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In my undergraduate career, I was convinced I was going to go into Marketing, and get an MBA after I graduated. Through a set of unique circumstances, I was placed in a summer internship abroad at a big 5 trade book publisher, and that's when I knew I wanted to be in publishing, not marketing. However, I realize my circumstances were bizarre, and my career path was not something you can plan. This post is for the forward-thinkers, people who have planned a debut in academic publishing after graduation. If you are currently in college or starting soon, and you know that you want a career in publishing, here are some steps to tailor your academic and professional resumes.
Figure out the subject area you are most interested in working with. Of course, this sentiment is both obvious, and can be difficult. And it applies primarily to those interested in editorial and writing. I, for example, knew during my interview that I would be most interested in editing for humanities--primarily History and ELA (English Language Arts). For a "typical" person interested in publishing, this tends to be the avenue they want to go down. However, if you are interested in STEM, I encourage you to pursue that knowledge as you register for classes. Getting a Mathematics or Biology degree can still land you in publishing--and you may be seen as an SME (Subject Matter Expert) if you are hired.
Take classes or leadership positions that offer hard skills. One of the large regrets I have in my undergraduate career is not taking on editorial positions within on-campus publications (primarily the literary magazine). Not only will these leadership positions look good on your resume, they may in turn boost confidence in your ability to edit, design, write, and much more. Classes that offer hard skills, such as writing workshops, design classes, or project management classes are also invaluable. In order to teach at an undergraduate level, your professors must be recognized in their respective fields. Take advantage of their knowledge.
Keep your eye out for Teaching Assistant jobs. The academic publishing industry oftentimes will hire teachers, or those with teaching experiences. If your department offers you the chance to become a TA, jump on it. Not only will you be able to connect with other students, but it looks really good on your resume. I had a teaching assistant position for Printmaking, and although it was artistic, it still showed I could engage with students and teach them printing techniques.
Take any available internship! Publishing internships are often unpaid, and depending on the one you get, it may feel as though you are only doing grunt work. They are also very difficult to get. Here's a reason why: being in a publishing environment allows you to learn the lingo of the business (and there is certainly a publishing language you need to learn). Not only that, but once you acquire a couple publishing internships, it opens the door for an entry-level position such as an Editorial Assistant, Project Coordinator, Design Assistant, Production Assistant, etc.
Take advantage of your collegiate connections. If you're like me, the word "networking" makes you anxious. However, the publishing community is full of tight-knit groups of people. By networking with a professor, or an alumnus, you may be opening doors to meet a great deal of others. And who knows: one of them may get you an interview! (Yes, this actually happened to me.)
Monitor your local publishing scene. If you go to school in a medium to large-sized city, check out what publishers are in the area! Sign up for events, if they host any, and ask for a job shadow or informational interview. A lot of the academic publishing community is unsurprisingly interested in teaching the next generation about the career.
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