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Cover Letter Sample: Applying for Editorial Assistant Job

Not everyone applying for a job has years of professional experience behind them. This next sample cover letter's geared toward an entry-level position in the publishing industry.

The applicant has had a relevant internship, plus a summer job at her local bookstore. In lieu of more extensive experience, she makes sure her enthusiasm for the position and company shines through. 

Read on to see how the writer shows her passion for publishing, and then check out the analysis below of what this cover letter does well.

Cover Letter Sample: Editorial Assistant  

Mary Entel 1111 E. 15th St. New York, NY 11230

May 1, 2016  

Rita Bookman Editor-in-Chief Cooper Books Publishing House 74 Reading Street New York, New York 10020

Dear Ms. Bookman,

I was pleased to find your posting for an Editorial Assistant with Coffeehouse Books on MediaBistro.com. As an English literature major with a passion for the written word, I am committed to working in the publishing industry following graduation. I’m especially excited about your publishing company because you represent two of my favorite authors, Tim Smith and Anne Lee. I'm confident that I have the skills and experiences to add substantial contributions to Coffeehouse Books.

Last fall, I gained practical experience in the publishing industry as an intern at Dharma Publishing House. I collaborated with members of the editorial staff on projects that included reading and reporting on manuscript submissions, editing promotional materials, and completing fact checks. In particular, I edited three social science works to publication-ready state using Chicago Manual of Style guidelines. My knowledge of grammar and style would allow me to step right into editorial work as an Editorial Assistant with your company.

Beyond my editorial experience, I would also bring a rich knowledge of literature. I studied English at NYU, maintaining a 3.8 GPA, and worked at my local bookstore during the summers. At the bookstore, I helped customers discover contemporary works - The Orphan Master’s Son and Swamplandia are two favorites - and organized events for speakers and book signings. Between my studies and work, I immersed myself in the world of fiction and nonfiction. My passion for reading underlies my commitment to this work, and I have the organizational and communication skills, along with the attention to detail, to excel in every aspect of the Editorial Assistant role.

My life has been shaped by the written word, and I would be thrilled to contribute to Coffeehouse Books in the role of Editorial Assistant. I would welcome the opportunity to interview and can be reached anytime at (555) 555-5555 or [email protected].

Thank you very much for your consideration.

Mary Entel  

Mary Entel

While Mary hasn't worked in publishing before, she's spent a lot of time around books working in her local bookstore.

Editorial Assistant Cover Letter: The Breakdown

In her cover letter for the position of Editorial Assistant , Mary  expresses her enthusiasm for the position. She shows that she has the skills - editorial, organization, communication - to do well in the role, and infuses her entire letter with a sense of excitement about working in the publishing industry.

In her introduction, Mary shows that she has some familiary with Coffeehouse Books , stating that the company represents two of her favorite authors. She describes her experiences as an editorial intern, as well as her knowledge of literature as an English major and summer employee of her local bookstore.

Mary ends by restating her excitement about the position with Coffeehouse Books. After reading her letter, hopefully Editor-in-Chief Rita Bookman will be happy to engage with Mary in conversation about the Editorial Assistant position.

In addition to the content of Mary's letter, let's take a closer look at its overall presentation. 

A Note on Format

As you can see in the letter above, Mary formats her cover letter in a traditional way. She includes her name and address at the top, followed by the date and name and information of the hiring manager. 

This is a great approach if you're sending your cover letter by hard copy or as a Word attachment. For a lot of jobs, though, it's fine or even preferred to send your cover letter right in the body of an email. Still other jobs use their own application portal and want you to paste your information into a text box.

In the latter two cases (body of the email and text box), it's usually fine to leave out all these headers. You can just start right in by addressing the hiring manager. Make sure you understand how to send your application materials and format your cover letter accordingly!

What's Next?

On to the next cover letter! Check out this cover letter sample for the position of Assistant Restaurant Manager .

Care to read more samples? Head over to our full cover letter guide with six sample letters and tips for how to write a great one .

Are you writing your own cover letter for a job application? Check out our great cover template to help you through the writing process, step by step . 

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Editorial Assistant Cover Letter Example

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Start your Editorial Assistant cover letter by addressing the hiring manager directly, if possible. Then, introduce yourself and express your interest in the position. Mention where you found the job posting and why you're interested in the role. For example, "Dear [Hiring Manager's Name], I am writing to express my interest in the Editorial Assistant position at [Company Name], as advertised on [Job Posting Site]. With my strong background in [relevant experience], I am confident in my ability to contribute to your editorial team." This approach is direct, shows you've done your research, and immediately highlights your relevant experience.

The best way for Editorial Assistants to end a cover letter is by expressing enthusiasm for the opportunity and a desire to contribute to the team. You can say something like, "I am excited about the possibility of bringing my skills and passion for editing to your team and I am confident that I can contribute significantly to your editorial goals." Then, thank the hiring manager for considering your application, for example, "Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my candidacy further." Always end with a professional closing such as "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. This ending shows your eagerness, professionalism, and respect for the hiring manager's time.

In a cover letter, Editorial Assistants should include the following: 1. Contact Information: At the top of the letter, include your name, address, phone number, and email address. If the letter is being sent electronically, this information can be included in the signature. 2. Salutation: Address the letter to the hiring manager by name, if possible. If not, use a general salutation like "Dear Hiring Manager." 3. Introduction: Briefly introduce yourself and explain why you're writing. Mention the position you're applying for and where you found the job listing. 4. Relevant Skills and Experience: This is the main body of the letter. Discuss your previous experience in editorial roles, your educational background in journalism, English, or a related field, and any relevant skills you possess. These might include proofreading, copy editing, project management, or familiarity with publishing software. Use specific examples from your past work or academic experience to demonstrate these skills. 5. Enthusiasm for the Role: Show that you're genuinely interested in the role and the company. You might mention a recent article or project they've worked on that you admired, or discuss how your career goals align with the company's mission. 6. Closing: Thank the hiring manager for their time and express your hope to discuss the position further. Include your phone number or email address again for easy reference. 7. Signature: End with a professional closing like "Sincerely" or "Best regards," followed by your name. Remember, a cover letter should be tailored to each job you apply for, highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the job description. It's also an opportunity to show a bit of your personality and demonstrate your passion for the field of publishing.

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• Editorial Assistant cover letter examples

Landing an Editorial Assistant job can be difficult in today’s job market, but a good cover letter will help you to impress recruiters and secure that all-important interview.

But of course, crafting a good cover letter requires skill and know-how.

That’s why we have put together this step-by-step guide including 3 Editorial Assistant cover letter examples, to help you write your own.

Guide contents

How to write a Editorial Assistant cover letter

• What to include in a Editorial Assistant cover letter

CV templates 

Editorial Assistant cover letter example 1

Build your CV now 

Editorial Assistant cover letter example 2

Editorial Assistant cover letter example 3

These 3 Editorial Assistant cover letter examples will provide you with some good ideas on how to format a cover letter, along with the type of message you should be trying to put across to recruiters .

To further understand exactly how you can write a cover letter that will get you noticed, check out our further guidance.

Here’s how you can write your own eye-catching cover letter, broken down into simple steps.

Write your cover letter in the body of an email/message

Type the content of your cover letter directly into the email you are sending, or if you are applying via a job board, directly into their messaging system.

The reason for doing this it to ensure that your cover letter gets seen instantly and you can start connecting with the recruiter as soon as they open your message.

If you attach your cover letter as a separate document, the recipient will have to open up the document, which will slow the process down, or make them less likely to even open your cover letter – which could mean your application gets skipped over.

Start with a friendly greeting

To build an instant connection with the recruiter reading your cover letter, start with a warm greeting.

It should be friendly but not casual – keeping it professional at all times.

• Hi, hope you’re well
• Hi [insert recruiter name]
• Hi [insert department/team name]

Avoid overly formal greetings like “Dear sir/madam ” unless applying to very traditional companies.

How to find the contact’s name?

Addressing the recruitment contact by name is an excellent way to start building a strong relationship. If it is not listed in the job advert, try these methods to find it.

• Check out the company website and look at their  About page. If you see a hiring manager, HR person or internal recruiter, use their name. You could also try to figure out who would be your manager in the role and use their name.
• Head to LinkedIn , search for the company and scan through the list of employees. Most professionals are on LinkedIn these days, so this is a good bet.

Identify the role you are applying for

Once you’ve opened up the cover letter with a warm greeting to start building a relationship, it is time to identify which role you want to apply for.

Recruiters are often managing multiple vacancies, so you need to ensure you apply to the correct one.

Be very specific and use a reference number if you can find one.

• I am interested in applying for the position of Editorial Assistant with your company.
• I would like to apply for the role of Sales assistant (Ref: 406f57393)
• I would like to express my interest in the customer service vacancy within your retail department
• I saw your advert for a junior project manager on Reed and would like to apply for the role.

See also: CV examples – how to write a CV – CV profiles

Highlight your suitability

The bulk of your cover letter should be focused around highlighting your suitability for the job you are applying to.

Doing this will show the recruiter that you are suitable candidate and encourage them to open your CV.

The best way to do this, is by studying the job advert you are applying to, and find out what the most important skills and knowledge are.

Once you know the most important requirements, you then need to highlight your matching skills to the recruiter. In a few sentences, tell them exactly why you are a good fit for the job and what you can offer the company.

Keep it short and sharp

When sending a job application to a recruiter or hiring manager, it is important to remember that they will normally be very busy and pushed for time.

Therefore, you need to get you message across to them quickly (in a matter of seconds ideally). So, keep your cover letter short and to-the-point. A long waffling cover letter will overwhelm recruiters when they are running through hundreds of emails in there inbox, but a concise one will get their attention.

So, keep your cover letter to just a few sentences long, and save the extensive detail for your CV.

Sign off professionally

To finish off your cover note, add a professional signature to the bottom, stating your important contact details and information.

This not only provides recruiters with multiple means of contacting you, but it also adds a nice professional appearance to the cover letter, which shows that you know how to conduct yourself in the workplace.

Include the following points;

• A friendly sign off – e.g. “Warm regards”
• Your full name
• Phone number (one you can answer quickly)
• Email address
• Profession title
• Professional social network – e.g. LinkedIn

Here is an example signature;

Warm regards,

Aaron Smith Customer service professional 075557437373 [email protected] LinkedIn

Quick tip : To save yourself from having to write your signature every time you send a job application, you can save it within your email drafts, or on a separate document that you could copy in.

What to include in your Editorial Assistant cover letter

Your Editorial Assistant cover letter will be unique to your situation, but there are certain content guidelines you should stick to for best results.

To attract and entice recruiters, stick with the following key subjects in your cover letter – adapting them to fit your profession and target jobs.

• Your professional experience – Employers will be keen to know if your experience is suitable for the job you are applying to, so provide a good summary of it in your cover letter.
• Your qualifications and education – Highlight your most relevant and high-level of qualification, especially if they are essential to the job.
• The positive impact you have made – Employers love to hear about the benefits you can bring to them, so shout about anything impressive you have done, such as saving money or improving processes.
• Your reasons for leaving – Use a few words of your cover letter to explain why you are leaving your current job and ensure you avoid any negative reasons.
• Your availability – Let recruiters know when you can start a new job . Are you immediately available, or do you have a month notice period ?

To round up

Writing an impressive cover letter is a crucial step in landing a Editorial Assistant job, so taking the time to perfect it is well worth while.

By following the tips and examples above you will be able to create an eye-catching cover letter that will wow recruiters and ensure your CV gets read – leading to more job interviews for you.

Good luck with your job search!

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• Editorial Assistant

Editorial Assistant cover letter example

Editorial assistants are some of the busiest people in the publishing world. However, when it comes to writing your own words for a cover letter, time suddenly slows down. When you spend so much time taking care of the writing and creativity of others, it may be difficult to find the right words. While you understand what constitutes great writing, it will likely take a moment to get into the creative frame of mind.

Many editorial assistants have a dizzying array of responsibilities, so make sure that you read the job description carefully when you come to write the cover letter. Which publishing career stories do you wish to tell? Focus on your accomplishments rather than your job duties. Your future boss wants to know how you shine.

If you have ambitions of future promotions, portray yourself as someone who is always keen to learn and do work that is over and above the job description. Demonstrate your love for the written word and craft a cover letter that chooses its words with care. Hopefully, by the end of this blog, you will have a few ideas on how to make this happen.

As with any piece of writing, sit down and think about what you wish to write before you start typing. Words tend to stick to the page once they are there – you won’t want to be editing the cover letter for too long as you will have plenty of other things on your plate. Do your thinking before you begin. Our library of cover letter examples is filled with other examples that may help to spark some inspiration. In this writing guide and corresponding editorial assistant cover letter example, we cover:

• Create a suitable format that frames your publishing career
• How to select the right content for each cover letter section
• How to write a cover letter with no editorial assistant experience
• Mistakes to avoid. No, really, you cannot afford to make any.

Best format for an editorial assistant cover letter

Editorial assistants understand the importance of structured communication. Hiring managers from any industry will expect the format of a cover letter to follow certain rules. There is no reason for an editorial assistant to diverge from these norms – you will get the job because of the content of the cover letter rather than how it is presented. Don’t take any risks. The standard structure of a cover letter is as follows:

• The cover letter header
• The greeting/salutation
• The cover letter intro
• The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
• The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)

300 words is not a lot for a career that contains hundreds of worthy stories. Think carefully about what your future boss wants to hear about and avoid the mundane stories that everyone else will be sharing. You need to sound like you go the extra mile in every situation.

There are other considerations apart from language. You will likely be an expert in fonts and typesetting, so you will feel at home reading some of the style advice in our comprehensive cover letter guide. There is more to writing a cover letter than the words. What size font would you choose? How big would your margins be? How would you design the cover letter header? Visuals matter when you come to read a piece of content.

Our editorial assistant cover letter may offer some inspiration.

Re: Editorial assistant role

Dear Mrs. Marchant,

Having collaborated on some of the best-selling sports autobiographies over the past four years, I believe that the role at Hamill will be well suited to me. My law degree is surprisingly useful when it comes to what can and can’t be said and I enjoy helping some of the most accomplished people on the planet get their most intimate thoughts into the world.

For my part, I ensure that everything runs like clockwork. I have honed a multitude of editorial skills, including project management, copyediting, proofreading, and fact-checking. I have often had to juggle multiple projects concurrently, ensuring that all tasks are completed on time. I pride myself on my communication skills. In my previous role, I was the primary point of contact for authors and contributors, which required me to address their queries, provide status updates, and relay their feedback to our team. 

I am comfortable using all publishing software applications and have overseen social media campaigns and website launches. I find SEO fascinating and enjoyed record search results in comparison to the other eight publishing areas.

I have a passion for literature and am writing my first fan-fiction book. This gives me an insight into the tortuous writing process and allows me to empathize with our authors when deadlines go flying by. Having said this, I always seek to find the most appropriate way to influence the project team to stick to deadlines as much as possible. We have books to sell.

I would welcome the opportunity to meet and find out more about the role. I met Harriet Jones at BookCon, and she encouraged me to apply.

Lillian Dale

Look at examples of other related letters for inspiration:

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Cover letter header

The cover letter header is more about practicality than visuals. Of course, the choice of design will have some sort of effect on the hiring manager, but it is best to keep it professional and somewhat neutral.

On the organizational side, it is vital to include your full name, email address, and mobile number. You never quite know when your future boss may decide to invite you to an interview, so include them here as well as in your cover letter.

As editorial assistants need to be thorough in their preparation of content and documents, it is advisable to be formal in what you include in your cover letter header. It is not common to include the “inside address” of the employer normally, but it is worth erring on the side of formality in publishing. You never know if your future boss is a stickler for the details. You do not, however, need to include your own full home address. There are data protection concerns here and it is not required.

Cover letter greeting 

Greet the reader with a standard “Dear Surname.” It is important to address the editorial assistant cover letter to a person (rather than the cold “who whom it may concern”) as it demonstrates the personal touch. 

The name of the hiring manager or HR representative should be on the job description. If it isn’t, then a quick call to the company should suffice. Show that you have the research skills to find out the name. If your fellow applicants do not take the time to do this that is to your advantage.

Cover letter introduction

The introduction of an editorial assistant cover letter should not be bland. Hiring managers do not want to read a long list of your job duties. Think about the most challenging parts of the job in question and share a story from your past which covers why you will be a great fit for the role. 

Share your motivations and passion for the publishing industry. The hours are long, and the workload is immense, so let your future boss know exactly why you show up for work every day. What keeps you going on those long evenings preparing manuscripts?

If you feel that it would be effective, it may be worthwhile to name-drop a specific client or project to get the hiring manager’s attention. Your credibility comes from those that have trusted you to work with them in the past, so don’t be shy.

Cover letter middle part (body)

The middle part should be packed with your proudest career moments. Tell your future boss about that tricky copyright compliance case, wildly successful promotion campaign, or your bespoke approach to author relations. Every story should outline the positive impact on your employer. You don’t just do a job; you do a great job.

This is also where you share details of the authors that you have worked with and publications that you have assisted. Name-dropping matters. Prove that you have the ability to take on high-volume projects by sharing numbers about your activity wherever possible. How much reader engagement can you manage during the week? What were the results when you took over the social channels for a particular campaign? 

The middle part of the editorial assistant cover letter also offers the chance to share some personality. How do you go about your work with the various stakeholders? A resume doesn’t offer the space for such nuances, so mention it here to show that it is a priority for you. Maintaining productive relationships is central to everything that you do.

Take care to center your cover letter content around the demands of the job description. Each cover letter should be tailored for the specific role. You may be incredibly proud of certain aspects of your career, but if they are not relevant to the position, then leave them out. The purpose of a cover letter is to interest the hiring manager enough that they choose to invite you to an interview. That is the time to expand on what you want to tell them.

There is likely to be a large volume of applicants for any editorial assistant role, so it is worth considering the role of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) in processing your application. 

This software is used as a database for employers, but it may also play a role in selecting the most suitable resumes by conducting a keyword search. This is far from always the case, but it does have this functionality. Include enough keywords from the job description just in case, but don’t fall into the trap of keyword stuffing. That will seem inauthentic.

How to close an editorial assistant cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)

The conclusion of an editorial assistant cover letter should finish with a call-to-action and a sense that you are curious to find out more about the role. When you love your job, this sentiment is perfectly understandable and it is a great way of hinting to the hiring manager that they have a decision to make. They do not know whether you have other roles that you are considering, so it is perfectly acceptable to hint at a sense of urgency.

Write in hope rather than expectation. They will understand that you are coming from a place of passion for the role. Hopefully, they will be just as keen to meet you.

Editorial assistant cover letter with no experience

Editorial assistants with no prior experience can come from many non-publishing backgrounds. If you are successful at administration and marketing, it is the sort of role that you can learn on the job. You should be experienced at influencing others and highly organized, with ruthless prioritizing skills. When an urgent deadline drops onto your desk, everything else must wait (but it still needs to be done eventually).

Show that you have the ability to thrive within a pressurized environment – publishing is not for the faint-hearted. Tell your future boss why you want to enter the industry.

Basic mistakes in an editorial assistant application letter (and how to avoid them)

If you make a mistake in the cover letter, you can expect a dark cloud of doubt to linger over your application. Take your time when proofreading. One small mistake can make a publisher consider whether you would do the same during your job.

• Spelling and grammar skills are essential for any editorial assistant. Be forensic about proofreading before you send off the cover letter.
• Write about the specific role. Don’t copy/paste anything from another letter that sounds like you are applying somewhere else.
• Don’t be too conversational. Adopting a professional tone is essential at all times during both written and oral communication.

Key takeaways

• Talk about your ability to handle the volume of work with enthusiasm and care.
• Make sure that you share accomplishments that are relevant.
• Tell the hiring manager why you want the role – motivation matters in this job.
• Select an attractive cover letter design with our cover letter templates.

Free professionally designed templates