Crafting a CV that effectively showcases your creative skills and project diversity is a common challenge for video editors. By delving into our guide, you can discover strategies to highlight your technical expertise and build a narrative that captures your unique visual storytelling abilities.
- Create an attention-grabbing header that integrates keywords and includes all vital information;
- Add strong action verbs and skills in your experience section, and get inspired by real-world professionals;
- List your education and relevant certification to fill in the gaps in your career history;
- Integrate both hard and soft skills all through your CV.
Discover more industry-specific guides to help you apply for any role in the links below:
Formatting your video editor CV to meet the role expectations
Staring at the blank page for hours on end, you still have no idea how you should start your professional video editor CV. Should you include more colours, two columns, and which sections? What you should remember about your CV format is this - ensure it's minimalistic and doesn't go over the top with fancy fonts and many colours. Instead, focus on writing consistent content that actually answers the job requirements. But, how about the design itself :- Use the reverse chronological order to showcase your experience, starting with your most recent role;
- Include your contact details (email address, phone number, and location) - and potentially your professional photo - in the header;
- Must-have CV sections include summary or objective, experience, education, and skills: curate the ones that fit your profile;
- Your professional video editor CV should be between one-to-two pages long: select the longer format if you have more experience.
A little bit more about your actual CV design, ensure you're using:
- plenty of serif or sans serif font (e.g. Montserrat, Exo 2, Volkhov) as they are Applicant Tracker System (ATS) compliant. Avoid the likes of Arial and Times New Roman because most candidates' CVs are in this typography.
When submitting your CV, are you still not sure what format it should be? Despite the myth that has been circling around, most modern ATS systems are perfectly capable of reading PDFs. This format is an excellent choice as it keeps all of your information intact.
PRO TIP
Incorporate a touch of colour in headers or section breaks, but keep it professional and ensure it doesn’t detract from readability, especially in more conservative industries.
The top sections on a video editor CV
- Professional Summary showcases your unique expertise in video editing.
- Key Video Editing Skills outline your technical proficiencies and artistic abilities.
- Notable Projects & Portfolio provide tangible examples of your previous work.
- Work Experience details your career progression and impact in video-related roles.
- Education & Training highlight relevant qualifications and industry knowledge.
What recruiters value on your CV:
- Highlight your proficiency with editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or Avid Media Composer, and mention any certifications or courses you've completed relating to these tools.
- Showcase your storytelling skills by describing how you've crafted engaging narratives or enhanced the storytelling in previous video projects.
- Include a link to your online portfolio or reel that demonstrates your editing style, capability, and versatility across different types of video content.
- Mention any experience with motion graphics or visual effects using After Effects or similar software, which can be a significant asset to your role as a video editor.
- Detail your collaborative experiences such as working with directors, producers, and other editors, emphasising your ability to work effectively as part of a creative team.
Recommended reads:
Our checklist for the must-have information in your video editor CV header
Right at the very top of your video editor CV is where you'd find the header section or the space for your contact details, headline, and professional photo. Wondering how to present your the name of the city you live in and the country abbreviation as your address;
- are tailored to the role you're applying for by integrating key job skills and requirements;
- showcase what your unique value is, most often in the form of your most noteworthy accomplishment;
- select your relevant qualifications, skills, or current role to pass the Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessment. Still not sure how to write your CV headline? Our examples below showcase best practices on creating effective headlines:
Examples of good CV headlines for video editor:
- Senior Video Editor | Expert in Documentary Storytelling | Adobe Certified Expert | 10+ Years of Experience
- Creative Video Editor | Specialising in Commercial Branding | Final Cut Pro Mastery | 5 Years in Industry
- Lead Film Editor | Narrative Feature Expertise | BAFTA Nominee | Proficient in Avid Media Composer | 8 Years
- Junior Video Editor | Enthusiastic in Social Media Content | Adobe Creative Suite | Rising Talent | 2 Years
- Freelance Video Editor | Multifaceted Portfolio | 4K and VR Editing | Quick Turnaround Specialist | 6 Years
- Motion Graphics Editor | Integrated Campaign Experience | After Effects Guru | Innovative Visual Storyteller | 7 Years
Your video editor CV introduction: selecting between a summary and an objective
video editor candidates often wonder how to start writing their resumes. More specifically, how exactly can they use their opening statements to build a connection with recruiters, showcase their relevant skills, and spotlight job alignment. A tricky situation, we know. When crafting you video editor CV select between:
- A summary - to show an overview of your career so far, including your most significant achievements.
- An objective - to show a conscise overview of your career dreams and aspirations.
Find out more examples and ultimately, decide which type of opening statement will fit your profile in the next section of our guide:
CV summaries for a video editor job:
- Highly skilled video editor with over 5 years of experience in creating engaging content for television and online platforms. Expertise in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Final Cut Pro. Played a pivotal role in editing an award-winning documentary film, showcasing strong narrative judgment and technical proficiency.
- Dynamic professional with a 7-year background in graphic design now seeking to apply creative talents in video editing. Proficient in Photoshop and Illustrator with a solid understanding of editing software. Eager to leverage transferable design skills to craft compelling visual stories.
- Seasoned journalist transitioning to video editing, bringing a decade of experience in storytelling and content creation. Adept at conducting interviews and researching, ready to use these skills to enhance video production. Keen to develop expert proficiency in Avid Media Composer and Adobe Suite.
- Enthusiastic and creative individual eager to embark on a career as a video editor. With a strong foundation in digital arts and multimedia from university coursework, determined to apply learned theory and fresh perspective to create innovative video content. Objective: to gain hands-on experience in professional editing workflows.
- Passionate recent graduate with a B.A. in Film Studies, ready to apply theoretical knowledge toward practical applications in video editing. Dedicated to mastering cutting-edge editing software and techniques. Seeks to contribute fresh ideas and a new outlook to the production of captivating visual narratives.
Narrating the details of your video editor CV experience section
Perhaps you've heard it time and time again, but, how you present your experience is what matters the most. Your CV experience section - that details your work history alongside your accomplishments - is the space to spotlight your unqiue expertise and talents. So, avoid solely listing your responsibilities, but instead:
- adverts' keywords and integrate those in your experience section;
- Use your CV to detail how you've been promoted in the past by including experience in the reverse chronological order.
Before you start writing your video editor CV experience section, dive into some industry-leading examples on how to structure your bullets.
Best practices for your CV's work experience section
- Successfully edited and assembled recorded raw material into a suitable, finished product for broadcasting, ensuring clarity, coherence, and aesthetically pleasing transitions.
- Expertly utilised a variety of video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer to create compelling content for diverse audiences.
- Collaborated closely with directors and producers to determine the desired vision and outcome of the project, consistently meeting and exceeding creative expectations.
- Managed multiple video editing projects simultaneously, prioritising tasks effectively to meet tight deadlines without compromising on quality.
- Contributed to the creative process by proposing unique storyboarding and editing insights, enhancing the narrative flow of video productions.
- Maintained organised digital archives of video footage, edits, and final cuts, ensuring efficient workflow and continuity of projects.
- Regularly updated technical knowledge and skills by attending workshops, courses, and staying abreast of industry standards and innovations in video editing technology.
- Played a key role in post-production sound editing, including dialogue, music, and sound effects, to create a rich audio experience that complements the visual elements.
- Performed colour correction and grading to ensure video content had a consistent look and stylistic tone, meeting the project's visual standards.
- Led a team of 5 junior editors and managed post-production workflows for over 50 corporate video projects for clients such as KPMG and Deloitte, consistently meeting project deadlines and exceeding quality expectations.
- Designed and implemented a new editing template in Adobe Premiere Pro that decreased editing time by 30% and was adopted company-wide at Visual Creatives Ltd.
- Collaborated with the marketing department to produce engaging video content that contributed to a 25% increase in social media engagement and a 15% increase in website traffic.
- Oversaw the creative direction for video content at MediaHouse Productions, incorporating innovative editing techniques that helped secure a prestigious industry award for Best Edited Promotional Video.
- Managed the post-production budget, reducing costs by 20% through smarter software licensing and hardware acquisition for the team.
- Contributed to a collaborative project with external advertising agencies to create high-impact commercials that led to a 35% increase in client product sales.
- Worked as a one-person editing studio, servicing clients such as Red Bull and Nike, delivering high-quality video content tailored for web, television, and live events.
- Cultivated a strong client base through word-of-mouth and repeat business, which improved my freelance revenue by 50% within the first year.
- Produced a viral video campaign for an up-and-coming fitness brand, achieving over 2 million views and boosting the brand's visibility in a crowded marketplace.
- Played a key part in a post-production team at FrameCutter Studios, focusing on editing trailers and teasers for upcoming independent films, which averaged 100,000 views within the first week of release.
- Assisted senior editors with complex video compositing and 3D graphics integration, resulting in a 40% reduction in turnaround time for finalising projects.
- Streamlined the file management system by introducing a new digital asset management protocol, enhancing our capability to retrieve and archive project assets by 70% more efficiently.
- Supported editing tasks at BrightLens Media on a variety of documentary projects, handling up to 10 projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
- Initiated a regular training session for new editing software features and techniques, which significantly improved the team's productivity and creative output.
- Edited and contributed to a documentary feature that was shortlisted for the BAFTA Awards, raising the company's profile within the film industry.
- Focused on creating dynamic video content for social media advertising at Trendy Media Inc., boosting client engagement rates by 40%.
- Introduced a data-driven approach to measure video performance, using analytics to refine editing strategies and enhance viewer retention by an average of 25%.
- Mastered advanced colour grading techniques, which became a standard for all video production at the company and received high praise from clients for visual quality.
- Implemented an efficient workflow using Avid Media Composer at NextGen Films, significantly improving project turnaround times for monthly web series episodes.
- Collaborated closely with directors and producers to develop narrative structures that resulted in a 15% subscriber growth on the company’s YouTube channel.
- Managed media backups and archival systems ensuring a 99.9% data integrity rate over the period of employment, which provided a reliable foundation for future projects.
- Played a pivotal role at Airwave Broadcast Solutions in editing and finalising content for live television broadcasts, consistently meeting the zero-failure broadcast standard.
- Developed and maintained an editorial calendar that streamlined the production process, synchronizing with the network's programming needs and reducing content overlap by 20%.
- Implemented video archiving solutions that improved the retrieval of historic broadcast footage by 50%, enabling faster access for repurposing content.
Writing your CV without professional experience for your first job or when switching industries
There comes a day, when applying for a job, you happen to have no relevant experience, whatsoever. Yet, you're keen on putting your name in the hat. What should you do? Candidates who part-time experience , internships, and volunteer work.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Talk about any positive changes you helped bring about in your previous jobs, like improving a process or helping increase efficiency.
The CV skills' divide: between hard and soft skills
Of course, you may have read the job requirements plenty of times now, but it's key to note that there is a difference between technical and personal skills. Both are equally relevant to your job application. When writing about your skill set, ensure you've copy-pasted the precise skill from the job requirement. This would not only help you ensure you have the correct spelling, but also pass any Applicant Tracker System (ATS) assessments.
- Hard skills show your technological capabilities. Or whether you'll be a good technical fit to the organisation. Ensure you've spotlighted your hard skills in various sections of your CV (e.g. skills section, projects, experience) by including the technology and what you've attained;
- Soft skills pinpoint your personality and people or communication skills, hinting at if you'll easily accomodate into the team or organisation. Quantify your soft skills in your CV achievements, strengths, summary/objective, and experience sections. Always support your soft skills with how they've helped you grow as a professional.
Top skills for your video editor CV:
Proficient with Adobe Premiere Pro
Skilled in After Effects
Color grading and correction
Audio editing and sound design
Experience with Final Cut Pro
Motion graphics and animation
Knowledge of video codecs and formats
Storyboarding and pre-visualisation
Green screen and VFX compositing
Multimedia content management
Creativity and artistic vision
Attention to detail
Strong organisational skills
Ability to work under pressure
Time management and meeting deadlines
Teamwork and collaboration
Excellent communication skills
Adaptability to new technologies
Problem-solving abilities
Continuous learning and skills development
PRO TIP
If there's a noticeable gap in your skillset for the role you're applying for, mention any steps you're taking to acquire these skills, such as online courses or self-study.
Education and more professional qualifications to include in your video editor CV
If you want to showcase to recruiters that you're further qualified for the role, ensure you've included your relevant university diplomas. Within your education section:
- Describe your degree with your university name(-s) and start-graduation dates;
- List any awards you've received, if you deem they would be impressive or are relevant to the industry;
- Include your projects and publications, if you need to further showcase how you've used your technical know-how;
- Avoid listing your A-level marks, as your potential employers care to learn more about your university background.
Apart from your higher education, ensure that you've curated your relevant certificates or courses by listing the:
- name of the certificate or course;
- name of the institution within which you received your training;
- the date(-s) when you obtained your accreditation.
In the next section, discover some of the most relevant certificates for your video editor CV:
PRO TIP
If you have received professional endorsements or recommendations for certain skills, especially on platforms like LinkedIn, mention these to add credibility.
Recommended reads:
Key takeaways
Write your professional video editor CV by studying and understanding what the role expectations are. You should next:
- Focus on tailoring your content to answer specific requirements by integrating advert keywords through various CV sections;
- Balance your technical know-how with your personal skills to showcase what the unique value would be of working with you;
- Ensure your CV grammar and spelling (especially of your key information and contact details) is correct;
- Write a CV summary, if your experience is relevant, and an objective, if your career ambitions are more impressive;
- Use active language by including strong, action verbs across your experience, summary/objective, achievements sections.
