Job Analysis & Research
What is the position title that you’ve chosen to research & analyze?
I’ve chosen to take a nice broad route and decided to research a general editor position.
Paste the URL to the position posting.
Why does this position interest you specifically?
The editor position that immediately caught my eye was for the Washington Post. The position is for a multiplatform editor of their editorial department. I am a communicaiton major, and I have always had a connection to and interest in journalism. This is a style and form of writing that I am extremely familiar with and have a bit of a knack for, and think that this sector is one that I would want to make a career in. The Washington Post is a well respected, larger scale news organization that would be incredible to edit for. More interesting still is that the position is in the editorial department, which would mean being able to edit a wide variety of pieces and subject matter.
What site or sites did you access to find this position?
I used LinkedIn to find this position.
What search terms/keywords did you use to find this position?
I started with “editor”, then tried “editor book”, then “acquisitions editor”. Under each of these searches, this position was present.
What are the qualifications for this position? Do any of these qualifications confuse or surprise you? Why or why not?
The qualifications for the position were, as expected, centered more around print journalism. They included three years of editing experience for a larger news organaization, a test of the applicant’s copy-editing skills, organization, and time management. These were all relatively expected, especially the experience factors. One requirement that did surprise me at first, though, was the ability to work alone in off hours. This is something that I would be relatively well suited for as I have worked remotely for a midsize company located in Kansas City for the past four years and am used to troubleshooting things for myself, but for such a large and well established organization I thought that it was a little interesting. The position is also in house, so I would imagine that there would be access to resources available on site that would potentially eliminate a lot of this. I also wondered exactly what it means in terms of the position, and what the work/life balance would look like. I also did not expect the qualifications to be so light. For what I perceived as a relatively important position within the organization, I would think that there would be more.
What are the primary responsibilities (aka: job duties) of this position? How do these responsibilities help you think more critically about the position's title? (In other words, do the responsibilities listed seem like they fit your understanding of the position title or do the responsibilities seem to fit another position title? Why or why not?)
For the Washington Post position, the primary responsibilities are as follows:
Social media engagement across platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, etc)
Copy-editing of materials using Washington Post specific style guides
Editing of all pieces for the Opinions desk, current and future
Design input for print news
Headline and caption writing skills that assist in drawing readers to the pieces on various platforms
The responsibilities outlined in this posting are on par with what I expected, although the emphasis on social media and internet traffic is definitely something that gives me pause. I think that given these responsibilities, the title of multiplatform is a little lacking. Especially since search engine optimization is something that is mentioned, I would think that there would be something in the job title that would allude to this being a major part of it. The “multiplatform” part of the title definitely gives the reader an idea of where they will be working, but I don’t necessarily think that the SEO and more marketing focused things fall as much under the label of editor.
How does one apply for this position?
You could apply through LinkedIn using an existing profile and résumé, or you could apply directly through the posting on the Washington Post website. Included in the application needs to be a résumé, a cover letter, and five to seven work examples.
If you wanted to apply for this position, what do you think it would it take for you to be qualified for it? (Reflect on the qualifications listed and whether you meet them, and if not, then reflect on what you would need to do/learn in order to meet them.)
I would definitely meet the basic qualifications of this position. I am great with time management and meeting deadlines, and have strong communication skills. I also am proficient with Microsoft Office after using it for work and for school, so platforms wouldn’t be an issue at all. What I would need, though, is a whole lot of experience. This position requires three years minimum working in a similar position or within the field, which is something that I do not have. I would need to not only build a stronger knowledge base of social media management, search paths, and marketing, but I would also need more knowledge surroudoing copy-editing.
What questions are you left with from the position description and directions?
One question that I have is exactly what kind of work samples would be appropriate. As this is the opinion department, would it be more editorial journalism pieces? If editing is what they are after, how exactly does one upload an editing work sample?
I am also curious as to the requirements surrounding search engine optimization. This seems as though it is extremely important to the position, but doesn’t really have much to do with editing itself. Why is this the primary responsibility of the editor, rather than someone that works specifically in this field or marketing?
Does this job search research/analysis make you want to apply to this position or another one(s)? Why or why not?
It absolutely makes me want to apply for other positions that would be considered more entry level. Since I am switching career paths and industries, I am not sure that my work experience would be considered relevant, and I think that it would make a lot of sense to potentially apply for some part-time editorial positions in hopes of getting my feet wet and learning more about the industry as a whole.
What advice would you offer to anyone who may be interested in a job like this and who may be starting their own search and/or application process?
While I’m not sure I am qualified for such a task, I would say that when it comes to a job search like this, don’t be afraid to apply for something that feels alien or that you may not meet every single qualification for. You may get turned down, but if you craft your resume in a way that speaks to the target audience, and highlight how you can be an asset to the company or organization, those missing qualifications may take a backseat to what you can offer. Additionally, doing research on each company before applying can help you understand what they are looking for in terms of candidates and help you stand out more.
