What Every Wanna-Be EA Wants to Know But is Afraid to Ask

By AnaMaria Glavan

It’s official: You’re looking to snag your first job in the mag world and, to quote The Devil Wears Prada, hold a position that “a million girls would kill for.” But even though you know this is your calling, you might still have a few nitty-gritty questions about what exactly an entry-level editorial assistant position (AKA the job-a-million-girls-would-kill-for) entails — but are too afraid to ask! Lucky for you, Ed did the dirty work for you. Here are your most common EA FAQs, answered.

1. Does an EA job consist of more writing or editing?
While every workplace is different, EAs are typically tasked with writing rather than editing. “I’m absolutely writing more than editing as an EA, and I love it!” says Danielle Tullo, editorial assistant at Cosmopolitan.com. Of course, the benefit is that your writing skills will exponentially improve by having constant feedback from seasoned editors. “With every single edit I get back, I am becoming a better writer and learning what it takes to be a good editor,” says Tullo.

That’s not to say you won’t have a chance to try your hand at editing, too. Many EAs have the opportunity to edit small news items, sidebars, or quote round-ups, before passing them to a top editor for a second look.

2. What is an EA’s daily schedule like?
Ever heard of that old adage, life is like a box of chocolates — you never know what flavor you’ll get? Well, this saying sums up the role of an EA. “There are no common tasks,” says Elizabeth Young, assistant to editor-in-chief of Marie Claire. “A day’s work can consist of anything from finding a last-minute makeup artist overseas to designing full scale presentations to simply keeping the day on track — and mostly likely two or more of these at once.”

Essentially, being an EA requires flexibility and the ability to throw yourself into whatever task needs to get done. Tullo adds, “I wear many different hats as an editorial assistant, and I’m changing that hat minute-to-minute based on what needs to get done.”

3. Do EAs pitch their own stories or are they assigned them?
The most basic answer to this question is: both. “I’m encouraged to pitch ideas and to always be thinking about what I could be writing,” says Tullo.

It goes without saying that you should always accept a story idea that your editor asks you to write; um, there’s no debate there. But you may have more fun writing your own ideas. “For the most part, every longer story I’ve written, whether it be a list or a post about life hacks, is something I’ve pitched (I write a lot about about Starbucks, those are my ideas!), but quick blog posts are also assigned to me as well,” says Tullo. “I get to sit in on every pitch meeting, which is really great!”

4. How much do EAs typically get paid?
EA salaries at the major consumer magazine companies range from $30,000 to $36,000. Of course, these numbers are dependent on the company and publication type. To get specific salary reports from real editors, check out Ed’s Real Salaries tool. (And be sure to add yours when you get your job to help others in the biz; it’s completely anonymous.)

Of course it’s not just about the actual pay. If you land a full-time job — rather than a freelance or temp position — you may also get full health insurance coverage, gym membership reimbursement, stock purchase options, 401(k) options, and more. These benefits can be worth up to 30 percent of your entire compensation package!

5. Still that sucks. How can an EA get a raise?
“There are two different kinds of raises,” Turner explains. “There are merit increases and there are raises that are referred to as ‘cost of living’ increases.” Cost of living increases are often delivered company-wide and match the rate of inflation, such as 1%-3% per year. Some companies give these every year without fail. Others do so only when they feel they can afford to do so, if at all. (Ask your future coworkers which bucket your company falls into.) A merit raise on the other hand, is based on, well, your merit or worth as an employee so it comes only when you deserve it — and usually with a promotion. The jump in salary is most often in the 5-15% range, says Turner. (So if you were making $35,000 your raise would put you at $36,750 to $40,250.)

5. OK, so when can an EA ask for a promotion?  
Hold your horses a minute there, whippersnapper! “The general rule of thumb on promotions is to wait a year before asking for one or for looking to leave your current magazine to seek one out elsewhere,” says Chandra Turner, founder and president of Ed2010 and executive editor of Parents. However, it is important to note that such a quick jump up the ladder isn’t common. “It’s hard to make the leap so quickly; especially at print magazines these days when there are fewer positions to move up into and smaller budgets for raises,” says Turner.

Typically, the next step for an EA is is an assistant editor position. For magazines that don’t have this spot on their masthead, the next rung on the ladder may be associate editor. Turner, though, describes this as a “huge jump.” (Gulp.)

6. OK. So what should an EA do in the meantime to get that promotion in a year?
Always make sure you’re on top of your game. “When something goes wrong ― as it inevitably will — don’t dwell. Instead, immediately shift to: How can [I] make this work?” says Young.

Turner advises familiarizing yourself with different mag positions, and tailoring your EA career into one that will allow for a smoother transition into your dream job.“Start moving in the direction of where you want to be,” says Turner.  “For instance, if you want to be an associate editor who is in charge of the health section, ask your editor if you can write for that section or assign spot items for it,” says Turner.

And of course, all the editors agreed that enthusiasm for your work paired with a can-do attitude will help you get noticed. And since you’ve taken the time to read this, it looks like you’ve already got that part in the bag!

AnaMaria is a former Ed Trust Fund winner and current intern at Nylon. She has also interned at Rolling Stone, Parents and Good Housekeeping. She’s obsessed with doughnuts and animals, as evident on her Instagram.