How do I get a graduate / entry-level job in books and publishing?

Whether you're at university and thinking about going into books and publishing as a career, or you've already graduated and are ready to get your career started – our quick guide provides some essential info to help you on your way. If you'd like to go deeper on this topic, check out our Getting Started in Publishing course.

What kind of entry-level roles are there in books and publishing?

Entry-level roles in books and publishing tend to split into:

• editorial

• production / operations

• PR / communications / marketing / publicity

• rights

• contracts

• sales.

Some publishers also offer specialist roles in digital operations and audio production.

The Publishers' Association has these guides on different roles in the publishing industry, explaining what each role involves and the career pathways for different specialisms. There's also more info on all of these specialisms in our Getting Started in Publishing course.

Employers will want to see that you have a genuine interest and enthusiasm for working with books and writers – this is something you'll need to convey from the first stage of the application process.

What kind of skills do I need to get an entry-level job in books and publishing?

Employers will look for evidence of strong skills in areas such as:

• organising your work and balancing different tasks and priorities

• time management and meeting deadlines

• attention to detail and ability to spot mistakes

• problem-solving

• copywriting

• communicating and working with others

• numeracy skills (for roles in rights and royalties).

Employers will want to see that you have a genuine interest and enthusiasm for working with books and writers – this is something you'll need to convey from the first stage of the application process. Our Getting Started in Publishing has a whole section dedicated to how to communicate your authentic interest and enthusiasm in a way that'll help you stand out to employers.

What experience do I need to get an entry-level job in publishing?

Entry-level roles shouldn't require previous experience of working in publishing, and some employers are explicit about experience not being a requirement. A recent job ad for an Editorial Assistant at Penguin Random House put it this way: "You don’t need to have previous publishing experience to be considered: we are looking above all for an inquisitive reader with an interest in serious non-fiction and Penguin Classics."

Still, there's no doubt that some kind of practical experience that's relevant to the kind of role you want to do can be an advantage when you're applying for entry-level jobs. This is what Bloomsbury's guide to starting out in publishing says on the topic: "Relevant work experience is a real asset when applying for any publishing role. Whether you’ve shadowed someone in their role or completed a paid internship or apprenticeship, demonstrating that you have awareness of how the industry works will make you stand out to a potential employer."

While you're at university, or alongside your job search after university, it makes sense to find ways to gain some practical experience through work shadowing or work experience, or a longer internship. And while getting work experience or an internship at one of the big publishing houses may seem a longshot, there are lots of smaller and more niche publishers throughout the UK – so think broadly about where you might be able to find opportunities to gain experience.

Some experience of working in an office can be valuable for demonstrating that you have good organisational, time management and IT skills which will be relevant to most jobs in books and publishing. This might be something you can achieve through part-time work while you're at university, or temporary work after you've graduated and are looking for a publishing job. You can also gain this kind of experience through internships outside of the publishing industry, as many of the skills you gain will be transferable.

Experience of working in an office can be valuable for demonstrating that you have good organisational, time management and IT skills which will be relevant to most jobs in books and publishing.

Voluntary work can help too – think about volunteering at university literary events such as author talks or book readings, or at local literary festivals. Or you could get involved in reading and literacy volunteering in your local community or online through charities like Bookmark.

Do I need a degree in English to work in publishing?

No, you don't need to have a degree in English. Employers will be most interested in the skills you will bring to the role, and your enthusiasm for working in the industry, rather than what subject you studied.

Not all entry-level jobs in publishing require a degree of any kind – you'll find some job ads specify that you'll need a degree, while other job ads won't include this as a requirement.

If you're looking to get into a specialist area of publishing, such as science or law, then it can be helpful to have a degree in the relevant area – some job ads will specify this as a requirement.

What salary should I expect for an entry-level role in publishing?

For a list of roles and salaries at the big publishing houses, independent publishing firms and literary agencies, see our insight article: What does an entry-level role in publishing pay?

Salaries tend to be higher for roles based in London compared to other regions.

Where should I look for entry-level jobs in books and publishing?

We add all of the entry-level publishing jobs that we find to our jobs board which you can find here on Discord.

Head to the following links to go directly to the job boards of major UK trade publishing companies – some of these pages include an option to sign up for job alerts by email. Signing up to email alerts is a great way to hear about jobs as soon as they're published by an employer – which is particularly important when some jobs only stay open for a week or so.

• Penguin Random House UK jobs

• Hachette UK jobs

• HarperCollins UK jobs

• Pan MacMillan UK jobs

• Pearson Education UK jobs

• Bloomsbury UK jobs

• Simon & Schuster UK jobs

• Faber UK jobs

• Nosy Crow jobs

• Bonnier Books jobs

• Canongate jobs

• Thames & Hudson jobs

Other places where you'll find books and publishing jobs advertised include The Bookseller, Bookbrunch, BookMachine, the Publishers' Association and the Independent Publishers' Guild. And the Society of Young Publishers has a members-only job board.

Will a masters degree in publishing help me get a job in the industry?

Completing an MA in publishing will give you knowledge of the publishing industry – but it's not a requirement we're seeing on any entry-level job ads.

Creative Access shares this insight from a panel of publishing professionals from Penguin Random House: "The team acknowledged that doing an MA in publishing is expensive and emphasised that it’s not important for them when looking at a CV; they want to see that you’re hands-on [and] take initiative." They were talking about working in publishing rights in particular, but the same principle can be applied more broadly to entry-level roles at Penguin Random House.

The Society of Young Publishers says: "An MA or PHD doesn’t guarantee you any extra chances of employment or extra salary; it is a personal choice whether you wish to continue your education. The same advice applies to studying for an MA in book publishing. Although these are becoming more popular, they do not guarantee you an entry level job within the industry or any extra salary."

Are there any organisations, events or mentoring schemes that could help me start a career in books and publishing?

Attending books and publishing events is a great way to build knowledge and start developing a network that could help you in your future career.

• Publishing events: The Society of Young Publishers (SYP) has a list of events around the country, including the annual London Career Speed Dating at Hachette.

  
  

• Literary events: Book blogger Tales from Absurdia has collated an extensive list of UK literary events here.

  
  

• Professional associations: You might also want to join the SYP – membership starts at £18 a year – so you can read their magazine and access their members-only jobs board. There may also be opportunities to get involved in running the organisation as an SYP volunteer.

  
  

• Mentoring: The SYP runs the Spare Zoom project, which links up people who want to get into publishing with experienced professionals, for a 30 minute online chat where you can ask questions and get advice on starting your career in publishing. For longer-term support, there's the SYP mentorship scheme, which is open to people who have yet to secure their first permanent role in the publishing industry and to people who are already working in the industry and are looking for support to take the next step in their career.

  
  

• Peer support: Have a look at the Publishing Hopefuls group on Facebook, which is exclusively for people trying to get their publishing career started. The group sometimes runs networking events with industry professionals too.

Is there any online learning or training I could do which will help me get into books and publishing?

Our Getting Started in Publishing course takes a detailed look at entry-level roles in publishing, the skills that recruiters look for, ways you can build your publishing knowledge during your job search, and how to make your application stand out in a highly competitive field.

Penguin Random House also have this virtual experience programme on Springpod – it's free and will give you a deeper insight into the publishing industry and working at Penguin in particular.

Are you from a group that's under-represented in the publishing industry?

Some employers are taking active steps to increase diversity and representation in the books and publishing industry. Penguin Random House runs 6 month traineeships through The Scheme, with a salary of £25,500 pro rata. These traineeships are open to people from a lower socio-economic background.

Hachette's Traineeships run for a year and are open to individuals from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

Do you need financial help to get your career in books and publishing started?

If you're trying to get your first job or internship in the books and publishing industry, the Book Trade Charity may be able to help you by funding career development sessions and helping with the cost of travel to interviews. They may also be able to provide help with relocation costs when you've secured a role. The charity supports young entrants into the book trade from all backgrounds, and recognise the additional barriers faced by under-represented groups.

The Society of Young Publishers runs the Spare Room Project, which helps people from outside London enter the industry by arranging free temporary accommodation for attending job interviews and short term internships. Spare Room hosts are all professionals who already work in the books and publishing trade.

Get more insights with our Getting Started in Publishing course

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