section entry with an action verb and a result
• Tailor your skills section according to the job description
• Highlight your industry activity by listing association memberships
• Craft a thoughtful and personalized cover letter