Yeah... it’s kinda the worst to refer someone for a job only to get feedback that they, um, couldn’t name recent books + any the publisher has published 😭😩
Never give anyone an easy reason to say no!
Never give anyone an easy reason to say no!
There are like some *really* basic things you should know going into an interview:
Who is interviewing you. Call or email and find out.
...You need to know who they are, their role within the company, and books they’ve edited, etc.
Who is interviewing you. Call or email and find out.
...You need to know who they are, their role within the company, and books they’ve edited, etc.
The company. Not just their name (Obvi) but you need to know things like is this particular imprint trying to grow a certain area? Is it an area you have skills in?
Unpopular opinion: it’s OK if you don’t have those specific skills. You need to know that BEFORE the interview
Unpopular opinion: it’s OK if you don’t have those specific skills. You need to know that BEFORE the interview
Why? Because then you can anticipate that question. Anticipate they’re going to ask you “why you” and even if they don’t find a way to work into the conversation the fact that you more than make up for what you lack on your resume.
Obviously, don’t tell them you lack said things. You never want to give anyone an easy reason to say no, remember this. But you’ll point out your transferable skills. Things that make you appealing and able to do the job WELL even if not directly aligned with the role.
You also need to know what THEY don’t do well. You definitely don’t want to tell them this to their face, haha. But there’s absolutely a way to say it...
Maybe a group wants to grow nonfiction but doesn’t have nouns wirh that speciality. Maybe you’ve picked up on this b/c in interviews etc. the editorial director always talks about her passion for nonfiction. NEVER LIE. But if you share the passion & have the skills make the case
Honestly, the most important advice I can give is to know how a group/imprint fits into the larger company. How your would-be direct boss fits into the group/imprint. How YOU fit into the group/imprint and larger company.
I have given similar advice to people before and am often met with the response of wow this is a lot. Fair. It's a lot. I'm not saying you have to be as slytherin as i am, but it's REALLY important...cannot stress enough how crucial it is to know how people will view + value you.
Even if you're an assistant. You need to know what you bring to the table. You need to be (humbly) honest about that. Even if you you think you're "weaker" than other clients. Actually, especially if this is the case. Because you both need to play up your strengths (honesty), BUT
You need to be humble and again honest about your growth areas. I remember an HR manager being really impressed when I said listen, I've got the publishing business down, but what I suck at is administrative stuff that many assistants do handle.
Maybe that's not the most glamorous thing to admit, but also that's something you can learn on the job. ALSO, as I was just discussing with a colleague often skills needed to be a great assistant dont equal skills needed to be a great editor.
Some of the most unorganized people I know are BRILLIANT editors. But back to knowing how you'd fit within a company: I have directly asked interviewers, why are you interviewing me? The key, though, is to not ASK this (and most questions) without already knowing an answer.
Because I think it's, again, important to do your research. So if you know someone's going to say listen, you're a great champion for diverse books and we got a real white list. You, in your (prepared...cause you practiced) interview question responses can drop hints of that.
I promise you that you CAN PREPARE FOR AN INTERVIEW. 9/10 they ask the same question. They might rephrase them, but it's the same ones. See this: themuse.com/advice/how-to-…
If you want a position, you will prepare. Now, I'm not gonna tell you not to lie and lie, hahaha. I have absolutely gone in unprepared. Most times, I felt that shit in the interview. Oh man.
The more into my career I've gotten I've needed less prep b/c I am doing the research 24/7 as part of my job. But still always good to prep.
I read all the time and yet one time I was asked to name recent fav books and I didnt prepare and my nerves made my mind go blank. I pulled it together, but I wouldn't have even had to have that "blank" moment if I had prepared.
The most important question / one often always asked is "tell me about yourself." I think this is the most important because people often dont prep for it. Why? It's telling about myself? why should I prep for that? Well...
They don't actually care to know every detail of your life. sorry, honey. they want to know your (editorial/marketing/sales, etc.) origin story. In this you will drops hints of EVERYTHING YOU WANT THEM TO KNOW. This is your moment to own and shape the interview.
Because they will base everything they ask you and follow up with on how you answer that question. So if you say I just stumbled into publishing and honest, ha ha ha, im here because i saw a listing and i like cookbooks but hey gotta get in somewhere. you will not get that job
You stumbled into publishing? fine. be honest. but if you are interviewing for childrens books you better weave me a story about children and how important reading was for you at that stage.
OR, maybe it wasn't. maybe you werent a reader young. tell me that. tell me how you didnt see books reflecting your realities. i do want to know about you, but remember im hiring for a job. unless it's relevant, save it until we're colleagues grabbing drinks.
I think too often people think they don't have the power to shape interviews. I love interviews in part because I consider them a conversation that I have equal footing in. I'm not trying to say you can always easily walk away, that there aren't power structures at play.
I'm so lucky now that I can walk away if I feel I'm not being valued. When I first moved to NYC that wasn't the case. I had a lot of experience and worked hard, yes, but I also got lucky with timing and there were several openings and got an offer I liked, and one I LOVED.
You might not be the hiring manager, but you do have power in interviews. You can shape it by preparing. I do a lot of prep work. I get to a point where I know SO MUCH about the imprint and the editor. For me, that's how I regain confidence. It's how I "control" the situation.
By preparing, you can ensure that your message--who you are and why you'd not just make a good employee but would be an excellent fit and A+ team member--gets across.
You can slip bits about the kind of collaborator you are, the projects that inspire you, where you see yourself in 5, 10 years (and yes, it's okay if you don't know for sure...I don't!) into the interview. You can ensure that when you leave, they know who you are.
It's now 11pm and I have no idea why I started this thread so late, haha, but happy to take questions about this sort of stuff always. Interviewing can be a lot of fun. You just have to own and control the narrative you're putting out there.
I know I'm in part saying this now in a more "comfy" position, not a recent grad looking for a job, but even if you don't get the job at least you know you've represented yourself the best.
Looking back at it, I would've been totally wrong for every position I didn't get. They were looking for someone else and I got across who I was and I wasn't it.
And the more senior you get in publishing (or any career), if you can afford to do so, I think you have to be willing to walk away from those "not right fits." That said, sometimes you take a job you don't love for strategic reasons. I know many in publishing who have done so.
I haven't taken a job in publishing I don't love, but I have done it in other industries. You just need to be super aware of why you're taking that job and what it is going to help you accomplish because, regardless, a job should provide as much for you as you do it.
Maybe the networking capabilities are worth the crazy hours? Fine. But you need to never lose sight of that. But fiercely protective of your wants and dreams and ambitions <333
