I've been working remotely as a freelance video editor and animator for around 17 years ago.

Ever since I went independent from my past production house job and started my own company, I've been doing remove video editing jobs and creating content from a home studio.

Freelance video editing opportunities can be hard to find.

Plus, I often get to hire freelance video editors to work on projects remotely.

Let's take a look at where to find jobs as a freelance video editor, and what to do once you get them, further enhancing remote video editing careers.



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Where Do I Find Work as a Freelance Video Editor?

There are remote job platforms for video editors.

Frelance video editing job boards, social media sites like LinkedIn, you just need to know where to look and if it's worth it.

Job Boards for Freelance Video Editors


There are quite a few job boards for editors, and the number seems to be growing. Here are some of the most popular:


Behance


Behance is a great place to look for video editing jobs, either local or remote video editing jobs.

To find freelance video editing jobs specifically, go to the job section and type in "video editor" in the search bar.

There are tons of potential clients here waiting to hire you to create their audio and video content!


SimplyHired


SimplyHired is a job search engine that collects job listings from all over the web, including job boards, company websites, and more.

To find freelance video editing jobs on SimplyHired, go to the "Advanced Job Search" section and type in "video editor" in the keyword field.

Then, set the location to "remote" and you should see a good selection of remote video editing jobs.


Mandy


Mandy has been around for a long time. It's a great resource for finding freelance video editing jobs, as well as other jobs in the film and television industry.

To find video editing jobs on Mandy, go to the job section and type in "video editor" in the search bar.

You can also set the location to "remote" to find jobs that can be done remotely.


ProductionHub


ProductionHub is a great resource for finding video editing jobs, as well as other jobs in the production industry.

To find video editing jobs on ProductionHub, go to the job section and type in "video editor" in the search bar.

You can also set the location to "remote" to find jobs that can be done remotely.


Upwork


Upwork is a great place to find work as a freelance video editor, especially if you're just starting out.

You can search for video editing gigs and get an idea of what the going rate is.


Fiverr


Fiverr is another great option for finding freelance video editing work. You can browse through the video editing gig listings and see what people are offering.


PeoplePerHour


PeoplePerHour is similar to Upwork and Fiverr, but it's geared more towards hourly work rather than project-based work. This makes it a great option if you're looking for ongoing video editing work.


Craigslist


Craigslist can be a great place to find video editing work, but you need to be careful. There are a lot of scams on Craigslist, so make sure you do your research before you apply for any gigs.


Indeed


Indeed is a job search engine that aggregates job listings from all over the web. You can search for video editing jobs on Indeed and find a variety of listings from different sources.


Glassdoor


Glassdoor is a job search engine that's similar to Indeed, but it also has company reviews and salary information. This makes it a great resource for finding video editing jobs and doing some research on potential employers.


These job boards are great places to start your search for video editing work. You can usually find a good variety of jobs, from one-time projects to long-term contract work.


The best part about using a job board is that you can usually get an idea of the pay range for a particular project before you apply. This can save you a lot of time and energy in the long run.



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Other Ways To Get Freelance Video Editing Jobs


Cold Emailing


I've had great success simply cold-emailing video production companies. Start by finding a list of video production companies in your area. Then, send them a short email introduce yourself and your video editing services.


You can also search for video production companies on social media sites like LinkedIn and see if you can find any employees who work there that you could reach out to.


Network With Other Video Editors


If you know any other editors, make sure to network with them. They may be able to give you some leads on video editing jobs or projects that they're working on.


And if you don't know any other editors, consider joining a professional organization like the American Cinema Editors (ACE). This will give you access to job boards, networking events, and more resources that can help



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What To Have Prepared Before Applying to Video Editing Jobs

Get your ducks in a row before applying to remove video editing positions.


When I look to hire editors, here are some remove video editor application tips and materials to create:


Demo Reel


A Demo Reel that accurately shows off your experience as an editor is a must-have. Make sure your reel is up-to-date and includes your best work. A variety of different styles of video from different industries is a nice bonus


Specific Samples of Your Work


Before applying for editor jobs, it's always a good idea to first create a video editing portfolio for remote jobs This could be a link to your website or online portfolio. For hiring editors, I would like to see a large variety of work in different styles. Plus show specific examples pertinent to the type of job you're applying for.


Resumé


Your video editing resume should list your experience, skills, and education in the video editing field. It's also a good idea to include links to your work, such as your website or online portfolio. I might lightly skim a resume, but I'm mainly looking at the work samples and the demo reel.


Cover Letter (or email)


A well-written cover letter can make a big difference when applying for editor jobs. A well-written cover letter can make a big difference when applying for editor jobs. In your cover letter, be sure to talk about why you're wanting this position and what makes you a good candidate for the job.


Applying for Jobs on Job Boards


When you find a job that looks interesting, the next step is to apply. This usually involves creating a profile on the job board's website and submitting a proposal.


The key to applying for jobs on job boards is to stand out from the crowd. There are usually hundreds of other editors applying for the same job, so you need to make sure your proposal is well-written and tailored to the specific project.


If you're not sure how to write a great proposal, there are plenty of resources and templates available online. Just do a quick search and you'll find what you need.


LinkedIn for Video Editors


LinkedIn can be a great place to find video editing work, especially if you're looking for long-term contract or full-time work.


There are two ways to find video editing work on LinkedIn:


- Use the job search function and filter by editor jobs

- Connect with video production companies and send them a message


The job search function is pretty self-explanatory. Just enter "video editor" in the search bar and you'll see a list of recent job postings. You can also use the filters to narrow down your results.


To connect with video production companies, go to the company's page and click on the "About" tab. From there, scroll down to the "People" section and click on the "See all employees" button. This will bring up a list of all the current employees at that company.



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Once You've Got the Video Editing Gig


Every job will be different, but there might be a few universal things to keep in mind when you're working remotely as an editor.


Internet Speed


You'll need fast, reliable internet to download / upload video footage. Sites geared towards the sharing of video content for production houses like Frame.io and Dropbox are used heavily in post-production. Be sure you can upload edits, assets, and final deliverables quickly in case you're on a tight deadline.


It's good to know the public places in your area (like coffee shops, grocery stores, and libraries) that have super fast internet in case yours isn't very fast or you're having network troubles.


Flat Rate vs. Hourly Rate


It's good to think through what you have to do depending on whether you're billing hourly or getting a flat rate for the work. If I am billing a flat rate, I make sure every detail and expectation is spelled out so there are no surprises that change a $100 per hour job into a minimum wage job. Be sure to ask lots of questions about expectations.


Some "surprises" that might creep up and drain your time:


  • Rounds of Revisions
  • Types of deliverables you weren't aware of (different formats, alternate edits, etc.)
  • Unexpected Time-consuming details like closed captioning

Video Software You Should Know


It's not hard to become well-versed in multiple editing software platforms, but you probably don't need to know them all.

The most popular video software applications you should probably know are Adobe Premiere Pro (and the Adobe Creative Suite), Davinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, and Avid Media Composer.

Being able to cut together video content in those programs will give you a leg up over the competition.

Other various video software apps like Compressor, Adobe Media Encoder, etc., are usually part of the job description as well.


Other Video Skills To Have


If you can edit video, there are adjacent skills required for remote video editors.

This includes motion graphics design (like in Adobe After Effects), color-correction and color grading (like in Davinci Resolve), and audio post-production and audio sweetening (like in Adobe Audition, Logic Pro X or Davinci Resolve).

Types of Video You Should Know How to Make


It's one thing to be an aspiring feature film editor, but in the corporate world you should be able to work in other styles of video.

Likely you'll need to know how to edit commercial content, create educational content, edit social media ads, develop social video strategies, as well as regular video editing duties like rough cut raw video for another editor (assistant edit).

In general, you should be comfortable working with a creative team as it takes a team to create a high quality big budget video.



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Freelance Video Editor Jobs FAQ


Can you work remotely as an editor?


Yes, there are many remote video editing jobs available. In fact, with the rise of cloud-based video editing software, it's easier than ever to work from anywhere in the world.


To find remote video editing jobs, check out job boards and classifieds websites like Indeed and Craigslist. You can also search for video editor jobs on freelancer websites like Upwork and Fiverr, and social media platforms like LinkedIn.


Do I need a College Degree to get a job as a video editor?


No, you don't need a college degree to get a job as an editor. However, having a degree from a video editing or film school can give you an edge over the competition.


If you don't have a degree, you can still get a video editor job by demonstrating your video editing skills with a portfolio of your work.


How much do remote editors make?


Remote editors can make anywhere from $20 to $100 per hour, depending on their experience and the type of work they're doing. Hourly rates tend to be lower for video editors who are just starting out, and higher for those with more experience.


Flat rates can also vary widely, depending on the scope of the project. A simple video edit might only pay a few hundred dollars, while a more complex project could pay thousands.


How do I get hired to edit videos?


To get hired to edit videos, you'll need to showcase your video editing skills with a portfolio of your work. You can also search for video editor jobs on job boards and classifieds websites like Indeed and Craigslist. You can also search for remove video editing jobs on freelancer websites like Upwork and Fiverr.


Is there a demand for video editors?


Yes, there is a demand for editors. The demand for editors is expected to grow in the coming years. The growth of video streaming services like YouTube and Netflix has created a need for more video content, which in turn has created a need for more video editors.


If you're interested in becoming a video editor, now is a great time to get started. There are many job opportunities available, and the demand for editors is only expected to grow in the future.


What is remote video editing?


Remote video editing jobs require you to be the editor in a different city than the client. This can be done from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection.


There are many job opportunities available for remote editors. To find these remove video editing jobs, check out job boards and classifieds websites like Indeed and Craigslist. You can also search for remote video editing jobs on freelancer websites like Upwork and Fiverr, and social media platforms like LinkedIn.


Is freelance video editing in demand?


Yes, freelance video editing is in high demand. The demand for video content is growing, and video editors are in high demand. You can like find a good gig in the city you live in, plus it's more and more common getting remote video editing jobs from production houses all over the world.



About the Author

Joseph Nilo has been working professionally in all aspects of audio and video production for over twenty years. His day-to-day work finds him working as a video editor, 2D and 3D motion graphics designer, voiceover artist and audio engineer, and colorist for corporate projects and feature films.