Work in Publishing Week: My top tips for breaking into the book industry
It's #WorkInPublishing week! I'm sharing some answers to FAQs from publishing hopefuls.
From Monday 18th to Friday 23rd November 2024 it is #WorkInPublishing week. Today I thought I would share some answers to the most common questions I receive from publishing hopefuls looking to break into the book industry.
Before jumping in, though, make sure you head to the Publishing Hopefuls Toolkit on my main page and subscribe to get all the latest information and first dibs on upcoming Market Your Marketing events like How to Get into Publishing and How to Work with Book Influencers.
And follow me on TikTok where Iâm sharing daily videos on how to get into publishing this week!
How long should a CV be?
If youâre asked to supply a CV for a job application it should be between 1-2 pages in length, at normal-sized margins, in 12-point font, and a standard typeface like Times New Roman. You donât need to design your CV unless youâre a designer or illustrator and need to provide evidence of this.
How do I make my cover letter stand out?
A cover letter should be tailored to you and the job in question, make sure you write a new one for each job youâre applying forâwe can tell if theyâre the same every time!
Every paragraph should include a statement related to your experience, e.g. âIn my role as xx / During my time volunteering at xx I was responsible for xxxâŚâ and how it ties into your skills e.g. âI was responsible for communicating changes to the schedule to all stakeholders in a timely and clear mannerâ, and donât forget to provide evidence and results e.g. âI did this by xxx, as a result, we surpassed our yearly targets by xx%â.
Weâre not looking for lots of work experience, weâre looking to see if youâre capable of working within our team and handling the work. Go through the job description and highlight the relevant buzzwords i.e. communicative, reliable, time management, innovative etc, and then use those to provide examples and evidence as above.
And finally, spell-check your cover letter! We often have to skim-read these due to the quantity of applicants, and spelling mistakes stick out like a sore thumb.
Where do I apply for publishing jobs?
Head to my post on this for a full list of places to apply for publishing jobs. The most common places are The Bookseller, Creative Access, The Publishing Post, and via social media.
As a note, The Bookseller charges publishers a lot of money to advertise their roles on their site, so many publishers donât publicise their entry-level roles or internships/work experiences placement on the site. Instead, theyâll rely on free channels or sites like Creative Access where entry-level applicants are more often found.
I donât have work experience, can I still get a job in publishing?
Yes, but you need to ensure your CV includes evidence of any or all of the following:
Passion for books - what have you done that can prove this? Do you run any social channels e.g. a BookTok or a Bookstagram account? Are you a member of the Society of Young Publishers? Do you go to book festivals or author events?
Administrative skills - many entry-level roles involve a lot of admin, do you have these skills? Can you provide evidence in your CV/cover letter?
Volunteering - have you ever considered volunteering at your local library or at a local book festival? Sometimes this is one weekend a year or a few days a month.
Additional skills - Iâve hired people in the past with little experience but creative skills that are useful e.g. photography, videography, editing, TikTok, and wider social media skills (outside of the bookish space) etc.
There are usually 300+ applicants for entry-level positions in publishing and competition is tough. Ensure your CV is packed with relevant skills and passion to encourage recruiters to keep you in mind.
Where can I network in publishing?
While âitâs not what you know but who you knowâ is thankfully becoming a thing of the past in publishing, networking is still a great way to meet and mingle with professionals and other publishing hopefuls.
I recommend you sign up to the Publishing Hopefuls Facebook Group to chat online to other hopefuls and hear about upcoming events. Also, subscribe to The Publishing Post for the latest information on the industry, including upcoming events.
Sign up for Market Your Marketing alerts on Eventbrite to be the first to hear about upcoming in-person events like How to Get into Publishing which also include networking opportunities.
Attend Society of Young Publisher events online and in-person, and go to book events like book festivals, and author talks in-storeâyouâll often find a lot of publishers in attendance.
For more information on how to get into publishing and #WorkInPublishing week subscribe and keep an eye on my socials this week as I release more videos with tips, tricks and tactics to break into the bookish industry.
If you subscribe you can also join The Chat to ask me anything about publishing now and in the future.
