Role: Video Editor — YouTube Cooking Channel 🎬 HIRING KIT — Video Editor for @CookingWithMaria (YouTube, 50k subscribers) 📋 JOB POST (copy-paste ready): "I run a YouTube cooking channel with 50,000 subscribers and upload 2 videos per week. I'm looking for a reliable video editor who understands food content, pacing, and storytelling. What you'll edit: 10-15 minute recipe videos with B-roll, text overlays, sound design, and color grading. I provide raw footage, voiceover, and a rough cut. You deliver a polished video ready to upload. Requirements: — 2+ years editing YouTube content (not just reels or shorts) — Proficient in Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve — Understands retention editing (keeping viewers past the 50% mark) — Turnaround: 3-4 days per video — Portfolio of food/lifestyle content required to apply Budget: $80-120 per video. Long-term collaboration preferred. To apply: Send portfolio + edit one 60-second sample from footage I'll provide." 🔍 TOP 5 SKILLS TO LOOK FOR: 1. Retention editing — do they know how to cut dead air and keep pace? 2. Sound design — good food videos have satisfying audio (sizzling, chopping) 3. Color grading for food — warm tones, appetizing colors 4. Title card and lower third design — clean, on-brand text overlays 5. Communication speed — do they reply within 24h or disappear for days? ❓ 3 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: 1. "Show me a video you edited where you made a significant creative decision. What was it and why?" 2. "What's your process when you receive raw footage with no direction?" 3. "What's your turnaround time and what happens if you miss a deadline?" 💰 MARKET RATE (2026): — Beginner: $40-60 per video — Mid-level: $80-150 per video — Senior: $200-400 per video Your budget of $80-120 attracts solid mid-level editors. 🚩 RED FLAGS — avoid candidates who: — Send a portfolio with only short-form content (Reels/TikToks) for a long-form role — Can't name the software they use — Ask for full payment upfront before delivering anything — Take more than 48h to reply to your first message — Have no food or lifestyle content in their portfolio 📝 TEST TASK: "Here is 3 minutes of raw cooking footage. Edit it into a 90-second sequence with music, sound design, and one text overlay showing the ingredient. No color grading needed. Turnaround: 48 hours." This task costs them 2-3 hours and immediately shows skill level, communication, and reliability.