Written by Iqbal Hussain, SYP InPrint Managing Editor, and Gemma Mathers, SYP Digital Content Lead

The world of publishing can look like a vast and unexplored land from your favourite book when you are searching for your first role. Like any journey, there are tools and resources to aid you in getting to your chosen destination whilst studying.  

What types of roles are there? 

The first step to knowing what role to aspire to is understanding what cogs make up the world of publishing. So, it’s important to do your research. Consider the top publishing names like Penguin or Hachette who publish some of the most popular books of our time, past and present. Both offer extensive resources to explain each department and even give you real-life examples of their working body. 

Where can I get the skills that I need to find a role? 

So, you know what roles you’re interested in, and you need to obtain the skills to impress your future employer. Where do you go next? 

A great place to start is the Society of Young Publishers (SYP), an organisation aimed to support aspiring publishing hopefuls across the UK and Ireland to break into the industry and to support you through roles when progressing in your career. SYP is run by a wide range of volunteers, including students. It is a great place to apply as you investigate your career paths. As well as take on roles that can teach you transferable skills to get into the publishing world. 

The Publishing Post also offers opportunities to flex your skills. This online magazine has been created to support volunteers in gaining hands-on experience in writing, editing, and using social media. This will allow you to try different roles and gain industry-specific knowledge and skills. 

While you’re studying, it can seem daunting trying to get work experience that will put you ahead when you graduate. Consider what you can do to balance your time while studying to get the necessary experience. Publishing can be a tough game when it comes to applying. Here are some key tips that might put you ahead of the curve while not consuming all the time you need to focus on your degree: 

• Student Magazines: Does your campus offer a student-led magazine? If not, why don’t you start one? Consider what’s going on around campus and what other students might engage with, and create a forum to give students a voice. This gives you the opportunity to show leadership skills, editorial, content management and even marketing skills.  

• Societies & Clubs: Is there a society on campus aimed at creative students and publishing hopefuls? Look at what your university can offer you and get involved. Extracurriculars look great on a CV and make you stand out more than the average student. Talk to your Student Union, and if there’s nothing available, why not discuss starting a new society?  

• Social Media: BookTok, Bookstagram & Blogs are everywhere these days, and it’s easy to get involved. Consider creating an account or a blog post where you can express your passion for reading or whatever avenue of publishing interests you most. This is really a space for you to fill your cup, and an added bonus is that it shows your passion for publishing to a hiring manager! 

• Training programmes and internships: Big publishing houses like Penguin Random House offer training schemes where you can spend time in each department learning the ropes of what it takes to move into publishing. This is a great opportunity to see which area most interests you. No experience is required! Setting up a bi-weekly time to search a list of publishing houses and literary agents can help you nab that role 

Where can I get extra support to secure a role as a student? 

When trying to find a role, it’s best to speak to experts who can assist with CVs and job postings. Consider what resources your university may offer. Can you talk to a career advisor who might be able to point you in the right direction? Consider tailoring your CV to each role. Pick out the specific skills required in the job description and go from there.  

There are organisations that provide consultation services and assistance in writing your CV, such as Creative Access and Book Careers. They provide advice clinics and organise career fairs and a jobs board to help you search for your first role.  

Where can I search for roles? 

You have the skills, and now it is the fun part of looking for that dream job. There are various places where you can search for a role while studying to build up your experience. To find your first role, you need to put yourself out there and search for vacancies that can help you decide what part of publishing you want to focus on. 

The Creative Careers Club provides a daily jobs board and newsletter that can be tailored to how frequently you’d like to be contacted. The board is often updated with entry-level publishing and other creative roles, internships and work experience.  

The SYP also has a job board available to members. Partnership companies and previous alums use it to upload roles. 

What’s stopping you? 

The world of publishing is ever-changing and adapting. New roles and trends are appearing, and the future looks bright for the industry. With so much on the horizon, you are in a unique place to decide if and how you form your career in publishing. Like any book you read, you are completely in control of whether you want to start your next chapter. We hope you turn the page and explore what is to come.

---

Iqbal Hussain

Iqbal Hussain is a Buckinghamshire writer who draws inspiration from his Pakistani heritage. He’s written and edited pieces on publishing trends for The Publishing Post and the Society of Young Publishers InPrint magazine (including its 75th anniversary). A HarperCollins Author Academy alum, he is currently preparing his debut novel to be submitted to agents. With a passion for storytelling and the evolving literary landscape, Iqbal offers fresh insights into publishing.

Gemma Mathers

Gemma Mathers is a fantasy writer from Norfolk currently working on her debut novel. With a background in publishing she has written for The Publishing Post and various regional magazines in Norfolk and Suffolk. Still early in her career, she is excited about making the industry as accessible as possible and aiding others in starting their journey.