What they take off your plate

  • Edit short-form reels and shorts from longer footage
  • Cut long-form YouTube videos with pacing that holds viewers
  • Add captions, titles, lower thirds and simple motion graphics
  • Clean up audio and add licensed music
  • Color-correct footage for a consistent look
  • Export versions for each platform's size and length
  • Keep a tidy project archive you can reuse

Editing is where videos win or lose attention

Most people decide in the first few seconds whether to keep watching. The editor controls those seconds: the hook, the pace, the captions that carry viewers watching with the sound off. Good editing can make ordinary footage feel professional, and poor editing can bury great material.

What we test for

Editors are easy to evaluate because the work speaks for itself. We review the portfolio for pacing and polish, then test with footage like yours in both vertical and horizontal formats, since those call for different instincts. A round of feedback in the test shows how well the editor takes direction, which matters for every video after.

Build a repeatable system

Agree on a simple style guide early: caption font and color, intro length, music mood, end screen. With a style guide and templates, your editor spends time on the creative decisions instead of rebuilding the same elements for every video. If you publish on YouTube, pair the editor with a YouTube channel manager for titles, thumbnails and publishing.

How we vet for this role

The skills test

The skills test uses raw footage like yours: one 60-second vertical reel and a two-minute horizontal cut from the same material, with captions and music. We check pacing, hook, caption accuracy and audio quality, then give one round of notes and review the revision.

It is one of eight checks, alongside a portfolio review, a past employment check, a live English interview, a paid trial task, a background check and an NDA. You interview the shortlist at the end.

See all eight checks

Getting started

What the first 30 days look like

  1. Week 1

    Your editor studies videos you like and your existing content, and you agree on a style guide covering fonts, caption style, music and pacing.

  2. Week 2

    First edits delivered through a shared folder with timestamped feedback.

  3. Week 3

    A steady weekly output begins, with templates for intros, captions and end screens.

  4. Week 4

    Review turnaround and performance, and set the monthly volume.

Measuring it

Numbers worth watching

Agree on these in week one so you both know what good looks like.

Industries

Where this role often works

FAQ

Questions about hiring a video editor

How many videos can one editor handle a week?

It depends on length and polish. A long YouTube video can take a full day or more, while simple reels take an hour or two each. We scope volume on the discovery call based on your content plan.

How do we send large video files?

Through a shared folder in Google Drive, Dropbox or Frame.io. Frame.io also makes feedback easier because you can comment at exact timestamps.

Can the editor make our videos go viral?

No editor can promise that. A good editor improves your odds with a strong hook, tight pacing and clear captions, and the rest depends on the idea and the audience.

Is licensed music included?

Music needs a license you hold, from a library like Epidemic Sound or Artlist, or the platform's own audio library. Your editor works within whatever license you have.

Related roles

Often hired alongside

Tell us what your video editor should own.

Book a 30-minute discovery call. Bring your task list and a budget range, and we'll show you what to delegate first.

Book a discovery call
Book a discovery call