Upskilling Tips with Bookcareers

By Grace Edwards, Tom Hankin, Misha Manani and Lydia Marshall 

Bookcareers is a leading careers consultancy company specialising in the publishing industry. The company is dedicated to helping professionals advance their skills and discover rewarding career opportunities. With over twenty years of expertise, Bookcareers provides personalised career coaching, job search support and industry-specific training to support career growth. Whether you are an entry-level applicant or an experienced professional, their comprehensive range of services, including CV reviews and interview coaching, provides essential tools for success in a competitive job market. Renowned for its tailored approach and expert industry knowledge, Bookcareers is a trusted resource for anyone seeking to upskill and thrive in the dynamic publishing industry.

Key Services and Opportunities

• Looking For a Job: The job-searching landscape has never been more difficult. It is important to give yourself the best possible chance to succeed, and Bookcareers aims to help you do exactly that. From deciding on your career options and building your personal brand to advising on all types of applications, you can book an appointment to ensure you put the best version of yourself out there. 

• Building a Career: Juggling the responsibilities that come with trying to establish a new career can be just as difficult as finding it. Whether it’s building a freelance business, developing a strategic career progression plan, developing a side hustle or juggling the work-life balance, this section helps with all aspects of career development and guidance. 

• Succeeding at Work: You’ve got the job! Alas, it is not always plain sailing from there onwards. How can you push for promotion? Deal with tricky situations? Develop yourself or the business? Here, you will learn the best ways to manage your time and productivity, resolve workplace disagreements and make the deadline on an important project.

• Career Resources: You’ll find a variety of useful resources and links in the archived careers library, which is being updated. Some of the resources include help with specialist recruitment consultants, how to write a great CV and even a guide to getting your book published.  

Our Recommended Podcast Episodes 

• Feeling the Fear: Suzanne Collier shares her personal experience with facing her fears and what she learnt from that experience, while encouraging listeners to not allow fear to hold them back. 

• The Key to Career Success: In this episode, Suzanne gives tips on how to achieve career success. She mentions the importance of networking with people on LinkedIn by engaging with their posts and being open to different job roles. One job can lead to your dream job.

• Publishing Jobseekers Q&A October 2023: In this episode, Suzanne answers questions related to the industry. It covers how to show your passion and personality in your CV and cover letter and tailor them to specific job roles. There is also advice on doing research and expanding your knowledge in areas that you need help understanding.

• Work In Publishing Week 2023: This is a discussion on the different sectors and departments of book publishing. Academic publishing produces and distributes journals, academic research and online resources. Consumer or trade publishing produces books for a general audience, which include poetry, fiction, non-fiction, self-help books, etc. Educational publishing provides materials such as study guides and textbooks for students in primary and secondary school, university and training programmes. The departments in publishing are editorial, marketing, sales, design, production, rights, contracts, publicity and more.

Top Tips

• Sign up for the Job Club: Great for publishing hopefuls with the right to work in the UK, whether you are a student, searching for a job or an intern. The Job Club initiative covers topics such as applications, interviews and commercial awareness, so you are equipped with the tools to encourage you on your job hunt and demystify the hiring process.

• Keep up to date with the news: These are a range of articles that explore industry trends, company updates and how to navigate your career. These are often based on podcast episodes, but there are some standalone articles to read. Click on the individual categories e.g. Skills, Careers Guidance and Productivity to hone your search.

• Have a notebook and pen to hand: Whenever you are listening to a podcast or attending a Bookcareers event, you should be ready to take notes and actively engage with Suzanne or the other panellists. There are many gems of advice and tips that you don’t want to miss. If it’s a live event, feel free to ask questions!

• Subscribe to the Bookcareers weekly newsletter: If you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can sign up. The newsletter covers announcements of major industry initiatives/schemes and a key/latest podcast episode. You could also follow @Bookcareers on X or @bookcareers on Instagram to get the latest updates! 

Thank you for reading this issue! Join us in the next one where we will cover Upskilling Tips for Disability Awareness Month.