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Publishing work experience

Hi everyone,

I'm in my second year of university and thinking about a career in publishing, probably book publishing, and the editorial side in particular.

I am going to apply to as many publishing houses as possible, but was just wondering if anyone here had had any particular luck with finding a publishing work experience placement, or had a particularly good experience somewhere?

Thanks.

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Reply 1

miss_world

I can't really answer your questions, but I'm currently in the same boat. I'm looking to apply to various publishing houses for work experience. I'm currently honing my CV and covering letter (relevant experience so far: 0) so I'm ready to speculatively send them off to various publishing houses to see if they'll offer me a couple of weeks work experience over the summer. I know Penguin does a formalized work experience placement, but I don't know of any others who do. I'll definitely apply to them though.

I'm quite interested in the rights/publicity/marketing/editorial side. Basically anything, as it all seems interesting.

Let me know how you get on :smile:

Reply 2

lkb19

Hi,
Sounds like we're in exactly the same boat then - will definitely let you know how I get on, and I'd be interested in how you get on too.
xxx

Reply 3

la fille danse

Find out if you have any connections to people in publishing.

I just found out that my father has a friend who was the managing editor at a nearby publisher for 10 years. I've been corresponding with her, and she wrote to the current managing editor suggesting that she interview me. The current editor told me that there aren't any internships open at the moment but she might be able to interview me anyway... and that's the only positive response I've gotten out of the eleven publishers I've written to.

Reply 4

musical_moose

Hey! I'm looking to go into publishing too, and finding work experience is proving to be quite difficult! Have you looked on a volunteering website like http://do-it.org.uk/ ?
Sometimes these offer placements which are related to publishing - like editing a local magazine or charity newsletter. I think any experience like that could be useful anyway! Once you've got a bit of experience like that it should (hopefully) be easier to get a placement with an actual publishing house. Good luck! :smile:

Reply 5

la fille danse

I've just been offered my first work experience placement!

It's at an academic publisher in their marketing department (but will include some time in editorial). I found it on Facebook. Someone who works there posted an ad about it in a publishing group.

A tip would be to try and get work experience in an area other than editorial. Editorial is the most popular and once you've had SOME publishing experience, it should be easier to get into editorial if that's what you want.

Reply 6

lkb19

Thanks for the advice la fille danse!
I'm glad you managed to find some work experience, and I'll bear your tip in mind.
xxx

Reply 7

la fille danse

lkb19

Thanks for the advice la fille danse!
I'm glad you managed to find some work experience, and I'll bear your tip in mind.
xxx

I've also had two other companies express an interest in me since then, but they haven't got back to me to confirm dates yet.

Both of those I found out about because I heard of other people doing work experience with them (one I read about on here, the other on someone's blog).

Reply 8

Renegade Dagger

Hey guys,

I'm in a similar situation to most of you, so I thought I'd hop on the bandwagon rather than starting a new thread.

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for composing speculative cover letters for publishing? I feel like I'm clutching at straws as I don't have much directly relevant work experience.

Thanks.

Reply 9

la fille danse

Renegade Dagger

http://publishingcareer.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/work-experience-or-post-grad-course/ this link is helpful.

In mine... I start by introducing myself as an English graduate, then something about my passion for books and my desire to go into publishing, then I say that I'm going to do a MA Publishing in September and I want to get practical experience beforehand. That's one paragraph. In the next paragraph I talk about my experience and skills. And I say something vague about the particular publisher and why I want to work for them. In the third paragraph, I reiterate how strongly I want to work in publishing and I state my availability.

I've gotten offers of work experience from four out of six places I've emailed and a three-month summer internship in America (where I'm from), wooo.

Assuming you are applying for work experience, it doesn't matter that you don't have directly relevant work experience. That's why you are applying for work experience.

Reply 10

lkb19

I have an interview for work experience on Wednesday!!
It is with a small children's book publisher in London.
I'm so nervous, I hope I come across well.

Reply 11

la fille danse

Good luck, it'll be fine.

Reply 12

Renegade Dagger

Hmm, this is more difficult than I had anticipated.

If somewhere asks for just a CV, should you do a covering letter anyway?

Reply 13

~ Purple Rose ~

Renegade Dagger

Hmm, this is more difficult than I had anticipated.

If somewhere asks for just a CV, should you do a covering letter anyway?

It would be a good idea, especially if you don't have much related experience, because it will give you the chance to show how enthusiastic you are and explain what you want to get out of being there.

Reply 14

Renegade Dagger

^Thanks.

Yay, I now have work experience at one publishing house in August, and have an interview for one in September...

has anyone else ever had an interview? What sort of 'questions' should I be expecting? What should I wear? eek!

Reply 15

lkb19

I forgot to say that my interview was successful, but I'm now nearing the end of my first week of work experience at a children's book publishing company and loving it!
As for interview questions - hmm... you may get asked why publishing and why that particular department, and depending on the type of publishers - your favourite book of that kind.
Publishers are reasonably casually dressed, but I'd still go for smart/casual.

Reply 16

MSB

I am bringing this from the dead.

Are there any good samples for this sort of covering letter?

Reply 17

rylit91

What on Earth do you people do? I did English Literature at A Level (and want to do it at uni) and whilst applying to jobs also wrote to several publishers about experience; never heard back. :mad:

What's your secret?

Reply 18

bunnyhug

I would also love to know the secret! I'm doing Creative Writing at uni and have spent the past few weeks emailing places asking (begging!) for work experience in publishing, only to never hear anything back. It's maddening when this is something I really want to do. It sounds as if some of you guys live in/near london though which probably helps?

(sorry to resurrect an old thread btw)

Reply 19

quee

Original post by rylit91

What on Earth do you people do? I did English Literature at A Level (and want to do it at uni) and whilst applying to jobs also wrote to several publishers about experience; never heard back. :mad:

What's your secret?

Yep, it's crazy. Houses like McMillan, Penguin make millions of pounds, so maybe it's a better idea to apply for a smaller company in the beginning. Yet, in publishing it is always hard to secure a job. Name me one publishing house that is easier to get into!! :s-smilie: