Working in Publishing: Career Advice We Would Give Our Younger Selves
People get into the publishing industry at different stages of their careers – while some people aspire to work in publishing and steer their education choices towards it, others join publishing later in life by either re-training completely or utilising their transferable skills from another industry.
We asked some publishing professionals here at Sweet Cherry what advice they’d give their younger selves, either when they were looking for a job or had just started out in publishing. Here’s what they said…
“Be open to what everyone else does. Listen and learn from other departments – everyone has to work together and has an important role to play in publishing.”
– Katie, Operations Manager
“Apply for work experience to gain a better understanding of which area of publishing interests you most. Try and work in a number of different departments – it’ll make you more confident in interviews. Also, don’t sell yourself short when it comes to other experience – if you’ve worked as a waitress, never say ‘just waitressing’. The transferable skills you gain from public/customer-facing jobs are invaluable in publishing.”
– Lara, Publisher
“Don’t compare yourself to other people who may already have a job when you don’t. You’ll eventually find the right role for you, even if it might take time to find the right one. In the meantime, look for opportunites and internships. Work on your own cover designs and book-related projects to make your portfolio more relevant to publishing.”
– Amy, Junior Designer
“Things in the industry can change quickly so take every opportunity to learn new skills that make you adaptable and efficient. There are also a lot of great self-help books and videos out there. Experience counts for a lot, but being prepared for different scenarios does too.”
– Ashley, Development Editor
“Don’t underestimate how much you will learn on the job. It might seem overwhelming at first, but stick with it! One of the best parts of working in publishing is seeing all your hard work pay off when you are holding a printed book in your hands when you’ve been working really hard on it for the last few months.”
– Matt, Middleweight Designer
“Always do your research: Make sure the companies you apply to share similar goals and morals to you. That way, you’ll know that you’re working towards something you believe in, and when the products you create succeed, you’ll feel like you’re sharing their success. Also, experience is experience no matter where you get it. Get your ‘foot in the door’ wherever you can. You could end up finding a new passion, or learning new things that help you on your way to landing your dream job. Never stop reading! (Or writing, or editing, or researching, or blogging, or whatever it was that made you fall in love with publishing in the first place.)”
– Tori, Senior Editor
“Keep using that passion for books in your own personal projects, and show them off in applications and during interviews. Don’t give up and try not to feel disheartened when job hunting gets tough! Keep talking to people and keep an eye out for any opportunities, even work experience. I’d also say that it’s important to keep up to date with the latest big projects in the industry, particularly ones that inspire you. Think about what makes that project so special and take that knowledge with you.”
– Jess, Junior Designer
“Everyone in publishing loves reading books, but show that you understand the business of publishing. If you’re struggling to find work experience or an internship, gain experince in other areas of the book trade: work or volunteer at your local bookshop or library, volunteer to read with or children, or start a book blog. Having knowledge of different areas of the book trade helps give you understand the market and gives you talking points in an interview.”
– Divia, Marketing and Publicity Executive
“Working in children’s book publishing is not as out of reach as you thought it was! Also, jump towards ever opportunity that arises.”
– Dom, Junior Designer
“Always remember why you want to work in publishing – because you love books! Keep your passion at the center of it all, and you’ll get there. Also, experience can come in so many forms – from writing book reviews in your spare time, to proofreading at a local newspaper, to growing a social media presence. The more you do, the more you show you care about books and the industry.”
– Jasmine, Development Editor
