Brushing up on publishing jobs basics gives you an edge in business when it comes to landing a job perfectly suited to your skills. The industry is vast, and a bit of business acumen goes a long way in optimal job placement.

There is great variety in publishing house jobs from small press to large press and from correcting copy to creating layouts. When looking for jobs in publishing you might want to ask yourself:

1. What type of education do I need to work in publishing?

2. Can I use publishing jobs basics to work for a publishing house temporarily, so I can determine whether that's what I really want to do?

3. What is the best way to present myself when I am going after publishing jobs?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get your foot in the door with education essential for book publishing jobs

Education plays a strong roll in publishing jobs basics. Working in a publishing house generally requires knowledge of good grammar and research skills. Knowledge in these areas makes you a strong copy editor.

I recommend: McMurry offers web seminars and audio conferences on copy editing. It covers topics such as how to manage the work-flow in the editorial office. Mediabistro offers online courses on many aspects of publishing careers.

Find publishing employment through internships

Step into publishing house jobs by working as an intern. This gives you a sampling of the basic editing tasks required, so you can ascertain whether or not it's a good fit for you. It also frequently gives you an edge in hiring, since you have already established a working relationship with others in the house. If you decide to work for yourself as a freelance writer and publisher, try a freelance internship to see how it works for you.

I recommend: Association of American Publishers offers a list of book publishers offering intern positions. It has some internships with payment and some that go toward college credit. Online-Writing-Jobs.com offers a list of writing internships for writers ready to test the freelancing waters.

Prepare for a publishing career before you jump ship

Whether you have another career or you plan to start your career with book publishing jobs, find out what publishers expect from employees. Besides internships, you might want to consider attending workshops, classes or other events to gain insight into the industry.

I recommend: Publishing Job Interview Tips offers tips on interviewing for employment in publishing. It links to blogs and books that offer sage advice on everything from what to wear to writing a solid resume. Publishing Careers offers articles, interviews, tips and advice for starting a publishing career.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find publishing job opportunities by networking at writing conferences or other events hosted by writing organizations.

Many people are interested in jobs in publishing because of the type of glamour that they convey. This makes it a highly competitive field and it can be difficult to find publishing jobs, especially if you don't live in a major city.

There are two main types of publishing house jobs—those on the creative side and those on the business side. The creative jobs entail writing and editing the books and magazines and designing the covers and layouts. The business end tends to focus on the sales and marketing.

If you'd like to work in publishing, consider the following:

1. Publishing work often requires a college degree. If you are interested in the creative side, then many liberal arts degrees will suffice because of the writing-intensive nature of those programs.

2. Most people in the industry expect you to participate in after-hours socializing. This leads to long work hours when you have employment in publishing.

3. Many people learn about publishing job opportunities through word of mouth, so it may be difficult to get your foot in the door.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for magazine publishing jobs online

The magazine publishing world is attractive because it is so fast-paced. A new issue must come out on time, usually once a month. If you don't have much experience, try working for small local magazines, before you apply to work at a well-known national one.

I recommend: Mediabistro.com is a popular resource for publishing jobs, including magazine jobs. Magazine Publishers of America offers an easy-to-use searchable database.

Break into the business with book publishing jobs

Many prefer the book world to magazines. It can be hard to break into this business; so do not be afraid to start with an entry-level job, even if you feel you are overqualified.

I recommend: BookJobs.com can help you find the publishing job that you have always wanted. MySpace Jobs also lists several publishing job opportunities.

Use a recruiter to watch your publishing career take off

In a field that is as competitive as publishing, you need all the help you can get. If you don't have many connections in the industry, you can hire a recruiter to make those connections for you. A good recruiter will look out for your needs and match you with the best publishing house for you.

I recommend: Personnel Associates, Inc. will find you publishing house jobs, provided you have at least three years of experience in the industry. Susan Lee & Associates specializes in printing, graphics and publishing jobs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The Writer's Market is an invaluable resource for anyone looking for publishing employment. It lists all of the magazines and publishing houses that exist. Updated every year, it's a good starting point when trying to decide where to apply.

If you want to pursue jobs in publishing, you will need the right publishing jobs education and training. While there are many courses, certificate programs and other forms of training for publishing professionals and aspirants, it can be confusing to determine what sort of training you need. There is no set standard for training in the industry and requisites vary from publishing house to publishing house.

While some entry-level publishing house jobs and magazine jobs require a degree in English or a related field and some work experience, other publications want to see specific publishing education for some positions. When pursuing publishing jobs education and training, consider:

1. Seek out publishing degree programs for technical jobs and managerial jobs.
   
2. Take certification programs in publishing for practical hands-on experience.
   
3. Find publishing internships to secure book publishing jobs and other publishing jobs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a degree in publishing to develop the skills needed for publishing employment

For printing publishing jobs, managerial and editing types of jobs and jobs at more prestigious presses, a degree in publishing can help you enormously. This is especially true if you want publishing work that focuses on the technical aspects or the business aspects of publishing. Degree programs often cover the business, technical, financial and other issues of publishing.

I recommend: The Association of American Publishers offers a list of all schools offering publishing degrees. Pace University offers a master's degree in publishing, which includes courses in production, marketing, financing and other aspects of publishing.

Pursue certification in publishing to secure employment in publishing

Although certification is not required for publishing job opportunities, certificate publishing programs do prepare candidates for work in publishing. These programs often focus on practical training in marketing, editing and design. These programs often are shorter than degree programs and focus on making students as prepared as possible for immediate entry into the publishing field.

I recommend: The City College of New York offers a Publishing Certificate Program that focuses on editing, marketing and design. New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies offers a Certificate in Publishing. The program is taught by industry professionals and focuses on editing, marketing and design.

Look for internships to network your way to publishing company jobs

If you have an English degree rather than a publishing degree or certification, internships give you the practical publishing experience you need to launch a career in the industry. Even if you have a certificate or degree in publishing, an internship lets you develop the contacts and references you need to land a job.

I recommend: The Atlantic Monthly Group provides a list of publishing internships in the Boston area. Random House, a large publisher, offers summer internship programs. University of Dreams maintains a list of publishing internships around the world.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep in mind that many book publisher jobs and even magazine jobs remain centered around New York City, where many of the most prestigious publishing companies are located. If you want to pursue a job in the field, it is useful to seek an internship in or near the New York area, to work for a brief time in New York or to pursue some education in the city. This will allow you to enjoy more job opportunities in the publishing field and will let you develop skills that you can then apply elsewhere.