11 Editor Resume Examples for 2025

An effective editor resume is your first step to landing a job. In this guide, we show proven resume examples. Learn key tips for formatting, word choice, and highlighting relevant skills. Whether you're new to editing, a mid-level professional, or an industry veteran, these strategies will help you get noticed by employers.

  Compiled and approved by Grace Abrams
  Last updated on See history of changes

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At a Glance

Here's what we see in the best resumes for editors:

  • Impact With Numbers: Show how you use numbers. Focus on metrics like articles edited, error rate reduction, publication time saved, and audience engagement increased to stand out.

  • List Skills And Tools: Include skills on your resume that you have and are mentioned on the job description. Some popular ones are AP Style, content management, SEO, copyediting, and proofreading. Choose the ones you have and are mentioned in the JD.

  • Highlight Digital Experience: Experience with digital content is important now. Use snippets like social media management or online publishing.

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Position education on your resume

When you arrange your resume, think about what shows your fit for an editor role best. If your most relevant qualifications are your degrees or certificates in English, journalism, or communication, showcase these near the top. This is especially important if you are new to the field or have recently advanced your education.

If you have years of editing experience, your work history should come first. Keep your education section short and to the point. If you hold an advanced degree in a related field, it makes a good impression to list it, but you might show it after your professional experience. Always remember that recent relevant education can be a strong point for you, so if you have taken any new courses that are directly related to editing jobs, make sure they are easy to find on your resume.

Tailoring for job applications

Include a portfolio link in your resume. This could be a personal website or a PDF with samples of your editing work. It shows your skills directly and effectively.

Highlight any experience with specific style guides like AP or Chicago Manual of Style. Mention this in your skills or experience sections to show your industry expertise.

Ideal resume length

As someone looking to work as an editor, your resume should be as concise and as clear as the content you would produce. For those with under 10 years of experience in editing or related fields, aim to present your information on a single page. This shows you can prioritize information effectively, a key skill for an editor.

For editors with a longer history in the field, up to two pages can be appropriate. Use this space to highlight your most relevant roles and achievements. Remember, clarity is vital, so avoid filling space with less significant experiences.

Showcasing technical proficiency

Make sure to list software tools you're proficient in, such as Adobe InDesign, MS Word Track Changes, or various content management systems (CMS). This is crucial for roles that require extensive editing and formatting.

Include any experience you have with other languages or translation work. This can be a great advantage in international or multilingual publishing environments.

Resume screeners and ATS

Make sure your resume can get past resume screeners and applicant tracking systems (ATS). These systems filter resumes before a hiring manager sees them. You can do this by:

  • Using keywords from the job listing in your resume. This helps the ATS match your resume to the job.
  • Keeping formatting simple. Use standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman and avoid graphics or tables. This helps the ATS read your resume correctly.

Make your skills stand out

When you tailor your resume, think about the unique skills you bring to an editing role and show how they match the job you want. It's important to be clear and specific so the hiring manager can see you're a good fit.

  • Show your experience with editing software like Adobe InDesign or Final Cut Pro if the job needs these skills.
  • For a management role, include the number of projects you have led. An example could be: 'Oversaw a team that delivered 10+ monthly publications.'
  • If you're moving from another career, highlight similar tasks you've done. For example, if you worked with communication in your last job, mention how you edited company newsletters or reports.

Key skills for editors

As an editor, your resume should show your technical ability to polish written content. Here are some skills you might include:

  • Proofreading
  • Copy editing
  • SEO knowledge
  • Content management systems (CMS)
  • AP Style
  • Chicago Manual of Style
  • Grammar expertise
  • Fact-checking
  • Project management tools
  • Adobe InDesign

You do not need every skill listed, but you should include those that match your expertise and the job you want. Place these skills in a dedicated section and also mention them in your work experience to show how you have applied them. This helps with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan your resume for keywords. Remember, the job of an editor can vary. A video editor, for instance, would need different skills like video editing software knowledge.

Always be honest about your skill level. It’s better to be straightforward than to overpromise and underdeliver. If you’re applying to a role that requires a specific style guide, such as MLA or APA, be sure to list that as a skill if you are familiar with it.

Show leadership growth

If you've moved up the ranks or taken on leadership roles, you should make this clear on your resume. The way you present this can set you apart from other candidates. Think about the times you led a project or guided a team. Here are some suggestions to show your growth:

  • 'Promoted to senior editor after increasing department output by 20%'
  • 'Led a team of writers to deliver a major publishing project two weeks ahead of schedule'

You can also describe leadership in less formal roles. Maybe you trained new staff or were the go-to person for editing complex pieces. These are good signs of leadership. You might write:

  • 'Mentored five junior editors, improving the overall quality of content'
  • 'Managed cross-functional collaborations to refine editing processes, enhancing team efficiency'

Demonstrate impact with numbers

When you show your value with clear numbers, hiring managers see the real impact of your work. Think about times you've edited work to make it better. How did this help the project or company? Use numbers to tell that story.

Here are some ways to think about your impact:

  • Did you increase reader engagement? Mention the percentage increase in readership or social media shares.
  • How much did you improve efficiency? Maybe you cut down the time to publish by a specific number of days.
  • If you led a team, by what percentage did productivity rise under your guidance?
  • Did your editing reduce errors? State the drop in correction rates post-publication.
  • For those in charge of budgets, how much did you reduce costs through efficient editing processes?
  • Did your work increase revenue? You could measure this through ad sales or subscription growth.
  • How many projects did you handle at once? Show your capability with a project count.
  • Did you train others? Highlight the number of people you trained and the resulting improvement in their performance.

Think about these areas where you made a difference. Use numbers to make a strong case for your impact as an editor. Remember, numbers help hiring managers see the value you could bring to their team.

Tailoring your resume for company size

When you apply for editing roles, think about the size of the company. If you aim for a job at a large corporation like Penguin Random House or Hachette Book Group, your resume should show that you can handle complex projects and work with many teams. You might include phrases like 'managed extensive editing projects' or 'collaborated with cross-functional teams'. This shows you understand the scale of their operations.

For small companies or startups, such as a local magazine or an independent publishing house, they may value flexibility and a wide skill set. In this case, phrases like 'adapted content to suit changing needs' or 'oversaw all aspects of publication editing' can be good. This demonstrates that you are ready to take on varied tasks and can work in a fast-paced, changing environment.

Remember, you need to show your ability to adapt. Large companies often look for specialists, while smaller ones need all-rounders.

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