How to Get a Job as a Copy Editor
For many media professionals, becoming a copy editor is the next logical step after the dues-paying of an entry-level writing position. The linchpin of any media organization, copy editors may be called on to double-check facts, rework a piece of writing, or enforce the house style. Competition is fierce, but with a little persistence, landing a desirable job is possible.
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Things You'll Need
- Associated Press Stylebook
- Chicago Manual of Style
- Computer
- Cover letter
- Media job websites
- Media trade magazines
- Resume
- Tearsheets
Instructions
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Get The Basics Down
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Take as many general education courses as possible, especially English, history and the social sciences while in college. To succeed, copy editors must be well-read and able to interpret information within many different subject areas, according to the careers.stateuniversity.com site.
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Learn how to use such basic reference tools as the Associated Press Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style and "The Elements Of Style," by Strunk and White. These books are the essential tools of the trade, as well as the foundation for the in-house style that media outlets use.
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Using your computer, look for internships to build experience before you graduate. Although typically unpaid, internships allow you to learn the job and build connections that may prove valuable later, as copy editor Bill Walsh observes on his site, theslot.com.
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Pursue as many non-journalistic opportunities outside of the classroom as possible, preferably in a different field of study. Someone with experience as an economist and journalist is more enticing to a newspaper's business section than "a dime-a-dozen" journalism graduate, Walsh counsels.
Find The Right Job
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Determine what type of copy editing job suits your skills and temperament. Newspapers and magazines offer faster advancement, but workloads and expectations can be demanding. Publishing houses often pay better, but are slower to promote employees, as careers.stateuniversity.com advises.
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Write a brief three- or four-paragraph cover letter outlining why your skills are a good fit for the job, and what you can do for the company. If applicable, include tearsheets or PDF files of pages that you have edited, along with a resume outlining your credentials.
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If you have no college degree and no experience, you must convince someone to take a chance on hiring you. Search media job sites like journalismjobs.com or relevant trade magazines like "Editor & Publisher," for employers to approach for a tryout, based on eagerness, or desire.
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Review relevant materials like the Associated Press Stylebook, the most commonly used reference tool for copy editors, because most media organizations will want to test your skills. Find lists of commonly misspelled words, and memorize them. If your percentage score is 90, or better--and you come across well in an interview--the job will probably be yours, Walsh writes.
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Tips & Warnings
Never overlook less traditional routes, such as editing a newsletter, marketing and public relations firms, or even nonprofit groups. The point is to get some practical experience to learn the job effectively, and develop some skills that are marketable to a potential employer.
Do not expect to work normal hours, especially when starting out in the field. Copy editors must often be available at irregular times, including nights, weekends and holidays.
