Get a Great Education
The first thing you need to do if you are interested in landing freelance editing jobs is to make sure that you get a great education. Many companies that hire copyeditors prefer that you have an English degree or a journalism degree under your belt before they will hire you. Making sure that you have classes in grammar, editing, news writing, reporting, and copyediting is important. With a quality education that focuses on writing and editing, it will help you to land better jobs in editing.
Know the Standards
It's also very important that you know the standards in editing. This means you'll need to be very familiar with the standard style books out there. The main books you'll need to be familiar with when it comes to copyediting include The Elements of Style, The Chicago Manual of Style, The Associated Press Stylebook, and The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. For many of the book editing jobs and other editing jobs up for grabs, you'll be required to know these books inside and out.
Your Cover Letter and Resume
In order to land top jobs in editing, your cover letter and resume are going to be extremely important. When you are applying for these freelance editing jobs or even book editing jobs, you'll need a cover letter that really stands out above the rest of the applicants. You'll actually find that most employers out there take a look at your cover letter first. If you don't outline why you'll be a great hire there, they may never even take a look at your resume that is included with the cover letter.
Of course, not only is the cover letter very important, but when you are trying to get copyediting jobs, a well-written resume is also essential as well. Ensure that your work experience and your education is highlighted in the resume. Also, since you are applying to be an editor, you need to make sure that your grammar and spelling has no errors at all. The last thing employers want to see is a resume that is full of errors. If you have errors in your cover letter or your resume, you will probably not get the job you're applying for.
Start Your Job Search on the Web
If you are trying to find online editing jobs or even on site editing jobs, you'll want to start your job search on the web. You'll find that many companies today are starting to advertise on the web to find the copywriters that they want and need. You'll find that there are many excellent career sites on the web that have listings of great editing jobs. Not only do career sites provide them, but you'll also find that online classifieds also can be used to find positions in copyediting. This is one of the best ways to find a great job in editing.
Acing Your Interview
Once you get your foot in the door and you actually get an interview with a company, it's important that you go into the interview well prepared. This is your opportunity to show who you really are to the employer. You need to make sure that you ace the interview if you are going to get through the interview and make sure you get the freelance editing jobs you apply for. Make sure that you are ready to discuss your past jobs, your education, and topics related to the editing field. This is your chance to sell yourself. Show your skills and how you can help out the company with all you have to offer. Having a portfolio with you is important as well when you go to an interview.
The Copyediting Test
If you make it through the interview, in order to get most editing jobs, you'll probably be required to take and pass a copyediting test. Usually you'll need to get at least a 90% on the test in order to be offered the job you want. The employer will probably give you a test that is based on the style guide that they prefer and use, so it is definitely helpful to know all of the style guides out there to make sure that you can pass this test in order to get the best jobs in editing.
Pursuing the Job after the Interview
Once you get through the interview and the test, you'll probably be waiting to hear whether or not you landed the job. Well, if you really want those editing jobs, pursue the job after you have the interview. Send a note to thank the employer for the interview. If you don't hear from the employer for a few days, call and ask about the status of the job. While you shouldn't become a pest, actively pursuing the editing jobs will show the employer you serious are interested in getting the job.
