The Bookseller.com

7th September 2008

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A foot in the door

13.04.07 Hannah Davies

With fierce competition for graduate jobs in publishing, The Bookseller does the legwork to help would-be publishers know where to start.

With many university careers fairs dominated by banks, accountancy firms and law practices, graduates keen to embark on a career in publishing often do not know where to begin. Furthermore, with hundreds of graduates all seeking the same coveted roles in editorial, the competition for jobs is strong.

To lend a hand to show graduates the range of opportunities available in all areas of publishing, from production to rights, we have reviewed five major UK publishers. The HR managers for Hachette, Orion, Penguin, Macmillan and HarperCollins reveal the benefits of working for their companies, the qualities they are looking for in candidates, and how applicants can stand out from the crowd. So if a sales job in Latin America or a publicity assistant’s job for a famous author sound appealing, read on to find out how you can apply for a graduate job in publishing.

HACHETTE

Hachette Livre UK, a subsidiary of French conglomerate Lagardère, is the UK’s largest publishing group.

Graduate careers scheme
Hachette launched its graduate careers scheme in January 2007, taking on two graduates for 12 months. Graduates can work for five companies: Hodder & Stoughton; Hodder Books Publishing; Headline Education; Little, Brown; and Octopus. This year, one participant is gaining experience in production and the other in sales.

The benefits
The scheme offers a thorough insight into the running of Hachette and provides in-depth training in a specific discipline. Karen O’Brien, Hodder HR manager, says: “Graduates will undergo thorough training, take part in a mentor programme, experience a range of fantastic opportunities and can expect to develop a strong network of contacts within the group.” In-house training programmes include copy-editing, proofreading, presentation skills, finance and management.

Ideal candidates
Hachette is looking for talented graduates, ideally with a 2:1 degree or above, who can demonstrate their commitment to specific areas within publishing, particularly sales or production. O’Brien adds that “passion for the industry and the ambition to succeed” are essential. There is potential for full-time employment with Hachette at the end of the training.

How to apply
The scheme will run again in January 2008, with details available from September at Hachette UK’s website, which is still under construction. Adverts will also be posted in The Bookseller.

ORION

Founded in 1991, Orion Books (owned by Hachette Livre UK) is one of the leading commercial publishers of adult and children’s books in the UK, with bestselling novelists including Maeve Binchy, Ian Rankin and Michael Connelly.

Graduate trainee programme
Orion, although part of the Hachette Livre Group, runs its own independent programme for graduates based in London. Last October, after four years of running the scheme, Orion reorganised its graduate trainee programme, extending the period from three to six months and reducing its intake to only one graduate a year. The trainee will gain experience in all aspects of publishing, with half the year spent in the editorial departments of Orion and Weidenfeld & Nicolson, and the rest split between sales, marketing, publicity and rights.

The benefits
Orion Group rights director Susan Howe says that graduate trainees “work in a stimulating environment on a huge variety of books, including general fiction, non-fiction, children’s, illustrated and even science fiction” and will “gain an excellent grounding in all areas of a general trade publishing house”. The key emphasis of the scheme is for candidates to learn on the job, and Howe believes the six months will be “excellent preparation for a future career in publishing”. The potential for employment with the company after completing the scheme is high, with this year’s trainee gaining full-time employment at Orion even before the six months was up.

Ideal candidates
Successful candidates will have “a strong and relevant degree, determination, a demonstrated interest in publishing and the flexibility to undertake a huge variety of tasks”, Howe says.

How to apply
Information about Orion’s October 2007 graduate trainee scheme will be available at www.orionbooks.co.uk from June.

MACMILLAN

Macmillan is one of the world’s largest international publishers and operates in more than 70 countries. It is characterised by high-quality academic and scholarly publishing, fiction and non-fiction. Its companies include Nature Publishing Group, Palgrave Macmillan, Pan Macmillan and Macmillan Education.

Graduate recruitment scheme
Macmillan has offered its graduate scheme for more than 30 years. It takes on five or six graduates over the course of a year and looks for high achievers with the potential to become managers at Macmillan. Graduates are put into real jobs from day one and may be allocated a job at any of Macmillan’s sites, including London, Basingstoke and Oxford. Typical roles include marketing executives, sales representatives and assistant editors.

The benefits
Candidates’ development is closely monitored for at least two years, in which time they gain a real insight into how Macmillan is run.

Ideal candidates
Macmillan looks for graduates who “are very capable, will react to a challenge and can learn at an accelerated rate”, James Richardson, group personnel director, says. Although a passion for books is important, the scheme is primarily aimed at those interested in learning about the business of publishing.

How to apply
The deadline for the September 2008 scheme is 31st December 2007. The application form can be found at www.uclan.ac.uk/facs/class/cfe/PYCSAF.doc and should be returned to James Richardson, group personnel director, Macmillan Publishers Ltd, Brunel Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke RG21 6XS. Further information is available at http://www.macmillan.com/grad.asp

PENGUIN

Penguin Group UK is a leading adult and children’s publisher and is a division of the worldwide Penguin Group, owned by Pearson. It is home to publishing brands including Dorling Kindersley, Ladybird, Rough Guides, Penguin Classics and Puffin.

Graduate roles
After five years of a successful graduate scheme, Penguin has put the programme under review to focus its resources on developing talent within the company. However, it continues to recruit graduates into a wide variety of entry-level roles at its offices in London, including positions in marketing, production, sales, editorial, design and finance, with starting salaries from £18,000 per annum, plus benefits. Penguin also offers internships specifically for ethnic minority students in their final year and recent graduates, through an annual diversity internship scheme.

The benefits
Claire Thomas, Penguin HR and personnel manager, explains why Penguin is the only publisher in the Times top 100 graduate employers: “We have a unique history, an extraordinary range of imprints and titles, and a reputation for innovation, creativity and design.” Penguin nurtures the talents of its employees with in-house training courses.

Ideal candidates
Penguin is looking for “talented, passionate, commercial and inquisitive people who aren’t afraid to challenge or think differently, and who know what is happening in the world”, Thomas says. Individuals are welcomed from all social and ethnic backgrounds.

How to apply
Vacancies at Penguin are posted online at www.penguin.co.uk and are often advertised directly through universities, publishing agencies, online job boards and publications, including The Bookseller. Further information on Penguin’s annual diversity internship scheme is available at extranet1.pearson.com/diversity.

HARPERCOLLINS

HarperCollins UK is home to a wide range of books, including contemporary fiction, thrillers, classics, children’s books and a large selection of non-fiction titles: history, celebrity memoirs, biographies, dictionaries and education books.

Graduate roles
This year, HarperCollins is focusing on finding graduates to fill entry-level roles in all areas of its business. HC plans to create a database of details of talented graduates from which it can select candidates throughout the year to fill its vacancies at its sites in Glasgow, Cheltenham and Hammersmith. Salaries are competitive, and depend on experience.

The benefits
Zoe Shackle, HC human resources manager, explains that in entry-level roles “graduates start a real job with real responsibilities from the outset, in which they will be presented with good training and development opportunities both in-house and externally, and will work alongside dynamic colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere under strong management”. Qualifications and training are a key focus at HC—for example, graduate employees in finance are supported in studying towards ACCA or CIMA qualifications.

Ideal candidates
According to Shackle, successful graduates will have “a strong academic record, good interpersonal skills, commercial sense, a positive, enthusiastic attitude, and a creative mind”. Graduates from all degree disciplines are encouraged to apply.

How to apply
HC is planning careers evenings at various universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, UCL, LSE, Glasgow and Manchester. Its careers website and an application form will be available within the next few months. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an assessment centre in August or September, and from October HC aims to recuit approximately three graduates a month.
 

Hannah Davies job graduates