Where are the opportunities for under 18s to undertake work experience? I have spoken to many publishers and all have told me that they cannot take anyone under 18 for ‘health and safety reasons’. Those that do, have it arranged by a select school that they have an arrangement with. This is a ridiculous […]
I keep meeting people who have been given poor advice from others. This is the most common piece of advice I hear given to entry level candidates: ‘You must have three months work experience in publishing to get a job; if you can’t get a paid job, then work unpaid’. I’ve also heard this advice […]
The Book Trade Charity has launched its first subsidised accommodation for new entrants to the book trade in the Bookbinders Charity housing complex in Whetstone N20. The six flats, three one-bed and three offering two bedsits per flat with shared kitchen and bathroom, will be available for a period of 6-12 months, to people […]
As part of its Changing the Story initiative launched last year, Hachette UK will be partnering with The Book Trade Charity (BTBS), to offer subsidised accommodation in London to support people, for whom London is otherwise prohibitively expensive, to start their careers in the industry. This offer will be open to successful applicants to the […]
Penguin Random House UK have announced that all Work Experience placements with them will be paid the National Living Wage. They have confirmed to bookcareers.com that there will no longer be any unpaid placements at Penguin Random House UK. You can find out more or apply for a placement here. https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/your-career/work-experience/ This is a HUGE […]
Publishers have a social responsibility and their first social responsibility needs to be towards their employees and their interns. Why does a person intern? To get experience that will lead ultimately to permanent employment. Very often at the end of an internship, the intern frequently finds themselves unemployed until another placement or a job comes along.* […]
At last year’s Inclusivity Conference run by the London Book Fair and the Publishers Association, we made two pledges:- Our first pledge was to continue the outreach work that we have been doing for many years: To educate other qualified Careers Advisers that publishing is open to all. This has involved us travelling around the country […]
Why you should always speak up Last year I got a little bit angry on twitter, because of a major publisher who offered a placement to an unpaid intern for a month. The intern was given an allowance of £50 to cover lunch and travel, yet their travel expenses were over £120 a week. […]
Recently I spoke to someone who had completed a long-term work experience placement at a book publishers for around 6 weeks. The placement was unpaid but their travel and lunch costs were covered. At the end of the term the publisher asked them to stay on for more weeks – at the same terms – […]
As you know, for a long time bookcareers.com has said a two week unpaid placement is bordering on acceptable. You might have noticed that, since the beginning of the year, even these have been removed from the bookcareers.com website. This is because we no longer endorse any unpaid work, unpaid work experience placements or unpaid internships. This includes opportunities […]
