About two years ago, a steady stream of video editing work dried up overnight. The client ghosted. The retainer vanished. The pipeline went cold.
I took a week to sleep in, binge some mindless content, and process it all. Then I opened my laptop and started the job hunt again. But this time… everything felt different.
The platforms I used to rely on were flooded. Cold outreach wasn’t landing. Old contacts had moved on. It wasn’t just me—nearly 70% of job seekers recently told Aerotek that this job search is harder than the last. And if you’ve spent months scrolling job boards and firing off applications with little to show for it, you know exactly what that feels like.
A friend of mine—an incredibly talented editor with major brand credits—shared this stat recently on LinkedIn:
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8 months of no work
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2,500 applications
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82 interviews
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3% application-to-interview rate
This isn’t someone who lacks experience or hustle. The question isn’t, “Are we good enough?” It’s:
What the hell happened to how we find work?
What’s Changed for Editors Looking for Work?
A few things:
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Job boards are crowded—500+ applicants in the first hour.
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Algorithms are unreliable—Instagram, YouTube, even Upwork.
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Studios are leaner, hiring fewer full-time roles.
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And networking? It’s more important than ever—but many of us only tap into it when we’re desperate.
1. Don’t Let Your Network Go Cold
If you’ve worked with a director, brand, or fellow editor before, don’t wait until you’re out of work to reach out.
The best gigs? They come from conversations, not cover letters.
If someone helped you land your last job, reach out just to check in. No pitch, no desperation—just connection. Keep that relationship warm.
Because one day, you’ll need a hand—and it’s a lot easier to ask if you didn’t vanish for 2 years.
2. Be an Active Recruiter (Even If You’re a Freelancer)
Look—most production companies and studios have open roles. But usually, only the producer or hiring manager is actively looking.
If you know an amazing colorist, animator, or editor who’s in between gigs—make an intro. Share the listing. Be a connector.
Even if it’s not your team, better talent lifts the whole production. And when you’re known as someone who brings in A-players, you become more valuable too.
3. Share How You Landed the Gig
If you booked a dream client because of a killer cold email, a portfolio strategy, or a referral—don’t keep it to yourself.
Post it. Blog it. Podcast it. Drop it in the group chat.
Why? Because the way editors find work is changing fast. What worked last year doesn’t work now. By the time you’re job hunting again, the rules will have changed again.
Gatekeeping doesn’t protect you. It just keeps good people out of the room.
4. Give Back When You Can
Someone helped you rework your reel? Pay it forward—help two others.
Someone introduced you to a client? Make three intros for fellow creatives.
Helping others isn’t charity. It’s strategy. The more strong editors out there, the stronger our industry becomes—and the more likely someone will help you when the tables turn.
Final Cut (TL;DR):
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Your next editing gig will probably come from your network, not a job board.
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Keep your relationships warm—even when you’re fully booked.
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Look for open roles and bring your crew with you.
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When you win, share how.
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Help other editors rise—because one day, you’ll need the same.
The job market for editors is tough—but you’re not alone. Let’s stop pretending it’s every freelancer for themselves.
Let’s build the kind of industry we actually want to work in.