Editor 

How did you get your current job?
Internet listing, plus a friend referral

What was the application process?
Endless. Submitted cover letter and resume, went in for a test and interview.

Did you have to interview for your current job? If yes, what did the interview process entail?
Yes – I came in, took an editing test, and met with a group of editors, who asked the usual interview questions. I was asked back later to interview with the department head.

If you can remember, what questions were you asked during the interview?
How do you handle a stressful situation?

Where do you see yourself in five years?

What’s your communication style at work?

Do you feel your employer properly prepared you for your job? Explain.
Again, not particularly. But you learn as you go. And frankly, a lot of this job is entirely that.

Was there training for your current position? If yes, what did it entail?
Not really – the other editors were too busy at the time.

Do you feel your educational background prepared you for your job? Explain.
Sort of. I never had any grammar classes or an editing class. My B.A. is in English, so I knew good writing when I saw it. Again, past experience prepared me.

If applicable, do you feel your internship experience helped you prepare for your job?
n/a

If someone wanted to go about getting a job similar to yours, what would you recommend for him or her to do?
Frankly, while a B.A. in the field (English, journalism, communications) is nice, I’ve found that experience goes way further. If you can’t get an internship, freelance for anyone you can – even web sites that can’t afford to pay. Build up the resume to show that you’re capable of doing the work. Join publishing groups and organizations to reap the rewards of their job listings and word-of-mouth.

What skills do you think a person should have if they want to pursue a position like yours?
Obviously, you need to know what makes good writing and what doesn’t. This includes basic grammar skills. I don’t know a dangling participle from a gerund, but I know when something is wrong with a sentence and how to fix it.

From there, organizational skills are a must. We handle several projects at a time, and each require their own level of babysitting. Multitasking is key.

It’s also important to be able to get along with other people – your coworkers are your support staff. Plus, publishing is an industry where “who you know” really matters (especially when job hunting). Schmooze away.

Finally, it’s really important to know how to get over any hurdle thrown your way without it flipping you out. Because, inevitably, things WILL go wrong at some point.

Do you feel that you need a certain level of education or training to be successful in your job?
I think i already answered this: A degree certainly helps, but experience speaks leagues.

What advice would you give to someone who was about to start work in your position/ line of work?
Brush up on basic skills – you’ll probably have to take an editing test at some point.

Meet people, talk to others in the field, don’t be afraid to network.