Editors - how did you find your first job?

if you had no experience before as an editor, how did you find your first job? or how did you land your first job?
was it hard? and can you also mention how long you have been working as an editor since that first job?
I am so nervous about finding that first job out there because I have no prior experience.

Posted: Tue, May 11 2010, 3:18 pm Post subject:

Look on lists - ITA, COandPI, jtg in Israel. There aren't many jobs listed there, but there are some out there.

When you reply, don't mention your experience (or lack of it) - most people don't ask for a CV. Mention your studies and how you know a lot about the subject matter (eg if it's a book about knitting, tell them how you love to knit.) and that you are a native English speaker. And offer to edit a little as a no-obligation sample.
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anyone else out there do editing work and have answers for me as well?

Posted: Wed, May 12 2010, 12:36 am Post subject:

im bumping the thread one more time.

anyone?

protektzia. sorry, that doesn't help you much.
and then headhunted. probably helps you even less.

that's how it works. publishing houses are small businesses (I am talking israel here. I worked there as an editor for 3-4 years before moving to london), and there is not a lot of new blood.
probably calling around the various publishing houses is the only way to do it... letting them keep your name on a shortlist, and IF they need you and IF they remember you and IF they liked you, they MIGHT call you....

forgot to say - I started out as proofreader, then was slowly given more editing rather than proofreading work.
I worked for feldheim, mishpacha (from before the first issue), pitspopany/simcha publishing, and freelance.