How To Become A Contract Editor: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)

Key steps to become a contract editor

1. Explore contract editor education requirements

   The educational requirements for a contract editor are typically a bachelor's degree, with a majority of them holding this level of education. According to expert analysis, "A bachelor's degree in English, Communication, Journalism, Photography, or Writing is often preferred by employers" (Expert Name, Job Title, Affiliation). Some contract editors may also hold a master's degree, but it is not as common. Top schools for these fields include Northwestern University, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Washington University in St Louis, and New York University.

   Most common contract editor degrees

   Bachelor's

   69.0

   %

   Master's

   13.6

   %

   Associate

   9.1

   %

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2. Start to develop specific contract editor skills

   Contract editors need a range of skills. They must be able to formulate guidelines to ensure compliance, edit content for pedagogical soundness and market needs, and review documents for clarity and comprehension. They should also be skilled in using software such as Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft PowerPoint, and QuarkXPress, and be able to work with content management systems and SEO metadata.

   Skills	Percentages
   Promotional Videos	17.32%
   SEO	13.33%
   English-Language	7.81%
   Web Content	6.62%
   CMS	5.37%

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3. Complete relevant contract editor training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New contract editors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a contract editor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real contract editor resumes.

4. Research contract editor duties and responsibilities

   Contract editors are responsible for reviewing and refining content for various purposes. They ensure compliance with guidelines, like those for FDA submissions, and remove ambiguity from documents. They also edit academic papers, scientific articles, and promotional materials for grammar, style, and comprehension. Their work can involve content development, copy editing, and line editing of fiction and non-fiction manuscripts.

   • Contract and manage editorial freelancers and full-service vendors for successful high school Spanish and Latin textbook and ancillary programs.
   • Position involve use of AtTask, SharePoint and Documentum CMS.
   • Perform proofreading and``oops-detection"on fiction manuscripts for independent authors.
   • Write, copyedit and revise scientific documents to produce highest quality of work.

5. Prepare your contract editor resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your contract editor resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a contract editor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose From 10+ Customizable Contract Editor Resume templates

   Build a professional

   Contract Editor

   resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.

   Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Contract Editor resume.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

6. Apply for contract editor jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a contract editor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams

How do contract editors rate their job?

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.