In 25 words or fewer, here’s what an editor does: creates a product that delivers valuable content in a provocative and user-friendly way to engage a targeted audience (on deadline and within budget).
As a professional editor, I have worked toward that goal countless times and learned that the key to success is making the right choices. From the endless sources of relevant information, which ones do you choose for your product? From the many talented writers, who gets the nod for author? From the tons of potential images, which one best fits the visual strategy? Which vendor from the vast community is best prepared to deliver a high-quality product on budget and on time? And so on.
You survey the field and you make the best choices possible, knowing that your audience doesn’t think “content rich” means content overload, and knowing that your audience enjoys delightful surprises in the product while still expecting a consistent tone. You don’t just jam as much as possible into your product, even when it appears that space has no limits. Your audience expects you to be an editor and deliver the gems.
Same goes with your job-search materials. Your resume is a product that needs to deliver valuable content in a provocative and user-friendly way to engage a targeted audience, the prospective employer. Your resume is not your autobiography. Choose wisely what to include, and communicate that information accurately and effectively. Your job samples are just that--samples. They are not a collection of your life’s work. Be an editor: choose, present, inform, engage, delight. Share valuable content that delivers the big picture of YOU as concisely as possible.
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