Edit Testing 1, 2, 3

As I sort of mentioned before, this past week has been a whirlwind of interviews and edit tests. There are usually about two applicable job postings a week, and I generally apply for anything with an editorial assistant-like title. So a few weeks ago I sent out the cover letters and resumes as usual, expecting to never hear anything back. However, I heard from everyone I contacted that week, which is extremely rare, and the interviews began.

Last week, I had interviews at three different publications, two for editorial assistant positions and one for a great internship. I've been through interviews with four different people at one of the publications, and I'm currently working on an edit test for the other after a successful interview.

My edit testing station, complete with MacBook, iPod,
assorted magazines and saltine crackers.

Edit tests are funny things because you never know what's going to be required of you. This one is pretty extensive, even more so than on I took for another well-known magazine a few weeks ago, but I love a challenge and the content is what I want to do with my life. It's actually been really fun to work on, and it's so nice to use my brain in an editorial way (since I never get to at New York). This one consisted of thinking up some news items for the section, giving some personal product picks, two opener ideas, two feature ideas and scouting a home to feature in the section. Essentially, I was to plan out an entire section of an issue of the magazine. But it's been fun and I've loved every minute of it.

Jobs have been pretty much all I've been thinking of lately, with so many things up in the air right now. Is this it for me? Will I finally land the job and be able to keep it in this economy? I hope so, but only time will tell.