Publishing in a Pandemic: Job Hunting

Posted on May 20, 2020 in Oxford

The world has seen huge changes in the last few months, and publishing has swiftly adapted to the challenges coronavirus has created. However difficult, it is vital to be realistic from the outset on what these changes mean for job hunters, so you can plan your next move. Most publishers aren’t currently hiring, and the usually tough publishing jobs market will be even tougher in the coming months. Recruitment will gradually rejuvenate as publishers return to their offices, and lots of positions will become available once companies start recovering from the effects of coronavirus- but there is no knowing when that will be.

It’s incredibly mentally challenging to tackle a situation which you have no control over, so understanding why coronavirus has impacted hiring could be helpful. Coronavirus has brought to the forefront something that job hunters sometimes forget: the publishing industry is a collection of businesses which must make money to survive, like every other business. Companies are saving money wherever they can at the moment, and one of the first things to stop is hiring new staff. So, this job drought isn’t personal. Fellow job hunters are in the same situation, and the publishing industry isn’t running away without you- we are all at home too! Once hiring freezes are lifted, publishers will be looking for commercially focused people who appreciate this need for profit, and prove their understanding of the business to help them bounce back from the difficulties coronavirus has caused.

The first thing to do is to review your personal situation. Are you about to graduate? Focus on your exams first to get the best results possible, and come back to this article afterwards! Are you in the financial situation where you cannot afford to indefinitely wait for a job? Search for work in areas outside of publishing with jobs available. If possible, search for an office job with transferable skills (such as admin, customer service, and written communication). Been furloughed from your non-publishing job? Seize the opportunity to improve your publishing employability- read on for some inspiration.

The silver lining is that there are lots of things you can do to put yourself in the optimum position for when vacancies become available. For those without employment or caring responsibilities, you may have a surplus of free time. If you can, try to treat this bizarre period as an opportunity to focus on improving your employability. Bear in mind that these are some tips for inspiration; you should not try to do all of these at once, but focus on what you’re able to do on top of coping with the pandemic. Here are some ideas of how to spend your time when job hunting itself isn’t possible:

1. Reflect: this unexpected free time is an opportunity to reflect on your situation and ensure that the first step in your publishing career is the right one for you. Research companies and job functions to identify the ones that suits your skills and interests, so you can be secure in your decisions going forward.
2. Research publishing: if publishing is still an abstract idea for you, start researching the industry in more depth. There are loads of resources out there: The Bookseller newsletter, podcasts like this one, the FLIP newsletter, online platforms like BookMachine, and YouTubers who chat publishing, like Sanne, Claire, and Leena. The best way to ensure you don’t miss anything is to get on Twitter. To take your research one step further, start identifying trends and gaps in the industry. These will come in useful for job applications, as they’ll not only show publishers how engaged you are, but also how your knowledge could contribute to protecting their business.
3. Improve skills: research skills that would be useful for an entry level publishing job and sign up to a course. Find concrete skills for applications that would actually be useful day-to-day: Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel, Canva, Adobe, coding, and website building. Here’s a great article with in-depth advice on where to find courses to train up (mostly for free).
4. Prepare for the job hunt: polish your CV until it gleams, then get feedback on it from a fresh pair of eyes. Practise writing job applications so they’re a breeze, and you have a template ready when needed. Join the SYP to access the jobs board. Bookmark careers pages for companies you’re interested in, and sign up for job alerts on Guardian Jobs or LinkedIn.
5. Attend online events: much of the industry has quickly gone digital, including platforms designed to help you get into publishing. The SYP is working hard to bring you online workshops, Twitter Q&As, and podcasts. The Bookseller recently did an excellent webinar on hiring which you can catch up on here. If you fancy some bookish entertainment, the Hay Literary Festival has also gone digital.
6. Do that thing: you know exactly which thing. That thing you’ve considered for ages, but keep putting off and haven’t got around to yet. Now is the best time to start that blog, launch your freelance idea, set up a Twitter account, contact a potential mentor- or whatever that thing is for you!

I hope that these tips prove useful in the coming weeks and months. The three best things that you can be right now are flexible in considering your opportunities, resilient in the face of difficult circumstances, and kind to yourself. The situation we are in is unfortunately out of our control, so go easy on yourself and only tackle as much as you’re able. Good luck!

By Ella Capel-Smith, Editorial Assistant at Oxford University Press and 2020 Treasurer for SYP Oxford