Senior editors may find their names on a periodical's masthead or in a book's acknowledgements, but junior editors rarely see their names in print or have their labours recognized by the public. Despite these drawbacks, editing can be a rewarding profession. For those who love the written word and are able to think critically, editing offers a wonderful opportunity to work with language and with others who also love it. Most employers value experience and reputation over other credentials, so if you're contemplating editing as a career, consider working on newsletters, magazines, or brochures for organizations in your community. Many such groups welcome volunteers.
Computers play an important part in the publishing process.
Familiarity with one or more systems and word-processing programs can increase your usefulness as an editor. For corporate and technical work, expertise with computer graphics and page layouts will also yield benefits. In addition, the computer screen has itself become a new print medium, with its own editorial rules and requirements. If you are exploring editorial training opportunities, note that most employers don't provide training per se and that only a few educational institutions and organizations do. Although courses are no substitute for experience, they can acquaint you with some aspects of an editor's work.