I believe learning about the different ways people make money is fascinating. This week, I noticed several job postings for editors, proofreaders and writers who asked for very specific work experience. Sometimes I did not even understand what this person did for a living. Unfortunately for these companies and authors, they won’t be working with this star editor because I was a little intimidated by the obscure work experience they needed.
Here are a few examples of real-life job openings I saw this week that I did not quite understand:
- I’m looking for three beta readers, proficient and experienced in reviewing alien dinosaur invasion science fiction.
- I am looking for an experienced copyeditor for a meta-research book with plenty of citations. The book should sit on the shelves next to Noise, the Extended Mind and the Alignment Problem.
- This e-book will be for people who have vulvas that are getting intimate with other people who own vulvas and show how they can protect themselves during…
It is incredible that with all the talk about the labor shortage in the news today, people are looking for this level of specificity in skills.
Should you hire an editor with industry experience?
For some jobs that require particular and professional skills, an employer must hire candidates with industry experience and necessary qualifications. However, when hiring editors and proofreaders, being more open-minded is a good idea.
First, editors, proofreaders and copywriters work exceptionally well in industries they do not know because they can flag jargon and technical terms only industry experts use. Getting rid of these words makes the writing more appealing and approachable to a broader audience.
For example, I started working in sports journalism but finished in business development. When I joined the home improvement industry, I knew nothing about construction. But, I had other qualifications and interpersonal skills that made me great at my job. I also had the motivation to learn. I dove in with both feet to learn the ins and outs of home improvement, and it did not take me long to fit in.
Don’t waste your time on the unicorn
Instead of finding the unicorn to fill your role, consider candidates who:
- Recognize issues quickly
- Grasp the big picture
- Motivated to pick up the ball and run with it
Try looking for candidates with motivation and eagerness to learn. A person’s success in past jobs is a good indicator of their willingness to work hard and learn new skills. In addition, it only takes a reasonable person to understand the specific terms and industry jargon given time and a little effort.
Hiring editors and proofreaders without industry experience will:
- Provide a fresh outlook on the business.
- Uncover ideas and growth opportunities from their experience with other employers that they have seen work in different industries.
- Provide a spark to you and the other team members to try things differently.
Hear it from the experts
Experience is not the only measurement of success. In the Harvard Business Journal article, “Experience Doesn’t Always Predict a New Hires Success,” Alison Beard describes the findings of a Florida State University study on transferring previous work experience to a new employer. The studies coordinator Chad H. Van Iddekinge stated,
“We were surprised. It seems so intuitive that applicants who have general work experience or have already done the job that they’re applying for would be at an advantage. But when we looked at all these studies—and we sifted through thousands to find the 81 with pertinent data—we discovered a very weak relationship between prehire experience and performance, both in training and on the job. We also found zero correlation between work experience with earlier employers and retention, or the likelihood that a person would stick with his or her new organization.”
So, when looking for a proofreader or editor, focus on the education, references and work history.
It may be surprising to learn that no specific degree exists for proofreaders or editors. Most editors and proofreaders have a Journalism or English degree. People who break into this field can take editing certification courses provided by schools, professional editing societies or professionals. Still, there are no overall standards that govern what the curriculum includes.
Besides a good grasp of the English language (or whatever language the work is written in), references from former clients or work colleagues, sample edits and work portfolios are great tools to gauge a candidate’s ability.
Final thoughts
Overall, a successful editor or proofreader will be the one who believes your work is as important as their reputation. They will want to see you succeed as much as you do. Of course, the proofreader or editor must have the basic skills to get the job done, but knowing all the ins and outs of your particular industry is not necessary for them to do a great job.
If you are looking for a proofreader, editor or copywriter, please get in touch with me through my contact page here: https://rivetservice.com/contact-rivet-service/. I can speak with you about what I do and how to save you time, money and improve your professional image.
Sources:
https://hbr.org/2019/09/experience-doesnt-predict-a-new-hires-success
https://unsplash.com/@timmossholder
