Working in Publishing after a Career change/break

No matter your background, changing careers to publishing is a challenging journey. Particularly, if you are a foreign national needing sponsorship. While some publishers are authorised to apply for sponsorship licences, it is unlikely that the company will take the risk for entry-level and executive roles. 

Foreign nationals are usually advised to either start their publishing careers at their home countries, or seek sponsorship for a different industry where transitioning into publishing is more common, like teaching. However, non-UK nationals currently make up 14% of the publishing workforce in England, so, for those holding a valid visa and right to work in the UK the chances of getting into publishing are much higher, though not without challenges.

The Challenge of switching careers:

You may have years of experience and may have already established yourself in a mid-level role in your home country, but unfortunately, the current expectation seems to be that you may still have to restart from entry-level. This means competing with fresh graduates with publishing degrees and related work experience. 

Publishing industry has a young staff profile. According to Publishers Association 2022 Workforce Report, the largest group (33%) working in the publishing industry is aged between 25-35. In fact, new research by Miriam Johnson demonstrates that job adverts in the industry often use ageist language and are perceived as favouring younger coded candidates. Having analysed 617 job adverts from the Bookseller job board, Johnson found that 75% of the adverts used words associated with young or younger staff profiles. For career changers/breakers looking to get into the industry, such ageist language can cause discouragement which can eventually lead to limited opportunities.

The Publishers Association Inclusivity Action Plan urges publishers to create opportunities for hiring from under-represented groups in alignment with Equality Act 2010. The act makes it illegal to discriminate based on age. Accordingly, a growing number of companies offer apprenticeships and internships that are open to all ages and use ethical recruitment platforms like Applied in order to prevent hiring bias based on age, race, ethnicity, national identity, disability and sexual orientation. To learn more about inclusivity and diversity in the publishing industry, see our previous in-depth article on the topic.

Another setback for newcomers is the lack of vacancies outside of London. 45% of the publishing workforce reside in London. Flexible working arrangements have recently become an industry standard with 78% of the staff working from home at least 2 days a week. However, if you are already settled outside of London and are unable to commute at least 2-3 days of the week, your options will be more limited. In this case, your research skills will come in handy for finding out small presses around your location to gain related work experience. Though limited, there are completely remote jobs or internships you can apply to for getting some experience before making a life-changing decision to relocate or investing in a flexi-season rail ticket. 

How can you make yourself stand-out as a candidate?

The job adverts may seem to prefer younger candidates but do not underestimate your transferable skills! More companies are taking steps to diversify the workforce, some roles remain competitive while others lack experienced applicants. If you are a career changer/breaker, particularly from IT and technology backgrounds, your skills are currently in demand. The Publishers Association Publishing Skills Report of 2023 reveals that 67% of the respondents find data analysis/analytics/science skills using software such as R, SPSS, SAS and SQL the most difficult skills to obtain from applicants. Even if you are not coming from such backgrounds, you might want to consider training opportunities to learn these software tools. 

The Society of Young Publishers offers a fantastic mentoring scheme where you can get a minimum of four 1:1 meetings with an industry professional over six months. Through the SYP Mentorship Scheme, the mentees can receive personalised career guidance, feedback on application materials and interview preparations, as well as access to a wide range of networking opportunities. Applications for 2024 are now closed but keep an eye on the SYP's social media accounts and website for next year!

Current opportunities and routes into the industry:

Orion, a division of Hachette, is one of the largest publishing groups in the UK with 60 imprints. They launched their Virtual Internship scheme in 2020, which won the FutureBook Award in 2022 for opening the doors of the publishing industry to diverse talent. The scheme offers six-week-long paid and fully remote internships specifically designed for those who have taken a career break and are looking to return to work, or are career changers envisioning themselves in the publishing industry. 

Though highly competitive, the Orion Virtual Internship is a great opportunity for career changers/breakers to step into the publishing world. Out of 24 past interns, six have secured permanent roles in the industry and three of those at Hachette. The applications usually open in June, so save the date for your diaries!

Hachette is committed to diversifying the workforce and also offers a 12-month paid traineeships designed for BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) candidates and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. In fact, the company solely focused on career changers/breakers for this year’s traineeships. Ten trainees will spend a year at one of Hachette’s commercial or education divisions and get the chance to specialise in some of the most sought after departments. Announcements for next year’s traineeships will come early in 2025.

Penguin Random House’s Work Experience, The Scheme and Summer Internships are also great ways to get publishing experience and can lead to full-time positions. Penguin Work Experience is a two-week placement program that invites diverse applicants four times a year based on random selection. The Scheme is a six-month traineeship program where the trainees are placed in various departments in several Penguin imprints. The next application window for January to June 2025 traineeships will open in October 2024. Summer Internships last for eight weeks and applications are usually open around Spring. All programs are paid London living wage and prioritise BAME groups and candidates coming from lower socio-economic backgrounds. 

Apprenticeships can also be an option if you want to gain publishing or publishing-related experience while earning. Although primarily considered an alternative to university for young people, apprenticeships have no upper age limit and can be invaluable if you want to retrain yourself. However, you must have lived in the UK for the last three years. If you are new to the UK, unfortunately, this might not be the route for you. More information on apprenticeships can be found on the UK government's website and at LDN Apprenticeships.

If you are financially stable or willing to use your savings toward a Master’s degree in Publishing, several highly respectable programs blend theory with industry experience, such as those offered by Oxford Brookes University, University of Central Lancashire, Bath Spa University and University College London. You can also develop your existing skills or gain new ones through the wide selection of accredited courses offered by The Publishing Training Centre and GetIntoPublishing.

Recruitment agencies such as Inspired Selection, Wonderful Recruitment & Development and Think Selection are specifically working within the publishing industry. It is always a good idea to register with them and trust these experts to  match your skills to the right publishing role. If you need personal support in your application, BookCareers offers professional 1:1 advice on CVs, and cover letters, and also provides free resources.

Breaking into the UK publishing industry as a foreign national and career changer can feel like swimming against the current, and dealing with numerous rejections is daunting. You are certainly not alone! The journey is filled with challenges, but by leveraging your transferable skills, exploring your options, and gaining related experience, you can increase your chances of success.