I have been out of college since 2002 and I have yet to find an editorial job. I have done freelance writing/editing since 2001 but have not landed that full-time job that I desire. I have taken a lot of customer service jobs over the years until I found that editorial job that I desired. But will all of these positions hurt my chances at getting an editorial job now? Also, have I been out of school too long to get entry-level positions
at this point?
Thanks,
Kimberly, New York City
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Dear Kimberly,
It’s true: Editors usually want to hire fresh-out-of-college whippersnappers for the entry-level jobs. That’s because they think that these younger candidates won’t have any qualms about doing grunt work the way older applicants, who may have already paid their dues, might. Still, that shouldn’t stop you from trying.
Instead of filling your resume with your customer service jobs, fill it with your freelance work. If you have enough to show you kept yourself busy with relevant, editorial experiences since 2001, then you don’t even have to mention your customer service jobs! If, on the other hand, there would be major gaps in time if you only list your freelance stories, then have a section for “Experience” and a second section (lower down on your resume) for “Additional Experience” where you show that you’ve been working this whole time.
Highlight your freelance work in your cover letters and leave out your customer service jobs entirely, unless you can find a way to relate them to what you’d do as an editorial assistant. And there is some overlap: Fielding calls from frustrated customers is a lot like handling angry magazine readers and publicists who may get in touch with editorial assistants.
Love,
Ed
