Upskilling Tips with Inspired Selection

By Grace Edwards, Misha Manani and Lydia Marshall

Inspired Selection is a publishing recruitment agency that assists publishing hopefuls to break into the publishing industry. They are committed to connecting candidates with great companies and opportunities that match their skills, long-term goals and interests.

The agency has a network of publishing houses, digital media platforms, independent presses and educational institutions, so there's wider access to amazing career opportunities. This benefits those who are interested in a publishing career. The services that they provide include interview preparation, career coaching and support - even after candidates secure positions. In this issue, we'll discuss the opportunities, resources and top tips at Inspired Selection.

Opportunities and Services

● Know their partners: It’s key to understand who Inspired Selection’s clients are to see if you are interested in working for those publishing companies and whether they align with your goals. Some of the publishers include Oxford University Press, Hachette UK, Sage Publishing and Bloomsbury, so there is a good mix across academic, education and trade publishing.

● Different roles: They advertise a variety of positions, from permanent to temporary, in departments such as editorial, audio, marketing and sales. This is great for those of you who are trying to gain experience in the industry, figure out your next steps, network and progress your career.

● Career Counselling: They offer a one-to-one with a recruitment professional to go over your career and future aspirations so that they can share their best advice and support to help you get into, or advance, in publishing no matter the level or sector. Afterwards, the recruiter will follow up and send you any suitable jobs that match your interests.

● Support during the hiring process: Once you have written your cover letter and other application materials the recruiter will flag you directly to the hiring manager. If you are selected for an interview, they will support you with preparation, and if not, they will help you improve your application.

Resources 

● Career Advice Blog: There are blog articles that provide vital career advice and guidance on different ways to prepare yourself for a job within the publishing industry. Some particular articles that you might want to look at are Advice for those starting their career and The Inspired Guide to a Perfect Cover Letter.

● Job Search Tool: The website has a job board where client companies can post job advertisements. They make it simple to tailor your searches, so you can view the positions that match your criteria.

● Events: Professionals from Inspired Selection often hold panels or Q&A sessions with other individuals working in recruiting or publishing on various topics that can provide helpful insight into how to begin or advance your career further within publishing.

● Podcast: There is an ‘Inspired by Publishing’ podcast where there are twenty-four brilliant short episodes for those looking to get into the sector and create a competitive application. This was for their twentieth anniversary, so the last episode published was in 2019, however, there is a lot of advice and tips. We recommend listening to Different Publishing Sectors & Transferable Skills and How to Make Your Application Stand Out.

Top Tips 

● Sign up for daily job alerts: Jobs are continuously being added on the Inspired Selection website. When you sign up, select alerts for the job roles that are of interest to you. You can receive these via email or text. Job searching can be overwhelming, so this method makes the process easier.

● Upload your CV: Uploading your CV to the website means that recruiters can reach out to you with jobs that match the skills and experiences shown on your CV. It's important to ensure that your CV is updated on the system so it will reflect your current situation.

● Create an account and get started: Doing this will allow you to save the jobs that you're interested in and keep track of your progress. It's also an effective method for organising your applications. On the website, you can find out about current events and developments happening with the agency.

● Follow them on social media: Inspired Selection frequently post job vacancies, events and other important information on social media. By following them you can stay informed about those things. You can find the social media accounts on the following, X - InspiredJobs, Instagram - @inspiredselection and LinkedIn - Inspired Selection. Also, their consultants give advice and share expertise at the London Book Fair's Careers Clinic. It's a great opportunity to meet them and ask questions. This month the agency celebrated Disability Pride Month and acknowledged the great contribution that disabled people offer. Additionally, the Libraries Change Lives programme highlights the benefits the services have on individuals and communities.  

Thank you for reading this issue. Join us in the next one where we cover Upskilling Tips with BookMachine.