Qualifications & Skills

SKILLS

Copyeditors require a vast set of skills that will, in turn, produce effective, quality work. They need to be able to:

• visualize the end product while focusing on and remembering details

• think logically and exercise good judgment

• reorganize a document to achieve clarity 

• recognize what's missing in a passage or body of work 

• use a wide range of reference materials

• work within tight deadlines

• work well with the many other people who are a part of the publication process

• be exceptionally analytical, critical, and have impeccable attention to detail

• must be willing to work both independently and collaboratively

• must be flexible

Editors come from a variety of backgrounds, but they are all skilled at developing effective communications tools by identifying the most appropriate structure, format and content for each audience and purpose. Ultimately, editors are people who think, and they do so on behalf of both the writer and the reader. This profession requires one to be rhetorically astute.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

Typically, a bachelor's degree in English, journalism, or another related field is highly preferred. The main thing that employers are looking for, however, is experience. That being said, they want to see how long you've been working in the industry, which should be a minimum of 1-2 years at the very least. Internships help significantly in providing experience and getting one's foot in the door. This also might count as "working" in the industry. Also, when applying for jobs oftentimes a portfolio or clips/samples of work is required to showcase and demonstrate your skill, as well as what kind of work you have done in the past. Demonstrating what you can do is key, regardless of education.

Also, based on my research what a lot of publishers want is passion. They want someone who is dedicated and ecstatic about the work they do, so most corporations require that you write a cover letter in addition to providing your resume and samples.

Again, you must be extremely flexible when it comes to your work environment, work schedule, and who you're working with. You have to be both independent and a team player.

In this profession, networking is key, as your success and growth in it are largely based on who you know. Editing jobs are highly competitive, and with job growth/demand decreasing but people desperately wanting to break into the industry, it can be tough to get your foot in the door without building connections with people or organizations.