Responsible for reviewing and evaluating content, editors are highly attentive to detail, organised and collaborative. In an interview, expect to be asked about how you work with deadlines, your toolbox of editing systems and where you find your ideas for stories. Particularly desirable are candidates with strong communication skills who can work well in teams.
Here are three top editor interview questions and tips on how to answer them:
How to answer: When working as an editor, you will face deadlines for when you have to return the work to the writer or project manager. Highlight any tools you use to track and manage deadlines, such as a calendar or task management system. You can also use this question to describe your work ethic and situations in which you've faced and maintained tight deadlines for clients or team members. This question also works well to discuss your prioritisation skills.
How to answer: Editors often face tedious and monotonous tasks, such as proofreading, checking sources and fact-checking. When answering a question about maintaining your focus, talk about any processes you have in place to stay alert as you review other people's words. For example, if you read sentences aloud when assessing grammatical correctness or use a digital tool to check facts, describe these habits.
How to answer: An editor often has to provide constructive feedback to writers and content experts. They need to be able to do so in a way that benefits the other party while maintaining a professional and positive tone. Outline your communication skills and ability to provide feedback in a way that does not generate a negative or defensive response.