I review video editor resumes and portfolios for a living.
And here’s the uncomfortable truth:
I can usually tell within six seconds whether an editor understands the business of video—or just the art of it.
The difference isn’t talent.
It’s vocabulary.
Amateurs describe how they feel.
Professionals describe what they produce.
So open your resume right now.
If you see any of the five words below, delete them immediately—and replace them with the upgrade.
1. Delete: “Passionate”
Why it hurts you:
Passion doesn’t pay the bills. Everyone is “passionate.” It’s filler language that tells employers nothing about how you perform under pressure.
Hiring managers don’t hire feelings.
They hire outcomes.
The Upgrade: Obsessed (with a metric)
Instead of:
Passionate about video editing.
Say this:
Obsessed with A/B testing hooks to maximize viewer retention.
Why it works: You’ve shifted from emotion → obsession → measurable impact.
2. Delete: “Creative”
Why it hurts you:
“Creative” is subjective. To many business owners, it quietly translates to:
- Hard to manage
- Expensive
- Unpredictable
Creativity without direction feels risky.
The Upgrade: Strategic
Instead of:
Creative video editor.
Say this:
Strategic editor focused on conversion-led assets.
Why it works: Strategy implies intention, decision-making, and alignment with business goals.
3. Delete: “Proficient” (Premiere, After Effects, etc.)
Why it hurts you:
Proficiency is the baseline. It’s like a chef saying they’re “proficient with knives.”
We assume you can use the tools.
What matters is how you use them.
The Upgrade: Advanced Workflow
Instead of:
Proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud.
Say this:
Built an advanced workflow using proxies and MOGRTs to reduce render times by 30%.
Why it works: You’ve demonstrated efficiency, systems thinking, and operational value.
4. Delete: “Storyteller”
Why it hurts you:
This is one of the most overused clichés in the industry.
Unless you’re cutting documentaries for Netflix, most clients don’t need a “storyteller.”
They need a salesperson with a timeline.
The Upgrade: Retention Specialist
Instead of:
Visual storyteller.
Say this:
Retention specialist—edits optimized to keep viewers watching past the 30-second mark.
Why it works: Retention is a business metric. Storytelling is a buzzword.
5. Delete: “Collaborative”
Why it hurts you (in 2026):
“Collaborative” often signals:
-
Lots of meetings
-
Hand-holding
-
Slow execution
Modern teams value speed and autonomy.
The Upgrade: Asynchronous
Instead of:
Collaborative team player.
Say this:
Thrives in asynchronous environments; executes complex briefs with minimal oversight.
Why it works: You’re signaling trust, independence, and efficiency—three things hiring managers crave.
The Real Lesson
Your resume isn’t a personality profile.
It’s a positioning document.
If your language sounds like everyone else’s, you’ll get the same result as everyone else: silence.
Delete vague words.
Replace them with signals.
Because in today’s market, the editors who get hired aren’t just good at video—they’re fluent in business.
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