About You

You are an experienced editor who has spent time editing the work of others. You can copy edit, but you also enjoy the developmental side of editing. You understand how to identify whether content matches the tone, voice, and goals of a client. You can edit with different styles and publication guidelines in mind.

You truly value the editing process and don’t necessarily need to be the person writing content. While you might do some writing, you are not responsible for all of it, and that’s OK! You will be the one to massage copy into creative, engaging content that will connect with the client’s audience. You can, however, rewrite work from a freelancer when necessary. There might be times when you have the knowledge and capacity to take on the writing responsibilities, but overall, you get energy from making existing content better.

You can handle feedback. You can dish it out and take it. You don’t take it personally if a client doesn’t like a piece of content — you dig in to figure out why and translate suggestions into a new and improved piece. You also know how to provide feedback to clients and explain the “why” behind your choices. When it comes to content creation, you can balance the desires of the client with what you know to be correct.

You embrace feedback from peers. This role will work closely with a managing editor, who will regularly provide feedback around your technical skill set. You welcome this, as you understand that it’s a part of the content creation process. Sharing and receiving feedback allows you to build strong rapport with your colleagues.

You are strategy-focused. You are not simply here to check for AP style errors (though that’s important!). You are an integral part of the overall content strategy and work with your team to brainstorm ideas for client content. You are able to review a plan for content and identify its holes based on your knowledge of a client’s goals and the needs of the publication. You are able to collaborate with your team to maximize content’s effectiveness.

You are an excellent communicator. You are great with the written word, but you are also good at communicating with clients. You enjoy taking part in client calls and getting pertinent information directly from the source. You can take on a consultative role with clients, providing insights and suggestions regarding their content and/or strategy. In addition, you can effectively collaborate with those outside your team, such as publication strategists and freelance writers. You are comfortable providing instructions and are able to present information to freelance writers in a manner that gives them everything they need to create content for your clients.

You are flexible. When your day gets chaotic, you know how to identify what is most important on your to-do list. A client doesn’t provide feedback on time? That’s OK; you are on to the next task. You aren’t flustered by the unknown because there is always something to do, and you’re working closely with your team to keep projects moving forward.

You are not (entirely!) a perfectionist. You know that perfect is the enemy of progress, and you can step away from a project when it’s in a good place. You understand that you are a member of a team and that there are many other eyes and brains working to make articles, blog posts, whitepapers, etc., the best they can be. You understand that if you’re spending too much time perfecting one piece of content, other work might be suffering.

So what does the editor role look like in real time? Let’s break down the first year. Please note: This is a rough timeline, as we know not everyone operates at the same pace. As long as we’re in communication, we will do our best to support your unique pace.

At the 30-day mark, we expect editors to have an understanding of Influence & Co.’s content creation process and service lines, as well as content marketing as an industry. Don’t worry — you will receive plenty of training on all of these! You will also spend time during the first 30 days getting to know your clients and teammates. You will start editing with someone reviewing your work.

At the 60-day mark, you will feel comfortable using our content creation platform, ICo. Core, as well as other tech solutions involved in your job (Toggl, Slack, and Google Drive, to name a few). By this time, you could potentially be flying solo with your edits. You might also be starting to help other teammates with edits, if your capacity allows. You’ll have a foundational understanding of the tone and voice of your clients.

Once you’ve reached 90 days, we expect editors to function in their roles with support. We never expect questions to stop, especially not right after your initial new hire training concludes! We try to prepare you to tackle things on your own and as a team, but we don’t expect you to know everything in 90 days. You will develop ownership over your clients’ voices, but you will also start finding your own and providing creative insights for content.

At six months, you are cruising right along! You know your clients well and are more comfortable with providing feedback to them and receiving it. You have learned to manage the unexpected, especially given how close-knit your team has become. You’re providing more and more input into your clients’ overall strategies. You have learned from your past grammatical and/or AP style mistakes and have committed them to memory.

It’s now been one year. You’re getting a “Happy Workiversary!” shout-out and maybe a little gift to mark this milestone. At this time, you have a deep understanding of your role as editor but are also finding new ways to be a productive teammate. You are an indispensable part of the team and heavily involved in client strategy conversations. You have found your place here at Influence & Co. and are looking ahead, perhaps to a senior certification.