Hi guys, I’m thinking about sending out resumes to various book publishing companies, but am used to magazine format/editing/ect. I’m not just doing it because I’m stuck (which I am) but I’m also actually really interested in book publishing…my question is, who do I send my resume to at the companies? I know for magazines I normally send it to the managing ed or someone I know, but do I just send it to the HR dept?
And what kind of skills are they looking for on your resume? Do I send writing samples? I’m knew to the whole thing! Thanks so much!
yes, obviously the resume
yes, obviously the resume should be sent to the HR department, and they would forward it to the concerned department or person.. and yes, writing samples is a very positive point, it would increase the chances of your hiring.
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Hi BostonEd, I’ve been
Hi BostonEd, I’ve been sending resumes to book publishers so hopefully I can help somewhat (though I don’t have a job yet). For publishing houses, definitely contact the HR dept, and this info. is usually on the publisher’s website. If you call, you could ask for the contact info. of the Editorial Director (or marketing/publicity/sales) and they may give you more of a direct person to contact.
Or you can just directly ask HR if you could set up an informational interview - this is how you will get your resume in there without getting lost among the hundreds that are submitted online. Generally you don’t need writing samples with your resume unless it is requested, but I haven’t had to yet - I suppose it depends on the job. And as long as you have some magazine experience, those skills apply to publishing as well. I helped create and launch an online fashion magazine and this has impressed book publishers so far, so it’s definitely not a bad thing to have the mag experience!
To add to that -
You might want to consider literary agencies as well. I finished an internship at a well-known publishing house in NY last spring, and during my exit interview I naturally asked for advice on getting jobs in publishing. The intern coordinator said that a great way to break into publishing is to work at literary agencies instead of publishing companies (they are having a bigger and bigger impact on the publishing world, as more and more writers go for the middle-man in a order to broker a deal). Her advice was to look at the acknowledgments section of some of your favorite books, because usually the author will thank his or her editor and agent at the same time. Once you have this, you can literally address a letter (or email, if you can get your hands on one) to THAT specific person. It will look impressive that you showed initiative in finding out who this person was, and you will also have something to talk to them about, because you can say, “you published…, or you are the agent for…, and that was one of my favorite books.” You’d be surprised what an impact this can have on the editor or agent towards giving you a job.
Also, don’t underestimate internships instead of entry-level jobs as a way to get your food in the door; although they are unpaid, if a position opens up while you are there you can be the first to hear about it and jump on it, and if you do well and leave them your resumes and then keep in touch, they will be all the more likely to pull your resume out of a file, and go to someone “in house” the next time an assistant job opens up. I know two people who have gotten jobs this way, so it works.
Good luck!