Work Experience

Work experience in book publishing has changed considerably, which is why there are now fewer opportunities to get a real in-person placement. But do not worry. The good news is that you do not need to have work experience in book publishing to get a job.

What do we mean by work experience?

There is a difference between work experience or work shadowing organised through school, where you might spend a week observing a workplace, and a work experience placement where you are carrying out tasks for an employer.

The first is about learning what the world of work is like. The second is much closer to actually working — and we believe that if you are doing work for an employer, you should be paid. bookcareers.com pays everyone who works for us. Penguin Random House pays people completing its two-week work experience placements. If organisations at both ends of the scale can pay people for their work, there is no reason why companies of any size in between cannot do the same.

Aside from which, unpaid work placements are usually in breach of minimum wage laws in the UK.

Please DO NOT WORK FOR FREE.

Since the arrival of Springpod, several of the major publishers have offered ongoing virtual work experience opportunities where you can learn about book publishing and what it is like to work with them. These can give you a great insight into how publishers work and can be completed around your studies.

The latest online virtual experiences at Springpod can be found here.

This is a huge step towards inclusivity, allowing students anywhere in the UK to experience what working in book publishing is like from the comfort of their home or school.
You will still from time to time see in-person work experience placements open up, but please do not obsess about these.

YOU DO NOT NEED EXPERIENCE IN BOOK PUBLISHING TO GET A JOB.

What experience do publishers actually want?

When I talk to employers – managers, directors, owners, human resources professionals and recruiters working in publishing – they tell me the skills they like to see in entry-level candidates include:

An interest in their area of publishing; the books or journals they are working on
Enthusiasm for what they are doing and what is going on around them
A willingness to accept instruction and learn
An understanding of office etiquette; how people in an office behave, when to interrupt someone in a meeting and when to wait
Excellent spelling and grammar
The alphabet! Filing seems to be common in most roles
Familiarity with software packages, (e.g. Word, Excel, Powerpoint, InDesign)
The ability to switch on a computer, open software and start typing a document
Knowing how to save computer files in a logical way
Being able to lay out a professional email or business letter, and use the kind of language expected in workplace communications
Answer the telephone in a professional manner and take messages
Competence in prioritising tasks, organising your work and managing your time
The ability to read and understand instructions

Nearly all of these skills can be taught in any environment; they are not specific to publishing. The majority of employers tell me that they value paid office experience higher than unpaid publishing experience. They much prefer to see that you have a strong work ethic, the skills to do a good job, and the ability to succeed.

YOU DO NOT NEED EXPERIENCE IN BOOK PUBLISHING TO GET A JOB.