Publishing hopeful tips from my work experience at Penguin Random House

I recently did two weeks' work experience at Penguin Random House, and here are some tips for publishing hopefuls that I learnt whilst at the publishers.

For the last two weeks, I worked at Penguin Random House. I spent two weeks working within Vintage in the Marketing and Publicity teams, and it was the best experience I've had in my career.

This year, I've been working towards my goal of working within the publishing industry. Alongside my degree, I'm trying to build up experience for my CV, and having two weeks at Penguin allowed me to learn so much from those working in publishing.

The two weeks flew by in a flash. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Penguin, working in Vintage, but also just getting to talk to others in the company. I even introduced myself to the CEO, Tom Weldon.

Throughout my time at Penguin, I learnt a lot and I know that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of publishing hopefuls out there, so I thought I'd share some tips I picked up whilst working at Penguin Random House UK.

My publishing hopeful tips from Penguin Random House

Be open to anything

The work experience for Penguin is organised randomly. Yes, you apply, but it isn't guaranteed you'll get a placement because it is a random selection. I actually applied last year and wasn't successful.

You can list your top three divisions of Penguin (Vintage, Cornerstone, PRH Children's, etc.) and your top three departments (Editorial, Marketing, Audio, etc.). However, you won't always get your top choice, but that's okay.

In publishing, I would say that to get your foot in the door and to get as much experience as you can, you need to be open.

Accept every opportunity you are granted and don't be afraid to try something new, even if it's not what you thought you wanted. There is so much you can learn from all the different departments within publishing, ones you might not have even considered before.

I used to think I wanted editorial, but this year, I've been focusing on marketing and publicity. I was so lucky to be put in Vintage's marketing and publicity team, but I also spoke to people in different departments, including Audio Production.

Network, network, network

During my work experience, I had two hosts/supervisors whom I reported to whilst there. However, I worked within two different teams, made up of several people. I also attended meetings, which involved those from editorial, sales and finance.

Being able to hear from people all across the business was invaluable. You might not think you're interested in a specific department, or a specific book people are working on, but getting to chat with any publishing professional can be helpful.

So, don't be afraid to go and introduce yourself to people. Connect with them on LinkedIn. Ask if it's okay for you to save their email in case you want to reach out for some advice.

If you're interested in a certain division, ask your contacts if they know anyone whom you could talk to. I did this twice and I'm so glad I did because I got to learn about one of my favourite imprints in publishing and see behind-the-scenes and how they work.

Whilst what you know is incredibly important, sometimes, who you know is too.

Ask questions

Another tip I learnt from my work experience was to ask questions.

There is nothing beneficial about you not understanding something or doing a task wrong because you were afraid to ask someone for help. The fear of being told no or someone dismissing you is a strong one, but you have to overcome it.

It's always better to ask for help and clarification. Be curious and inquisitive. Ask for them to explain something, or to show you how to do something, so that you know.

This shows that you care and are interested in improving your work. It highlights how you acknowledge your weaknesses and are willing to learn. Plus, it shows your teamwork and ability to collaborate with others - all important transferable skills.

So, whatever question you have, don’t be afraid to ask people.

Credit: WriteWatchWork

Credit: WriteWatchWork

Credit: WriteWatchWork

Credit: WriteWatchWork

Use your initiative

As well as being inquisitive, you should use your initiative. Publishing is such a competitive industry and a busy one too. Everybody will have full schedules; I know I did during my work experience.

However, there were times when I completed tasks quicker than expected, and I ended up with nothing to do. So, I just asked if there was anything else I could, whether that's admin tasks, mailings, or even tidying shelves (I have a lot of experience tidying my own bookshelves!).

Also, I asked if it was possible for me to speak to people from different publishing divisions, specifically Evermore and PRH Children's. By using my initiative, I arranged meetings and was able to have good, in-depth chats with both.

It might be scary, but try and do as much as you can. Take charge and ask if there's anything you can do to help. Introduce yourself to people and arrange meetings.

You never know where it may lead.

Preparation is key

My time at Penguin wasn't just my first experience of publishing, but my first experience of office work and commuting. It was scary, and I didn't know what to expect. I was terrified I'd do something wrong.

However, I prepared as much as I could.

I made sure I knew my commuting route. I had all my stationery, my laptop, sticky notes, etc. I had a diary and made use of the Microsoft Teams calendar. I always kept my emails and Teams chat open.

Being prepared meant that when I received a few work tasks in a day that was already busy with meetings, I wasn't overwhelmed or struggling to stay on top of everything.

I completed every task with detail and efficiency. I replied to emails and messages as quickly as possible. I planned when to do certain tasks around meetings, to ensure I could complete everything whilst still attending.

None of the other tips will do you any good if you're not prepared. Be prepared to accept opportunities that might scare you or were unplanned. Be prepared with a notebook so you can note down people's contact information, any questions you have, and anything you learn.

Publishing is a hard industry to get into. But it isn't impossible.

I have my sights set on publishing, preferably in marketing or publicity. But I don't have a specific division/imprint in mind yet.

I'm open to opportunities and willing to do as much as I can to build on my experience and utilise the contacts I've made. So, I hope these tips have given you some help if you're a publishing hopeful.

And if you fancy getting some publishing work experience, apply at Penguin. Those two weeks have been some of the best this year, so go for it.

Until next time...