I don’t think that I had the typical experience most publishing hopefuls have when trying to get into the publishing industry.

I had had a couple of unsuccessful job applications in the past, but I had submitted those when I was pretty much straight out of school and lacked the skills and experiences for any sort of job, let alone one in an industry as competitive as publishing.

Instead of labouring away at fruitless applications, I spent time working in both the retail and customer service industries before landing myself the often-romanticised role of bookseller at my local Waterstones branch. Though I’d argue that all my jobs have helped me develop skills needed in the publishing industry, it was this role as a bookseller that proved most beneficial. I saw what went through the tills; I spoke to customers about what they were excited about – and often, in the small Northern town I worked in, it was very different to the books I saw being reviewed in the newspapers. In short, I learned a lot.

Though I loved my job and the people I worked with, I still hankered after a role in publishing. I resolved to keep an eye out for any opportunities and happened to see a tweet about the Blake Friedmann Open Doors Project. I thought that I might as well apply – what did I have to lose? Apply I did and no one was more surprised when I succeeded. (You can read more about my time as an intern here.)

After my experience I was fortunate enough to be offered some freelance work by the agency, which I carried out alongside my university studies. Then, in the August of 2021, the role of Book Department Assistant came up. I applied and was ultimately successful, starting in my role a mere fortnight later. It was all very straightforward and felt quite surreal - aside from the pandemic postponing my initial internship, there had been no bumps in the road.

However, I know that getting into the industry can be really difficult for some, so here at the agency we have compiled some tips on the best way to do that:

Follow publishers and literary agencies on social media to keep updated on what is going on in the publishing industry. If you want to be an editor follow editors, if you want to be a literary agent follow agents.
Spend time in libraries and bookshops. What are people buying? What are people reading? It may surprise you. When I was a bookseller, I was constantly surprised by what we sold and what we didn’t. Having a good knowledge of the current market is indispensable in this industry.
Read The Bookseller. This is our trade magazine and in addition to just general publishing news has a lot of job vacancies advertised there.
Get experience! This is easier said than done, I know. However, most roles within publishing rely upon so called ‘transferrable’ skills that can be acquired in any industry. Just make sure you make it clear in your applications how this experience matches the job description.
When applying for jobs, make sure you read the job description carefully. Tailor your cover letter to each job you apply for, highlighting your relevant experience.
Read! This is especially relevant if you want to work in editorial or agenting, but as I said before, having a good knowledge of the books currently selling is essential to succeeding in this industry.
Be open to the departments you apply for, as some departments are a lot more competitive than others. Working in any department will give you valuable knowledge and experience that you could then use to get a role in your dream department, whether that is editorial or sales. It’s all about getting a foot in the door, after all!
Check publisher websites regularly for recruitment initiatives and job opportunities. Lots of publishers and agencies regularly run schemes designed to help people get into the industry – our Carole Blake Open Doors Project is a good example of this.
Don’t get disheartened! A lot of the time it comes down to luck and timing – there are only so many publishing jobs, after all! Not getting a role in no way reflects your value as a human being, and its important to remember that!

Some Useful resources

Book Trade Charity: www.btbs.org

The Spare Room Project: www.thespareroomproject.co.uk

The Society of Young Publishers: www.thesyp.org.uk

Book Careers: https://www.bookcareers.com/

Twitter accounts to follow

@PublishProfile

@SpareRoomProj

@bookcareers

@SYP_UK

@_CreativeAccess

@Inspiredjobs

@_indie_insider

@popublishinguk

@publishing_post

@pubinterns blog

@jobsinbooks

@_TheFlip

@bookcareers

@jobsatharper

@hachettecareers

@prhcareersuk

YouTube accounts:

Ain Chiara (https://www.youtube.com/c/AinChiara)

Eleanor Marie Rose https://www.youtube.com/c/EleanorMarieRose

Leena Norms has a great playlist on her experience in publishing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tvhRRZ-P9c&list=PLb1-lu-abhnXgFekR6TdCYb3Eq3WC0N2n

Booksandquills has another great playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlZzKd2u4d4&list=PLaGhIHM9WMtY-_mASFeld4CwCxTTT7E7h