Publishing : Entry and progression

How do I find a job?

• Book publishing vacancies are advertised in The Bookseller  and BookCareers .
• Newspaper, magazine and journal vacancies can be found in Press Gazette , Hold the Front Page , Journalism.co.uk , MediaGuardian  and PPA Jobs . 
• Jobs may be advertised throughout the year.
• Entry to this sector is competitive. It is important to research the companies you are interested in and their products.
• Get to know the market place - find out who the major publishers are, check company trading figures in publications such as The Bookseller, attend book fairs and industry events, and build a network of contacts.
• Join The Society of Young Publishers (SYP)  or Women in Publishing  as a student member. Pay attention to the bestseller lists and to how books, magazines and newspapers are publicised and look for trends in the industry.
• Alongside qualifications you will need to demonstrate a genuine interest in the industry, the products and the readers.
• It is advisable to seek some publishing work experience to give yourself an edge.
• Larger employers may offer graduate training schemes, but places are limited and competition is very high.
• Speculative applications may be successful for entry-level jobs.
• Smaller publishers are a good route into employment, especially if you have an interest in a specialism and can identify a publisher in this area.
• It is vitally important to ensure your CV or application is flawless - spelling, grammar and presentation need to be extremely good. Make sure your covering letter highlights your relevant experience and interest in the particular job.
• You can sometimes find a way into publishing by working in a different industry but in a role that has transferable skills, such as sales or marketing.

Get more job application advice.

What skills do I need?

Employers look for a number of skills and attributes. These can be developed through work experience and will often include:

• accuracy and attention to detail;
• self-motivation and initiative;
• time management and organisation skills;
• ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines;
• strong literacy and communication skills;
• diplomacy and the ability to deal with all kinds of people;
• creativity;
• a good sense of visual design;
• adaptability;
• commercial accumen;
• numerical dexterity;
• competence in IT;
• tenacity and passion for what you do.

Additionally, graduates looking for work within design or production need experience of desktop publishing software packages such as Quark, Photoshop and InDesign.

Work experience placements in publishing houses are ideal places to develop these skills. Work experience in other sectors can develop transferable skills. Voluntary work and training courses may also be worth considering.

Most companies will look for a good first degree. Literacy skills may also be demonstrated through your academic studies. Some degree courses have modules in publishing or related subjects, which may help build your knowledge and interest in the publishing industry. A strong academic background is particularly important in book publishing.

Where can I find work experience?

Publishing can be a very competitive industry to get into, and work experience is often the key to standing out from the crowd. Working on your university paper, magazine or students' union website can be valuable experience.

Some of the major companies have placement and internship schemes that are promoted and advertised through the trade press and organisations such as your university careers service, BookCareers  or the The Society of Young Publishers (SYP) .

However, the majority of work placements are not advertised so you may need to contact companies directly. Research an organisation to find out the name of the head of department in which you would like to work. Contact them, attaching your CV and a covering email or letter, enquiring whether work experience is on offer and outlining the reasons why you would like it.

Attending industry events and using any personal contacts you have to get an introduction to people working in the sector can also be a useful way of finding out about opportunities.

Is postgraduate study useful?

In the book and journal publishing industries, people often gain a specialist qualification at postgraduate level before entering the profession. Postgraduate study may help you develop relevant skills and knowledge and provide access to professional networks but it is not essential. A number of universities run postgraduate programmes in publishing and details are available at the SYP.

In newspaper and magazine journalism, gaining an accredited technical or vocational qualification is much more important, and often essential, to entering the industry.

Training courses are also available in areas relevant to publishing such as editing, rights and contracts, copywriting, desktop publishing, proofreading and graphic design. Employers may support further training in specialist areas once you are working for them. However, competition for entry to the profession is such that you may be expected to have basic competence in most areas before you start.

Training providers include:

• Professional Publishers Association (PPA) - in association with the Periodicals Training Council (PTC)  
• Publishing Training Centre  
• National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ)  
• The Society for Editors and Proofreaders (SfEP)    

How can my career develop?

There are many opportunities for career development. In larger companies there may be opportunities for structured career progression through a hierarchy of roles. Smaller publishers may offer less structured progression options but can give employees much wider experience in the industry, facilitating progression to a broader range of jobs.

Responsibility and creative input increase with seniority and experience. Editorial posts are often seen as the top jobs in book publishing, although there may be opportunities at the highest levels for editorial directors and publishers. Progression to senior roles requires commercial acumen and leadership skills. These are skills that may be built up through employment or additional qualifications.

Often there is no typical career path and it is important for employees to be alert to opportunities in the sector. Networking and maintaining professional contacts may be an important way to identify opportunities, particularly if you are interested in freelance work.