Film and Video Editor Resume Example & Writing Guide

You're a creative person with a strong component of detail-orientation, which makes you perfect for post-production work as a Film and Video Editor. Now you're looking for your next gig. Whether you work on a project basis or are in the hunt for a full-time job at a studio or other film and video production facility, you need a resume that puts the emphasis on your talents and shines a spotlight on your successful work.

You’ve come to the right place. Resume.io’s dedicated online resume maker, resume templates, and this guide will help you create a document that:

• Cuts to the big moments of your career in your summary section
• Displays achievements and high points via your job history
• Explains to recruiters your artistic style and talents through the skills section
• Gets you past the Applicant Tracking Systems that can eliminate your resume before a hiring manager even sees it.

Keep reading to learn our tips and hints for developing a great film and video editor resume and grabbing that next great project.

Resume summary example: pitch perfect

Your Profile (also known as the resume summary or personal statement) should tell directors and other potential collaborators and employers what you bring as a Film and Video Editor. This is more than an overview of your career so far, although you will want to hit the highlights. It is definitely not a resume objective. Your objective is to get the job for which you are applying. Your goal in this section is to convince recruiters or clients that you are the right person for the job by showing what value you add to films and video. What magic do you perform on raw footage? If you have work experience in a specific area such as graphic design or animation, or specialize in wedding videography, commercials, or another area, be sure to mention that here. 

You probably have a portfolio that shows off your greatest Film and Video Editor work. You can link to your portfolio directly from your resume. If your portfolio also contains an artist statement, great! If not, you may want to consider using one sentence from your profile to explain your artistic philosophy. 

If you are a client-based editor, describe your ability to communicate and your excellent customer-service skills. Remember that you can add information that is relevant but doesn’t make the cut into your cover letter.

Building your own Film and Video Editor resume doesn't have to be hard. See our IT industry resume samples and creative field resume examples and get inspired by them: Motion Graphics Artists resume sample, 3D Animator resume sample, Film Producer resume example, Visual Artist resume sample and Web Developer resume example.

Example of video editor resume profile:

Employment history sample: storyboard your career

Depending on the trajectory of your career, you will either create a project-based work history or a reverse chronological order format with your most current job first. This is where you put your years of experience to work for you in landing your next job.

Consider all the projects you have worked on and the abilities you have developed over time. As a Film and Video Editor, you assemble and edit raw footage to create a pleasing final product suitable for broadcast or for a wedding couple or other client to enjoy. If you work on films, you must collaborate with directors to ensure you understand and can execute their vision.

Your employment history comprises your jobs going back about 10 years with bullet points describing your successes and achievements at each position. If you work as a freelance editor, list your projects and your clients, making sure you note that the project was done on a contract basis. This is a good place to mention that, especially if you are a freelancer or work for yourself, your references and client testimonials are very important. Keep them up-to-date and make sure you have a list you can offer to potential clients.

You have at most two pages to convince a prospective employer to hire you, so avoid repeating information under different job titles. Include as much detail as you can. For instance instead of saying “used video editing software,” say “edited raw documentary footage with Adobe Premiere Pro.” The more editing systems you have skill in, the better off you are. In addition to telling hiring managers of a specific skill you have, the second example uses a stronger verb. Make sure you use strong action verbs to describe your editing techniques throughout your job descriptions.

See example of job history or project history bullet points below:

Film and Video Editor CV education example

Your CV should highlight your education and training in its own section.  Many Film Editors and Videographers have bachelor's degrees in film production, filmmaking, or another visual arts major.  No matter what level of education you have, you should list it here. If you hold a degree higher than a bachelor's degree, you may leave out your high school. If you are looking for an entry-level position, your education plays a larger role in your resume, so you may want to move it above your work experience section. Consider including on-the-job training or individual classes you took to learn a specific editing technique or program. Your technical skills are in high demand.

If you have earned certification in any software programs, you may list those here.

Awards and honors may be listed in this section also; however, if you have more than one or two, you should highlight these industry distinctions by creating a separate section for them. 

Example of film editor education bullet points:

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Resume skills example: highlight reel 

We can't emphasize enough the need to be both detailed (in terms of specificity) and conservative (choose only the most relevant skills) in your skills section. Recruiters will be looking for "Adobe Creative Suite expertise," not simply editing software or media management. If you work in both PC and Apple environments, make sure your potential employer knows that. These details help you get past the Applicant Tracking Systems that use algorithms to rank your resume, but it also allows hiring managers to see exactly what you can do. 

Aim for a mix of technical skills, also known as hard skills, and people or soft skills. It's great that you are experienced in motion graphics, but you also need to have excellent interpersonal skills to communicate with clients and team members both before filming and in post-production.

See example content below. 

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Resume layout and design: show off your artistic eye

We don't need to tell you much about design principles; however, there are some differences between film visuals and resume visuals. Take a look at our Creative resume templates to get an idea of how to show your talent while staying within expected resume formats. The key is to keep it legible and organized so recruiters can easily find the information they seek.

If you have social media accounts that highlight your work, you can add the URL into your contact information. Remember, you can also link to your portfolio directly from your Resume.io document.

Our last bit of advice before you go get that video editor job: proofread or make sure to use a resume maker tool with a spell-checker feature! Typos are among the top 3 reasons resumes are rejected by recruiters. You can also have a look at our Video Interview for some extra information. 

Armed with this new knowledge and our extensive online resume building tool, it’s time to land that dream job!