The weather is warming up, the sun is brighter, the days are longer. The winter has been long and submerged in snow, but all along we knew (even if it’s still a bit surprising) it would end, and Spring would come back once again. With Spring comes job searching, whether for a summer position or for a full-time job, focused on publishing or writing. In this season, we may have an idea of what that looks like, some combination of dream and learnt reality, but the specifics may still be unknown and a little fuzzy. What can we—and I’m speaking here with you, as a student—what can we do to intentionally prepare?
Starting this week and continuing throughout the Spring Term, I’ll be posting advice I’ve gathered from a variety of resources and content—professors, professionals, conversations, books, podcasts, etc. on how to prepare for (and eventually start and succeed in) a career in the publishing industry.
For now, as we finish up the Winter Term and look ahead to Spring Break, here are just a few things we can do right now.
- Rest Well Don’t worry, I’m about to get into the Spring Break (and always) to-dos of preparing for publishing jobs. But, I want to first acknowledge, that this is our Spring Break. And, particularly in 2021, we’ve just lasted through an entire year of working and learning from home. Even if, like me, you still have to show up to a job or internship the M-F of Spring Break, allow yourself to recognize and appreciate the break from classes. Be intentional with your rest—what does a truly restful day look like to you right now? Does it include a walk, exploring a new park or outdoor market, reading a new book just for fun? Rest well.
For the next tips, I recommend looking at your entire week and giving yourself one or two practical goal every day. For example, besides other responsibilities, I’m working on my LinkedIn profile on Tuesday, my resume on Wednesday, and applications on Thursday. Other tasks include organizing my computer documents, clearing out my closet, going to the dentist, etc. Now, back to the tips.
2. Pay Attention After talking with authors and literary agents, one of the biggest take-aways I learned is to pay attention. Read. Pay attention to the bestsellers and new releases. Sign up for Publishers Weekly’s free subscription or the newsletters from Shelf Awareness. Subscribe to podcasts like Writing Excuses. Industry professionals need to have a big-picture understanding of what’s going on, especially when it comes to content and entertainment, so starting now will demonstrate that you prioritize stories, books, your career, the job you’re applying for, etc. We can’t read everything, but it’s still our job (now and forevermore) to know what’s out there, what’s coming, what people are reading, and what stories they’re consuming. Pay attention to other modes of storytelling, too. What show is everyone talking about? Why is it so popular? What’s the trend? What’s on the up-and-up? What voices are people listening to? Who is everyone reposting on social media? The voices and stories people are talking about are important, because it helps us know what’s out there, what’s missing in the narrative, what will resonate with our audience, etc. Paying attention serves us as citizens, but also writers, editors, agents, and in our interviews.
3. Update Your Profiles and Resumes I know. I don’t want to see this one on the list either. Even though I love to read and talk about the depth of a single word, I still wrestle with knowing that my entire life and experience are going to be summed up on one or two pages. However, our resumes are often an important step towards an interview—really talking with someone about the job and what you’ll add to the company. It’s one stepping-stone, so don’t let a resume add undue pressure, but it’s also an important step, so make sure it’s up-to-date and ready to be submitted. You never know when a job opportunity might come up. The same is said for your LinkedIn profile. Connect with your people and keep the tab open. If we take these big tasks and make them smaller, updating every month or two, instead of every year, it will be much more manageable. Personally, these updates (finding a resume layout that I like and is reflective of my goals, updating my LinkedIn, etc.) are one of my biggest goals for Spring Break. Then, whenever something comes up in the term, I won’t be scrambling to get everything prepared for the next application. Everything will be up-to-date, and reflective of my experiences.
4. Ask Professionals for Guidance I love a good informational interview. There’s not a lot of pressure, we get to learn about the industry, the professional we’re talking with, and even introduce ourselves to a wide variety of potential employers and co-workers—all in a very educational context. Whether it’s over Spring Break, or over the next few months, reach out and ask the professionals around you (professors, internship supervisors, LinkedIn connections… see how everything connects?) to join you on Zoom. Make sure you have your questions in front of you, even the small and conversational ones. Check out how to prepare for and show up to an informational interview here, and be sure to follow up with an email or card, and ask if they know of anyone else they can connect you with. If someone’s doing well in the industry, they’ll likely have good advice and care about helping students and newcomers.
5. Apply for Upcoming Opportunities Spring Break, or if you’re reading this later—anytime, is a great time to apply for upcoming opportunities without the deadlines and responsibilities of our classes. Choose one day out of your week, have your resume and cover letter ready, and start applying. Even if you’re waiting on materials (recommendation letters, the submissions box, etc.), future-you will be thankful when you’ve already laid the groundwork. Pay attention to this post for upcoming internships.
Bonus If you’re also interested in showcasing your writing, submit your piece(s) to the Spring English Conference. Check this post out for more information about the submissions.
And that’s it for now! Between now and Sunday night, take a moment and look at your break. What will make you feel rested and prepared when we start the Spring Term on March 29th? Make a few goals, rest well, and pay attention.