Book Editor Resume Example & Writing Guide
Use this Book Editor resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.
Editors are some of the most important people in the publishing industry, and their work is highly valued by authors and readers alike. Editors help writers tell their stories by providing guidance and feedback on their manuscripts, from suggesting new ways of structuring chapters to making sure that facts are accurate. They also play a crucial role in the production process by managing teams of copyeditors and proofreaders to ensure that books are ready for print.
If you’re ready to join the ranks of book editors or want to make a career change into publishing, here are some tips and resume example to help you write a great book editor resume that hiring managers will love.
How to Write a Book Editor Resume
Here’s how to write a book editor resume of your own.
Write Compelling Bullet Points
Bullet points are the most effective way to showcase your experience and qualifications. And when it comes to writing bullet points, the more specific and detailed you can be, the better.
For example, rather than saying you “edited articles for grammar and style,” you could say you “edited 10 articles per day for grammar and style, ensuring each was written in clear, concise language according to AP style guidelines.”
The second bullet point is much more specific and provides more detail about what exactly you did and how many articles you edited each day.
Identify and Include Relevant Keywords
When you apply for a job as a book editor, your resume is likely to be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. This system looks for specific terms related to the job, like “copyediting” and “proofreading,” to determine whether your skills are a match for the position. If your resume doesn’t include enough of the right terms, your application might not make it past the initial screening process.
To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of common book editor keywords as a starting point and then add in other relevant terms that are specific to your experience:
- Copy Editing
- Proofreading
- Publishing
- Publishing Assistance
- Fiction
- Editing
- Non-fiction
- Writing
- Publishing Editing
- Book Publishing
- Writing Assistance
- Publishing Books
- Technical Editing
- Content Management
- Journalism
- Blogging
- Proofreading Services
- Social Media
- Web Content Writing
- Magazine Publishing
- Copywriting
- Adobe InDesign
- LaTeX
- LaTeX Editing
- Copywriting for Advertising
- Communication
- Journalism
- Microsoft Access
- Research
- Content Development
Showcase Your Technical Skills
As an editor, you rely on technology to help you perfect your work. You should list any programs, systems, or methodologies that you are familiar with on your resume. This might include programs like Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, or InDesign. Additionally, if you have experience with content management systems (CMS) or publishing platforms, be sure to list them.