Editor: What is the cost of hiring?

Why hire an editor?

An editor will check for errors in grammar, spelling, or wording in any written work, either digital or printed. They are skilled at pointing out mistakes and directing the writer in how to improve their craft. Editors can correct books, web pages, or marketing material, making them a valuable asset to many businesses.

Contributions of a great editor:

• Use their knowledge of different style guides to improve the quality of writing
• Will correct any grammatical or spelling errors
• Can help companies develop style guides for writers

Deciding between a full-time vs freelance editor

An editor can work in a full-time permanent position for a publisher, marketing company, or communications department. In these types of positions, the editor will be in charge of editing all projects, ensuring that the writers produce quality work.

Editors can also work independently as freelance workers. When an editor does freelance work, they will be hired for a one-time project and will work with the writer or client until the work is ready for publication. If your company only needs an editor for one or two projects, a freelance editor might be the best way to get a quality candidate.

What are the different types of editors?

Editors can work on any type of written work, meaning they have a variety of avenues when it comes to picking what kind of editing they would like to do. Some editors will focus their work on the literary world and edit longer pieces of works like novels or non-fiction books. Others will work in companies with a lot of communications needs and will edit all official company communications. The following is a list of different types of editors that are commonly seen:

• Book editor: Will edit pieces of literature that are getting ready to be published.
• Copy editor: Will edit marketing copy for mistakes and wording errors.
• Content editor: Will edit website content.
• Technical editor: Will edit technical manuals or textbooks.
• Communications editor: Will edit all official communications from a company.

Where to find an editor

To find the right editor for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Freelance networking sites: If you are looking for a freelance editor, you can start by looking at freelance networking sites. These sites will allow you to post your project on their site, and interested editors will bid to work with you. This is a great way to find talented editors with a good amount of experience.
• Universities or colleges: Editors typically go to school for editing or writing, so looking at local universities or colleges that offer these programs is a great way to find an editor.
• Professional associations: There are a variety of professional associations that editors can join that often have job boards. By looking at editors who are members of an association, you know you will get a candidate who already has some experience.
• Networking events: Editors often attend events such as literary conferences where they can network with fellow editors. Attending one of these events can be a great way of finding an editor.

Post your job online: Try posting your editor job on Indeed to find and attract quality editor candidates.

Skills to look for in a great editor

A great editor candidate will have the following skills and attributes as well as work experience that reflects:

• mastery of spelling and grammar
• great attention to detail
• expert communication skills
• proficiency in using editing software
• mastery of style guides
• ability to work independently or as part of a team

Writing an editor job description

A thoughtful description is important for finding qualified editor candidates. An editor job description includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position.

When writing your editor job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on editor jobs, according to Indeed data:

• editor
• copy editor
• editing
• content editor
• writer

Interviewing editor candidates

Strong candidates for editor positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• Experience working with tight deadlines
• Experience communicating client’s expectations to writers
• Ability to see the smallest of mistakes
• Experience with different style guides
• Experience coaching writers and new editors

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of interview questions for examples (with sample answers).