There are two categories that editor jobs fall into when it comes to employment in publishing. Copyeditors are the first types of editor jobs, and the second type is acquisitions editors.
Copyeditor Jobs
Copyeditors are responsible for editing the manuscript from an author. These are the people that are responsible for correcting punctuation, spelling and grammar. Copyeditors are charged with making sure that the story has continuity, and that details do not change throughout the story. Their work will directly contribute to the reader's enjoyment once the book has been published.
Acquisitions Editor Jobs
Acquisitions is different, because it involves buying books for a publishing company. These are the people that deal with the authors and the literary agents. They read the proposals and they sample the chapters. They make the offers to publish manuscripts that they believe will sell well because they are well written. The acquisition editor works with authors all throughout the writing process in order to make sure that a book stays on track and is delivered on time.
Getting editor jobs is not really difficult if this is something that you are serious about pursuing. There are some basic steps that you need to follow, however, if you want to get an editor job either as a copyeditor or as an acquisitions editor. There are numerous topics of vital importance that you need to keep in mind if becoming a book editor is the career path that you would like to pursue.
- If you want to be a copyeditor, then you need proficiency in grammar and the English language. If you cannot show that you command excellent use of the English language, including spelling, punctuation and grammar, you will have great difficulty securing careers in the publishing industry.
- You must be able to show that you have an excellent attention to detail, because editors are required to fact check and ensure that details remain unchanged throughout a manuscript in order for it to pass.
- When working as a copyeditor in the publishing industry, you need to keep up with news in the industry and you need to have a good knowledge of what is already out there in terms of literature so that you can catch ideas that are unoriginal.
- If you have trouble getting a publishing job or an editor job, another consideration that you can try is to get an internship with a publisher or a publishing company. Having the right internship can give you paid experience and can work wonders when it comes to proving your worth to the dream publishers that you would like to work for.
- Part time work and volunteer work is another excellent way to get the practical, hands on experience that publishing companies are looking for. If you want a career in publishing, you need to prove that you have the necessary editing skills, even if it means volunteering to do so.
- Another key to getting your dream publishing or editor job is to know where to find the right job openings. Some leads for editor jobs are not everything they're cracked up to be, so keep this in mind when hunting for job leads and connecting with employer contact information. One of the best ways to get the editor jobs you want is to reach out to industry publications, and publishing based websites. Another excellent resource is the Writer's Market book, which is a resource for writers, editors, and publishers that is released every year.
- Keep in mind that your resume, cover letter, and interview process are unique for editor jobs in the publishing industry, in comparison to other industries and jobs. Your resume and cover letter should be not only industry specific, but also specific to each individual employer, and you should tailor your interview responses and how you compose yourself according to the industry and the company as well.
Getting editor jobs is not the same as getting other jobs, so make sure that you have the right industry specific information before you delve into anything foreign or unfamiliar to you. Getting editor jobs is not impossible and does not require a lot of specialized knowledge or experience, but the more experience you have, the more successful you will be at getting the job that you desire with the publishing company that you most want to work for.
