How to Get a Job With a Book Publisher
Book publishers are the companies responsible for acquiring, producing and distributing the books that so many avid readers snap up each year. In most cases, the people who work at book publishing companies do so because they love books and they get satisfaction when they are part of bringing a new book or author into existence. Many people who love books often dream about working for a book publisher, believing it would be the ideal way to earn a living. If you love books, a career in book publishing might be for you. Learn what it takes to secure a job with a book publisher.
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Instructions
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Determine what field under the book publishing umbrella you want to be in. There are many job opportunities within this industry, and each has its own set of criteria for employment. These areas include editing, sales, marketing and the actual production of the books. Knowing which area you want to pursue will help you set and achieve your goal.
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Go to school. A career in the book publishing industry typically requires a college degree, depending upon the job you'd like to pursue. An editorial position, for instance, will require a degree in English or journalism. A marketing or public relations degree will be required for marketing and sales jobs within the industry. It is possible, once you are on your way to earning your degree, to apply for internships at a book publisher, which can lead to a full-time job with the publisher when you've finished your degree.
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Consider master of arts in addition to other required courses (see Resources). This isn't a requirement to work in the book publishing industry, but your willingness to add this to your educational background shows that you are serious about working in the industry. An MA in publishing covers the full spectrum of the industry and gives you an in-depth education concerning all aspects of book publishing.
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Build and prepare a resume that shows not only your educational background, but any related work experience as well. Consider taking on freelance jobs editing anthologies at one of the smaller, independent publishers so abundant today. These publishers will often allow you to edit, sometimes for no pay, without a degree. If you can write, submit articles to magazines and short stories to anthologies. All of this adds up as experience for your resume and looks good when you present yourself to a book publisher for job consideration.
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Solicit book publishers until you have a job. You can find lists of publishers and the jobs they offer in a number of online databases (see Resources). Write a letter of introduction, stating who you are and what your career goals are. Include this letter with your resume and send it to several book publishers at a time, along with relevant samples of your work if you have any available. Follow the guidelines for application set by the publisher. Be persistent. Your hard work and dedication to learning what it takes to get a job in the book publishing industry will pay off.
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