Tips on how to break into publishing

Carol-Anne Royer - Content Marketing Manager 

As content marketing manager, Carol-Anne is in charge of the Pan Macmillan TikTok channel and her role didn't exist prior to 2022.

She says, “I was successful getting it because I had a successful TikTok account and a passion for books that thrive on BookTok. I also have a degree in marketing and communications but I believe that my knowledge of TikTok, BookTok and the communities that thrive on social media were a huge benefit to my application.”

Kayelle Danyluk - Head of Talent Acquisition

As head of talent acquisition, Kayelle joined the company last year (2024) and works with hiring managers to bring the best talent to Pan Mac and so has some great observations on how to secure that first role.

“Firstly, tailor your CV/cover letter to each role you are applying to. Hiring managers look to recruit people that are genuinely interested in the area/imprint that the candidate is applying to work in. 

Secondly, get involved in as many publishing events as possible and highlight these on your CVs. Again, when it comes to entry level roles, hiring managers tend to be looking for demonstrable passion for books and the publishing industry. Getting experience as a Bookseller is also really valuable if possible. 

Finally, don't give up! It's understandable that it can be discouraging when you don't secure a job (or an interview) but we often hire people that have been through multiple recruitment processes with us.”

Chris Inns - Children’s Art Director (with Pan Mac since 2006)

Chris Inns has been with the company nearly 20 years and has some great tips for designers trying to break into the industry.

Be targeted – research the publishers you want to work with and know their publishing inside out

Tailor your portfolio – take time to consider which pieces are most relevant for each interview or submission. Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach

Be selective – Focus on quality not quantity - a strong, concise array of work is better than one that tails off and loses impact

Stay current – Keep up with the latest trends within publishing and be ready to discuss this from a commercial perspective

Show your passion – Be ready to discuss the thought process behind your work and demonstrate your enthusiasm for books, authors, and illustrators you admire.”

Melissa Bond - Editorial Manager 

Melissa Bond joined Pan Macmillan in 2023 and was this year announced as a Bookseller Rising Star.

“Before you apply for a job, research the publishing house you’re applying to, familiarise yourself with their brand, their books, what excites you about their imprints and what the role is looking for specifically – for example, a role within a Managing Editorial team requires different skills to a role in a Commissioning Editorial team, so always make sure the position or department you’re considering is one that will allow you to play to your strengths. 

When compiling your CV and cover letter, try to keep each document to one page (especially for entry-level roles) and proofread both meticulously – you can even read them aloud to flag any mistakes before you submit – as this is your opportunity to showcase your confident grasp of language and your ability to self-edit. 

For the interview, ensure you articulate your enthusiasm for that particular publisher or role – not just a general love of books – and pre-prepare answers to common questions: it’s useful to have a couple of relevant STAR examples at your fingertips, so you can always directly link your existing abilities to your potential to contribute to team success.”

Kieran Sangha - Senior Communications Executive 

Kieran joined the Picador team in 2021 and believes strongly in the power of networking:

“Firstly, be as tenacious as possible, always have a question to ask and don't be afraid to follow up (within reason!)

Secondly, network as much as you can. Look out for online communities, groups, forums that also offer in-person meet ups to share experience and advice, plus it's a good chance to natter about books with bookish people!”

Becca Souster - Audio Sales & Strategy Manager (with Pan Mac since 2024)

Becca Souster was also named a Bookseller Rising Star this year after joining the company last year.

“On applications,  the applications that stand out are the ones that connect real-life experience directly back to publishing. When I was applying for jobs, all I had was bar work on my CV - but I learned that every experience is relevant if you frame it the right way. Working in a bar taught me how to communicate under pressure, manage multiple tasks, and pay close attention to detail — all skills that are just as important in publishing. It’s not about having the ‘perfect’ background, it’s about showing how your experience has prepared you for the role.

On interviews - my biggest piece of advice for interviews is simple: prep, prep, prep. It’s completely normal to feel nervous - what matters is how prepared you are. For sales roles especially, make sure you’re up to speed on the bestseller lists (the Amazon chart is key), and come ready to discuss how you’d manage customer relationships, handle competing priorities, or what creative sales or marketing campaigns have caught your eye recently. The more specific you can be to the role, the more confident, and memorable, you’ll come across.”

Mike Harpley - Pan Non-Fiction Publisher (with Pan Mac since 2022) 

Mike Harpley joined Pan Macmillan in 2022 and launched the Macmillan Business imprint in 2023. He advises looking beyond editorial roles to secure that initial position and demonstrating awareness of the publishing market.

“Entry level roles attract a large number of applicants, so tailor your applications to stand out. Do research on the publisher and the role and mention the existing list in your application. Some form of demonstrable experience or interest in the industry is another real plus. It could be working as a bookseller, a (paid) internship, on BookTok, or doing book reviews on a blog. A lot of graduates only think of editorial initially. However, there are many important roles in a publisher and it is also easier to move around once you have some experience than to apply for the most oversubscribed roles at the beginning. Lastly, remember that publishing is a business, so a keen awareness of the market -- irrespective of your preferred department -- is important too.”

Georgina “George” Morley - Picador Publishing Director 

Georgina Morley has been with Pan Macmillan more than 30 years and retires later this year. She recommends focusing carefully on the particular role that you’re applying for, showing knowledge of what the company publishes and visiting bookshops to help prepare.

“The most important thing in any application for any job is to do your homework. Look at what the company publishes and think about how that marries with your own reading. If the job sets you a task, do that task - don't attach an undergraduate essay instead. Try not to start every para with 'I', avoid the word passionate (which is very overused) and show that you genuinely care about books and reading.

If you're applying for a job with a literary list, don't only list your favourite romantasy authors.  If you're applying for a job in commercial fiction, don't only rave about Dostoevsky or Knausgard. If it's a non-fiction role, make sure you mention some non-fiction titles. Check your application to make sure you haven't made any daft spelling or grammatical mistakes.  Look at the company website and the imprint website within that; go to bookshops and look at what's on display; read books published by the list you're applying to but also show that you read widely. And perhaps even more important than doing your homework, don't give  up!”

Jon Mitchell - Rights Director 

Jon Mitchell has been with Pan Macmillan for more than 20 years and looks for commercially-minded people who’ve done their research on the company.

“I'm always interested to see related interests and extracurricular activities in the realms of books, journalism, media, entertainment, and cultural life. Many candidates, for entry level roles, are also frequently able to demonstrate short periods of work experience within the industry, which does make an application stand out and demonstrate thought, interest, and ambition.

But pre-preparation aside, I'm always interested to interview strong candidates who may not be able to demonstrate directly book-related credentials. We're a sales and negotiation department so I'm looking for commercially minded people who may have different experience. When it comes to strong applications, the absolute key thing is for candidates to have done their research and to demonstrate that clearly in their cover letter. It's not enough to have a brilliant CV, what I'm looking for in a letter is that a candidate knows about Pan Macmillan, refers directly to relevant authors, and shows understanding of the industry and the specific role they're applying for. It's those applications that really stand out, and get onto the interview longlist.”

If you’re currently reading this while drowning in applications, I just want to say that I see you - and best of luck to you!