Publishing Jobs

Get your publishing career off to a great start

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.

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

• 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.

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