Editing and Proofreading

Entry-Level Editing Jobs: What You Need to Know

Do you love working with words? If so, a career in editing may be for you.

Editing is a rewarding line of work that will challenge you to always think on your feet. There are plenty of places to find editing jobs, but as in any career, you’ll probably start on the lowest rung.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t do work you love. The key is in finding a good entry-level editing job and anticipating the qualities that companies are looking for.

What follows are some of the most common questions about starting a career in this exciting industry.

Where can I find an entry-level editing job?

Picture your ideal workplace. Is it high-energy, or more laid-back?

For an editor, there are plenty of options to explore. From book publishers to independent newspapers, many companies are willing to hire editors who have limited experience, provided they’re willing to give it their all.

Here are five of the best places to inquire about open positions:

1) Magazine publishers

Magazine publishers often post entry-level editing jobs. They need editors to work on feature stories, craft headlines, and fact-check.

2) Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations like the Heart and Stroke Foundation regularly hire editors to proofread publicity materials, such as pamphlets and press releases.

3) Newspapers

From the Toronto Star to The New York Times, major newspapers need editors to help polish stories from reporters and write engaging headlines.

4) University presses

Major schools like the University of Toronto often run their own presses. They need in-house editors to copyedit and format manuscripts from academics.

5) Book publishers

Many editors begin their professional careers working for a book publisher like Scholastic. If you like to proofread manuscripts, this could be the job for you.

What will I do in an entry-level editing job?

It’s no surprise that as an editor you’ll spend most of your time working with words.

In an entry-level editing job, you should expect to become proficient at many types of editing. Some of your main duties may include the following:

copy editing manuscripts or articles
formatting and typesetting
crafting and updating web content
proofreading articles for an internal publication

Of course, in an entry-level editing job, you should also be prepared to do a fair amount of administrative work. This might mean doing tasks such as these:

sending emails
organizing event listings
attending staff meetings
recruiting writers
photocopying

How do I find an entry-level editing job?

You’ve polished your résumé and have a few ideas of where you’d like to work. Now it’s time to look for a position.

It’s always intimidating when you’re new to an industry, but these four strategies will help you land an entry-level editing job in no time:

1) Attend job fairs

Job fairs introduce you to other people working in the editing industry. You can inquire about open positions and even submit your résumé in person.

2) Use online job boards

It’s easy to search for entry-level editing jobs online. Using sites like Workopolis, you can usually find several listings for positions each week.

3) Sign up for internships

Students in journalism programs can often find internships through their schools. This is a great way to gain in-house experience and build your editing portfolio.

4) Volunteer

Like job fairs, volunteering for an organization such as the Editors’ Association of Canada can help you make valuable connections that can lead to a job.

Start your editing career today

Entry-level editing jobs are open doors into a world of possibilities. The secret to embarking on a new career is having faith in your abilities.

How to Become a Proofreader

Easy steps to learn how to become a proofreader

So, you have no formal training, but you’re curious about how to become a proofreader because you have seen proofreading jobs that you think fit your skills and expertise well. If you paid attention in your high school English classes, you already have the basics. You know all about correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. But, there is much more to proofreading than the basics, and that’s where specialized classes and training come in.

How to become a proofreader

One way to learn how to become a proofreader is to search your public library for books on proofreading. If there is a particular field that interests you (e.g., science), you might contact the larger institutions in that field and ask them to recommend the training or qualifications they look for in job applicants. If your goal is to work directly with writers or an advertising agency, talk to people in those fields. It is always beneficial to research proofreading by consulting the end user.

Another path to becoming a proofreader is taking online proofreading courses. These courses will teach you how to apply the correct style, formatting, and layout to a document. A good proofreading course will teach you about margins, lists, bullets, headlines, headings, subheadings, captions, vocabulary, and alphabetized copy.

When you become a proofreader, you will deal with more than just words—you will also have to examine numerical charts, tables, and graphs. In addition, if you proofread online, you will need to become familiar with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat, and LaTeX.

Becoming a proofreader also involves learning a variety of stylebooks and formats, including the Associated Press Stylebook, The Chicago Manual of Style (often called Chicago or CMOS), the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (often called APA), the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (MLA is the Modern Language Association), and A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (often simply called Turabian, after the author who composed the guide).

Why take a proofreading course?

In the process of learning how to become a proofreader, it is important to take into account your expertise in a particular field as well as your experience. However, without formal training, you may have difficulty getting a job. Publishers and employers generally like to see evidence of your education, which you will enhance after taking a certified proofreading course.

Which proofreading course should you take?

There are many commercial course options for those seeking to learn how to become a proofreader, but it’s hard to know whom to trust. A good way to embark on discovering how to be a proofreader is to talk to someone who is already a proofreader. If you don’t know anyone personally, you can find proofreaders online, on blogs, on LinkedIn, and on Twitter. Another good source of information is a national organization for editors and proofreaders. Some of these organizations may offer their own proofreading programs. For example, in London, England, the Publishing Training Centre at Book House, an educational charity, offers an online proofreading course. So does the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, also in London.

How Do I Become an Editor?

A simple guide to becoming an editor

Are you wondering “How do I become an editor”? Well, the answer is actually quite simple: the same way you get to Carnegie Hall. Practice, practice, practice!

While there is no single educational or occupational path to becoming an editor, those interested in editing as a career tend to have one main thing in common: obsessive–compulsive editing disorder (OCED). They also share the following traits: a passion for language, reading, and learning; attention to detail; an overwhelming urge to improve communication; and a qualification in a subject such as English, journalism, technical communication, or teaching. Some people plan to be editors right out of school, and others come to the profession in a more roundabout way. But one thing they all have in common is a natural predisposition for wordsmithery.

Education and training

Years ago, there were no formal training programs for those aspiring to become editors, but this is no longer the case. Some U.S. educational institutions that offer editing courses include the following:

A list of Canadian institutions that offer editing courses can be found on the Editors’ Association of Canada web site. This association, and others like it—such as the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors, and the Society for Editors and Proofreaders—also offer training courses, certification, workshops, and seminars.

Editing as a career

To become an editor, you must have an excellent understanding of grammar, strong analytical skills, sound computer skills, a working knowledge of various style guides, good people skills, strong organizational skills, the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines, and an overwhelming desire to help people communicate as clearly as possible.

There are many types of editors and many industries in which editors work, ranging from the publishing and educational fields to the scientific and medical fields. Editors can work alone or in collaboration with others, such as writers, publishers, or project managers. Whether you are interested in being a freelance editor or being part of an editorial team, the road to becoming an editor is an educational adventure. If you choose to do freelance work, keep in mind the importance of building and maintaining a strong network of colleagues, acquaintances, and friends. You never know who may be able to tip you off to a good job in the future. It is also important to market yourself, something that is easy to do using the various social and professional networking sites available.

So, what’s stopping you? Start on the path to editing as a career, helping others communicate more clearly and learning interesting new things every day. While there is no cure for OCED, becoming a professional editor is a great outlet for your compulsion!