"How can I land a book publishing internship?"

Breaking into Publishing
Why Even Unpaid Publishing Internships Pay Off

© Simone Preuss
Sep 23, 2008
Publishing contacts, mconnors

Looking to break into publishing without prior work experience? Publishing internships are a great way to gain the necessary experience while learning the tricks of trade

Breaking into any new industry is tough and publishing is no exception. In fact, being a small and close-knit industry, breaking into publishing may even be tougher. Still, every year, quite a few fresh college graduates manage to land coveted entry-level positions in publishing. How do they manage and what distinguishes them from the many who are passionate about the field?
Gaining a Competitive Edge in Publishing

Often times, the answer is publishing internships. Internships in publishing, paid or unpaid, are key because they show hiring managers that the person whose resume they are reviewing cares about the industry and has made a serious effort to learn more about it.

With publishing being an industry that one can’t really study, work experience becomes even more crucial. But most entry-level positions require work experience to even be considered. A vicious cycle it seems but there are five good reasons (at least) why even unpaid publishing internships pay off.

1. Observation of the Publishing Industry

An internship provides first-hand experience of the industry. Granted, publishing interns will have to work their way up and will get a good deal of clerical work. However, they will be part of the everyday routine (including staff meetings) and will get a feel for the pace and work atmosphere at their chosen publisher.
2. Contact to Publishing Professionals

What better way to meet the people who matter than to work for them? Plus, knowing their routines and responsibilities will help when approaching anyone in a similar position. Contacts cannot be stressed enough as anyone working in publishing is a potential resource and may provide valuable knowledge about the industry. Also, fellow publishing interns will be tomorrow’s colleagues. Therefore, initiating and maintaining contacts is a must.

3. Networking with Publishing Colleagues

An internship means having one foot in the door already. Most publishing houses encourage their staff to network and announce networking opportunities like trade associations, publishing events and trade fairs through email or the office blackboard. So keeping an eye out for these announcements or joining an association will open that door a little wider.
4. Being Proactive During the Publishing Internship

Sitting around and waiting for work to fall into one’s lap has rarely helped anyone. For most supervisors in publishing, having an intern initially means more work rather than less. Trying to get the hang of the tasks involved quickly and volunteering (especially for unpopular tasks) will go a long way. Also, though often under deadline pressure, asked at the right time and politely, most people love to talk about their work and will be happy to help out. But they will not make the first step, it has to be initiate

Read more: http://bookpublishing.suite101.com/article.cfm/breaking_into_publishing#ixzz0NXayuZOg

College graduates wishing to enter the publishing industry often find themselves in the old catch-22 of needing a job to get experience and needing experience to land a job. Taking an internship while still studying can offer some of the real-world experience that employers so often demand.

Internship tasks and compensation can vary, but in all cases experience and the chance to test-drive a possible career, should be considered the primary purpose.

Finding an Internship

A search for a good internship often begins with your academic institution's career placement office. You should find some good opportunities and assistance with your search there. Start your search as early as possible, especially for the highly competitive summer internships.

The Web also offers some good leads for hopeful interns. A search on the major search engines for "publishing internships" will bring up a wide selection of major houses and small independent publishers offering internship opportunities. There are also a number of search engines and job search services available that have dedicated internship listings.

You should also feel free to create your own opportunities. If you know of a publisher you'd like to work for, approach them with a proposal outlining what you have to offer them (cheap labor) and what you'd like in return. Often these self-made internships are the most rewarding.

Finding an internship isn't that much different than finding a job. Learn as much as you can about the companies your applying to, prepare a professional resume and expect an interview to determine your suitability for the position.

What You'll Be Doing

While a good publishing internship should offer more than just clerical work, that is often where a new intern will begin while the publisher gains some perspective on his or her abilities. I know of a publisher who likes to have new interns take dictation of a convoluted letter filled with difficult and unusual words, deciding how much editorial and proofreading work the intern will be given by the results.

Most internships are flexible, and can be modified to best suit your talents and future goals, as long as you ensure the publisher is aware of those goals and talents. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn more about the industry - talk to everyone you can, from the clerical staff to the editor-in-chief, and try to come away from the experience with a complete understanding of what goes on in a publishing house.

What About a Real Job?

Internships don't always lead to job offers, but if your time as an intern goes well, your odds of finding employment with the same company are greatly increased.

Some companies take on interns because they can't yet afford to expand their paid staff. These opportunities are not dead-ends and can still lead to future employment. Most publishers in such situations will be glad to offer you a referral, or even a personal introduction, to publishers who are in a position to hire you. All you need to do is ask.

http://publishingcentral.com/articles/20030517-6-0cc8.html?si=1


If you’re still working on your degree, an internship may be the perfect way to experience the inner-workings of the publishing industry. Some are paid, many offer college credit, and all provide invaluable knowledge that may help you get your foot in the door when it is time to look for a full-time job.

ABBEVILLE PRESS

Publicity and Marketing Intern
ANDERSON LITERARY MANAGEMENT, LLC

Literary Agency Internship
ANTHEM PRESS

Publishing Internship in London!
ARCHIPELAGO BOOKS

Fall internship at Archipelago Books
ASPATORE BOOKS

Editorial Internship at Publishing House
ATLANTIC MEDIA, INC.

Atlantic Monthly Spring Editorial Internship
BEAUFORT BOOKS

Fall 2009 Publishing Internship
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS

Book Marketing Internship - Summer 2010

Book Publicity Internship - Summer 2010
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS

Internship Program - Summer 2009
CAREN JOHNSON LITERARY AGENCY

Fall 2009 Internship

Summer 2009 Internship
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS

Editorial Intern (Social Work and Humanities)

Internship

Marketing / Publicity Internship
COUNTERPOINT

Editorial and Marketing Internship with Successful Indie Book Publisher
DAILYLIT

DailyLit - Editorial Intern - Digital Publishing
FINEPRINT LITERARY MGT & NANCY COFFEY LITERARY

.....more at: http://www.bookjobs.com/internships.php