I worked my way from the bottom upwards, It took 7 years from leaving a-levels to being a junior vt op to senior vt op working in everything from post dubbing to live studio and outside broadcast. Then going into editing, learning on online 9100 digi tape suites , learning how to edit as a real editor before getting my hands dirty on Avid etc.
Unfortunately people think they can pick up a editing programme and put it on a computer and then insult editors who have learnt an art for years by saying they can edit. Ie little collage brats who were taught by Medi teachers who really know ++++
If you really want it bad, then your best move is to start from the bottom and get into the industry as a runner then watch editors at work, learn the art, how they cut how they make it work, feel, flow etc asking questions.
Don`t listen to producers who dry hire as they know how to cause problems for real editors!

Avid express and Affter effects are great little tools, final cut pro is good to but I preffer Avid, mainy because its more proffesional in feel and its edl`s work with Broadcast equipment! for onlining which helps!!