Graduate training schemes
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Harper Collins - Harper Collins is one of the world's foremost English-language publishers. Their next bi-annual graduate training scheme will begin in 2012; details will be updated on their website. In the mean time attend their open day to apply for graduate level vacancies.
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Macmillan - currently reviewing their graduate training scheme which should commence in 2012. Check their website for updates.
LSE Careers has compiled a list of graduate training schemes across the sector. See Graduate Training Schemes (pdf).
Internships
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Profile Books - this business book publisher offers eight week internships for graduates within the publicity, sales, marketing and editorial teams.
More media internship opportunities| are on the media sector pages.
Networking and research
Networking is crucial to career development in this industry and you should get to know the market place. Learn and research how books, newspapers and magazines are publicised, find out about company trading figures in The Bookseller| and see what’s on the bestseller lists, and join The Society of Young Publishers| (SYP) or Women in Publishing| as a student member.
Work experience
Work experience can be the key to finding paid work in this industry and can be a great way to make useful contacts, as many employers prefer candidates to have at least some practical experience of working within the industry. Start writing for The Beaver or The Penguin to build up a portfolio of published articles.
Alternatively, start your own blog to demonstrate your interests, writing skills and commitment to the sector, ensuring you have a strong online presence. Work experience opportunities are rarely advertised, so contact companies directly to find out if they are available. Speculative applications| can be successful.
Research organisations you would like to work for, and email the head of the department, asking if work experience is on offer. Publisher’s addresses are listed in The Writer’s and Artist’s Yearbook which can be found in LSE Careers resource library. When applying speculatively, carefully consider what area of publishing would interest you and make sure this really comes across to employers.
The following publishing companies have work experience opportunities:
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Bloomsbury - offers a popular two to three week loosly structured work experience programme. Apply now, but expect to wait six months for a placement.
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Harper Collins - work experience is offered when the compan's needs demand it. Applicants will be contacted if their work experience preferences can be met.
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Little, Brown - offers one to two weeks of unpaid work experience throughout the year, see website for details on how to apply. Within the Hachette group.
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Hachette UK - the companies within Hachette offer unpaid work experience from time to time.
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Legend Press - offering two weeks work experience covering a wide range of areas including editing, sales, media and marketing.
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Macmillan - apply for work experience via their job opportunities section.
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Penguin - offers two week work experience placements.
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Random House - unpaid work experience students accepted normally for two weeks within editorial, publicity and marketing.
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Taylor and Francis - offer placements throughout the year, see their website for contact details.
More media work experience opportunities| are on the media sector pages.