Finding work in Publishing

tumblr lekj10EKDD1qa8e8lAt the last BookMachine event we were pleased to meet Sam Coleman from Atwood Tate. He’s certainly a man in the know if you’re looking for a job, as he speaks to recruiters in the industry every day. Here he shares some tips for finding work.

 
Times have certainly changed since I started work as a Production Assistant for a distinguished publishing house only a decade ago. Now, rather than massaging strained biceps from carrying piles of carefully packaged proofs from desk to desk, we harp on about carpel tunnel syndrome and ponder deep thoughts about metadata. The era of Digital publishing is upon us and, like a towering Galactus it’s going nowhere.

 

The industry needs fresh new talent

The basics for finding a job in publishing characteristically remain the same. What also remains is that publishing is an extremely competitive industry. That’s because it’s exciting, creative and constantly breaking new ground. As a result it does need a lot of fresh new talent to join in. Hopefully, taking a look at the Guide to the World of Publishing on our website, http://www.atwoodtate.co.uk/Atwood/glossary.asp will give you some helpful background on the industry.

Tips for digital enthusiasts

Networking, CV structure, interview techniques, market awareness and of course that flawless cover letter are all very important for finding work. But there are now extra bits of data to tag onto the process. If you are interested in Digital Publishing, being realistic, if you want in you have to plug in. Which means venturing online, Tweeting (yes, Tweeting!) and generally getting involved in as many ways as possible. The pathways are out there and instantly accessible. Start researching. Get a handle on the kind of skills you are going to need and keep learning. The main requisite for a role in Digital Publishing is a passion for the internet and technology itself. You won’t essentially need to have an acute understanding of coding but you will need to fully embrace the internet and all that comes with it,

A step-by-step approach

Step 1: Think about attending seminars, talks and networking events which will give you an overall impression of the industry and also present you with a good chance for meeting likeminded publishing people.

http://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/ – The UK’s main event when it comes to the book trade. A great opportunity to network with a massive range of publishing people. They also host guest speakers from around the world. Well worth the effort to attend.

http://www.thebookseller.com/ – Keep an eye on the website and remain up to date with what you perceive to be happening in the publishing industry. Read the articles, find out who the movers and shakers are and try to get a feel of which cultures are forming out of each corner of the market.

Step 2: Figure out how you would fit into the industry. Start with Twitter. It’s not going ANYWHERE and is one of the most valuable tools out there for research, commercial viability, market trend awareness and contact with likeminded people. Seriously.

Step 3: Join an agency, such as Atwood Tate www.atwoodtate.co.uk. You may not see the point in joining an agency but Atwood Tate is certainly the freshest face of publishing recruitment. Our team has an in-depth knowledge of the publishing industry and a list of contacts well established over many different arms of the industry. With all fingers firmly on the pulse we can send you quick and relevant jobs, guide you through the interview process and advise you every step of the way towards your perfect role. We make every use of online social networking and work hard to ensure you, and our clients, have the perfect match to the perfect role.

To make a start follow our tweets http://twitter.com/atwoodtate

If you’d like to arrange an appointment to meet us at Atwood Tate, please call 020 7487 8274 or email [email protected]

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