I’ve been in the managing editor business for almost a decade now, and I can tell you that landing your dream job as a managing editor is a lot like searching for an apartment: it’s a lot of work, and sometimes it seems like there are no good options available.
But if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, there’s always hope and that goes double for me.
Make A List Of Why You Want The Job
Whether you’re applying for your first job as a managing editor, or one of your many follow-up interviews, it’s important to know what you want out of the position. Before you submit your resume and cover letter, take some time to make a list of why you want this job specifically.
This will help ensure that you don’t miss any key points when talking about yourself during an interview.
It can be helpful to organize your thoughts into three categories:
- What I can do in this role (i.e., work on news articles)
- What I can grow into in this role (i.e., learn new skills like writing press releases)
- Why I think someone should hire me instead of another candidate (i.e., because I have experience with social media marketing)
Give Yourself The Title And Responsibilities
Once you’ve done your research and drawn up a list of the requirements for your dream job, it’s time to take action. Start by giving yourself the title and responsibilities of managing editor.
You won’t be able to do this until you know what it is that managing editors actually do, so start by reading over our guide on how to find out what managing editors do.
Next, make sure that your ideal company has room for advancement within its ranks by checking out its employee career page or looking at its job listings.
If there are open positions at different levels within the company (e.g., assistant editor vs senior editor), look into each one; if there isn’t much movement between positions, consider applying somewhere else instead.
Once you’ve chosen which path will lead you closer to achieving your goal, apply with confidence!
Prepare For The Interview
Before you can land your dream job, you must first prepare for the interview. Research the company and its culture. Be sure that you understand the position in detail and know what the candidate should expect from their day-to-day responsibilities.
Prepare a list of questions to ask the interviewer; this is a great way to demonstrate your interest in them and their business. If possible, try to find out who will be interviewing you so that you can do some extra research about them before meeting face-to-face.
Know what type of response is expected from each question asked during an interview – are they looking for specific answers or am I expected to give my opinion?
Do I need to tell them why I want this job or how much I’m willing to move for it? It’s important that both parties walk away knowing exactly how well each other performed during their interaction together!
Practice Your Responses To Potential Interview Questions
Practice answering interview questions. You should always practice in front of a mirror or with a friend or family member before going into an interview. But if you’re feeling really ambitious, try one of these other ways to practice your answers:
Practice in front of a webcam. This is a great way to get used to being on camera and make sure that your posture is right without having someone else physically there with you.
Practice in front of a video camera. If you have access to one and can use it, this is another good option!
It’s similar to practicing in front of the webcam but more focused on actually how well you are speaking rather than just how well put together your appearance is (so don’t worry about makeup).
Practice in front of people who are experts in the field at hand (e.g., journalists) so that they can give constructive feedback about what works for them versus what doesn’t work for them when hearing someone speak about their career goals like yours do!
Come Up With More Specific Questions For The Interviewer
When you’re asked a question, it’s best to come up with a few good questions of your own. If the interviewer asks about your experience, for example, then you should have some specific examples ready to go.
If they ask about what motivates you as an employee or manager, then offer examples from past jobs and personal life experiences that illustrate this trait in action (and make sure they’re related).
Having prepared responses makes it easier for the interviewer to get an accurate sense of who you are and what kind of person they’d be working with which is exactly what they want!
Explain Your Past Career Experience If It’s Relevant To The Job
If you have past work experience that’s relevant to the job, you can include this in your cover letter. For example, if you worked as a copy editor for an online publication and now want to work as a managing editor at another online publication, mention that in your cover letter.
Explain how your previous career experience has helped you grow and develop skills that are useful for this role. You want to focus on how your skills would help the company reach their goals and make more money or get more readers.
Ask Questions About The Company, Market, Industry, And Workplace In General
The questions you ask during the interview process will give you insight into what it would be like to work for this company, and also show your interviewer that you’re genuinely interested in learning more about the position.
Asking thoughtful questions about the business itself may seem like a no-brainer, but sometimes candidates are so focused on impressing their future boss with their perfect résumé or skillset that they forget to ask anything at all.
Here are some examples of great questions to ask when applying for a job:
- What do I need to know about this company?
- How would someone in my role contribute to its success?
- How does your team collaborate on projects/meetings/etc.?
Avoid Asking “Yes” Or “No” Questions That Show You’re Unprepared
One of the most common mistakes candidates make is asking “yes” or “no” questions that show they’re unprepared.
This is a huge red flag for interviewers because it shows you don’t know enough about the company or position to ask something more insightful, and it makes them question whether you’re worth hiring in the first place.
Instead, try asking thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest in what they do and why they do it, and then take it one step further by sharing your own thoughts on those topics as well.
This will not only showcase your great communication skills but also help you connect with the interviewer on a personal level (and make him or her want to work with you).
Know What To Wear, How To Arrive On Time, And Where To Park
The first time you meet the people who will be interviewing you, you’ll have to make an impression. Here are some tips:
Dress appropriately. If your interview is in a casual office environment and it’s summertime, jeans and shorts are fine but otherwise, dress professionally.
You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard or dressed inappropriately for the job (like wearing a suit jacket when everyone else is in T-shirts).
Arrive on time. Even if there’s no traffic or other delays getting to the building, aim to show up five minutes early so that if anything happens during those five minutes (like finding out whether there’s parking available), it won’t throw off your schedule too much.
Find parking close enough where walking isn’t too inconvenient but far enough away so as not to waste precious time looking for a spot closer than that…and then walk into work!
Your Persistence Will Pay Off!
You’re a great candidate, and you know it. Now it’s just a matter of convincing the right people of that. To be successful, you’ll need to bring your A-game:
Be positive. You already have enough things to worry about in life don’t let interview nerves add another one!
Smile at every opportunity and remember that when someone is interviewing you, they are seeing the best version of yourself possible. Be confident, but not arrogant; articulate but warm;
Kind yet professional; smart but not intimidating; approachable yet still willing to stand up for yourself when necessary. Whatever words come out of your mouth should reflect these qualities and if they don’t? Practice until they do!
Be persistent. This might be the most important trait for landing any job (even if you don’t think so now).
The reality is that there will likely be other candidates who are equally qualified as or even more qualified than yourself applying for this position because of how competitive it is nowadays;
Wo while getting accepted into an MBA program certainly gives us an advantage over those without graduate degrees (which includes some people!),
We still need our unique talents and experiences which separate us from other applicants vying for our dream role at H&M Marketing Communications Agency Group Incorporated as Managing Editor – Social Media & Content Supervisor/Manager/Director.
Conclusion
There are so many other things to consider when applying for a job, but we hope these tips will help you get started. You don’t have to be perfect all you need is passion, determination, and the willingness to work hard!
