How to Get into Publishing

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How to Get into Publishing ✺

I frequently receive queries about how working in publishing so I’ve compiled responses to FAQs here.

Please note I am unable to answer individual queries due to limited capacity.

How did you get into publishing?

I got into publishing in 2017 through a traineeship scheme Hachette created with Rare Recruitment called Fresh Chapters, after graduating with a BA Hons in French, Spanish & Italian from The University of Birmingham. I had 4 years' writing experience as well as in admin, customer service, retail and visual merchandising.

I secured work experience and voluntary positions at PackT, Penguin Random House Children’s and Birmingham Literature Festival. During my traineeship, I worked in Editorial at Trapeze (Orion) and Marketing at Hodder Education, and won the Harry Barker award. I later started working at Octopus Publishing Group (within Hachette).

What’s your career trajectory?

I joined Octopus Publishing Group as Editorial Assistant in 2018, supporting on titles across humour, gift, beauty, lifestyle, puzzle/quiz, sport and narrative non-fiction. In 2019, I moved to Square Peg, a non-fiction imprint at Vintage (Penguin Random House) where I supported the Editorial Director as Assistant Editor. Following the departure of the then-Editorial Director, I oversaw the day-to-day running of the imprint and began commissioning titles. I was promoted to Editor then Commissioning Editor. I moved to Bluebird in 2021, a non-fiction lifestyle imprint at Pan Macmillan. I recently joined Tonic, a non-fiction lifestyle imprint at Bloomsbury. Outside of my roles, I have also supported in-house diversity and inclusion initiatives and implemented charity partnerships. Alongside my day jobs, I’ve worked as a freelance sensitivity/authenticity reader, editor, public speaker and communications consultant (for diversity and inclusion organisations, creatives, cultural institutions and events).

How do you progress in publishing?

My career trajectory has been quick, largely due to being in the right place at the right time. During my time at a major publisher, the company had a hiring freeze (due to the pandemic) which meant I was given a lot more responsibility than is typical for an Assistant Editor. This additional responsibility led to multiple promotions. My advice to anyone working in publishing would be to advocate for your progression at all stages and engage your hiring manager as well as HR in your career development plan and goals. I would also advise applying on a regular basis to other roles if you feel you are unable to move ahead in your current place of work. Otherwise, I would advise speaking to a careers consultant.

What are the career paths in publishing?

The most popular departments for those applying to work in publishing typically are Editorial, Marketing and Publicity. Despite this, there are other roles in other departments including Sales, Special Sales, Rights, Audio, Art & Design, Production, Managing Editorial, Operations, Contracts and then wider group functions including Legal, Finance, IT and HR. Targetjobs (a great organisation that I worked for at university!) have this useful breakdown and this Penguin Random House guide to publishing jobs is handy.

Where can I apply for roles?

Publisher websites: Penguin Random House, Hachette, Pan Macmillan, HarperCollins and Bloomsbury, Simon & Schuster, Faber, Granta, And Other Stories, Profile Books, Duckworth Books, Post Wave Publishing, Bonnier Books, Quarto, Chronicle, Abrams, Laurence King Publishers, Jacaranda Books (and many more).

There are also academic publishers (Springer Nature, university presses), educational publishers (Sage, Pearson, Hodder Education) and specialist publishers.

Children’s publishers include Andersen Publishing, Usborne Publishing, Walker Books and art publishers such as Thames & Hudson, Taschen, Phaidon and Prestel.

If you can’t find work at a publisher, I would also advise applying to work at literary agencies, talent agencies and digital agencies (especially if they have literary divisions), literary festivals, institutions (Society of Authors), writing organisations (Spread the Word, Apples and Snakes, Writing West Midlands) and charities (BookAid and Reading Agency) and bookshops. Also see below:

Can you give advice on my CV and cover letter?

I work full-time and freelance, as well as holding a number of voluntary roles, so unfortunately, I cannot do this. I would advise getting in touch with recruitment agencies (mentioned above) I’ve also included this guidance by Writers and Artists Yearbook (via Creative Access) and Publishers Org.

Can you provide a character reference/letter of recommendation for me?

I can only write letters of recommendation and provide references for those I have worked with or mentored.

Are you open to mentees?

I currently provide mentorship to multiple individuals so I am closed to mentoring.