Table 1Transition record

writertocopy editor

A writer already meets 39% of what the copy editor role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From writer

39%

Overlap1

To copy editor

9 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

58.4 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 58.4

This move: 58.4 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the copy editor role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the writer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 9 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A copy editor role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a writer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held consult with editor communication, collaboration and creativity
already held literature arts and humanities
already held writing techniques arts and humanities
already held spelling arts and humanities
already held proofread text communication, collaboration and creativity
already held consult information sources information skills

All 9 carried skills, including the 6 the copy editor role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 19 missing skills fall into 8 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 communication, collaboration and creativity 3 required, 4 supplementary

required, not held suggest revision of manuscripts required
required, not held follow a brief required
required, not held track changes in text editing required

optional, not held adapt to artists' creative demands optional
optional, not held rewrite articles optional
optional, not held rewrite manuscripts optional
optional, not held write headlines optional

02 information skills 1 required, 2 supplementary

required, not held use dictionaries required

optional, not held read manuscripts optional
optional, not held review unpublished articles optional

03 social sciences, journalism and information 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held digital journalism required

optional, not held editorial standards optional

04 arts and humanities 1 required

required, not held typography required

05 management skills 1 required

required, not held follow work schedule required

06 assisting and caring 2 supplementary

optional, not held follow ethical code of conduct of journalists optional
optional, not held follow newspaper house style optional

2 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a copy editor role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 9 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held apply grammar and spelling rules skill
already held consult with editor skill
already held copyright legislation knowledge
already held grammar knowledge
already held spelling knowledge
already held writing techniques knowledge
already held consult information sources skill
already held literature knowledge
already held proofread text skill

The 2 learning areas not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 information and communication technologies (icts) 2 supplementary

optional, not held desktop publishing optional
optional, not held office software optional

08 working with computers 1 supplementary

optional, not held apply desktop publishing techniques optional

12 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held adapt to artists' creative demands optional
optional, not held follow ethical code of conduct of journalists optional
optional, not held follow newspaper house style optional
optional, not held read manuscripts optional
optional, not held review unpublished articles optional
optional, not held rewrite articles optional
optional, not held rewrite manuscripts optional
optional, not held write headlines optional
optional, not held apply desktop publishing techniques optional
optional, not held desktop publishing optional
optional, not held editorial standards optional
optional, not held office software optional

23 held skills the copy editor role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role attend book fairs skill
not needed by the target role critically reflect on artistic production processes skill
not needed by the target role critique other writers skill
not needed by the target role develop an artistic framework skill
not needed by the target role develop creative ideas skill
not needed by the target role evaluate writings in response to feedback skill
not needed by the target role liaise with book publishers skill
not needed by the target role linguistics knowledge
not needed by the target role manage writing administration skill
not needed by the target role negotiate artistic productions skill
not needed by the target role negotiate publishing rights skill
not needed by the target role perform background research on writing subject skill
not needed by the target role promote one's writings skill
not needed by the target role publishing industry knowledge
not needed by the target role publishing market knowledge
not needed by the target role respect publication formats skill
not needed by the target role select subject matter skill
not needed by the target role teach writing skill
not needed by the target role types of literature genres knowledge
not needed by the target role use specific writing techniques skill
not needed by the target role write dialogues skill
not needed by the target role write storylines skill
not needed by the target role write to a deadline skill

5 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held digital journalism required
required, not held typography required
optional, not held desktop publishing optional
optional, not held editorial standards optional
optional, not held office software optional

Index

Other moves recorded from writer

Full index of moves from writer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.