Having a pristine resume has long been considered a critical element for any jobseeker, but it is perhaps even more crucial when looking for a job in the publishing field. Publishing is a field where typographical and/or grammatical errors can literally put you out of business—and if these kinds of mistakes show up on your resume, that’s a glaring red flag to any potential employer!
However, crafting a standout resume in the publishing industry is about far more than just making sure your subjects agree with your verbs. Any sharp publishing employee/prospective employee will also follow four key steps:
- Highlight only your most relevant work history for the position to which you’re applying. As a veteran employee of the publishing industry, chances are you’ve worked on many different types of publications. For instance, maybe you have experience in writing or editing financial, scientific, and technical content. But if you’re looking to edit “how-to” material at a software company, your potential employer is probably most interested in the technical aspects of your publishing knowledge—and he/she probably doesn’t have time to read through ten pages of work history. Try to narrow your resume down to the kind of work that will catch the eye of the specific employer and position you are seeking, ideally in no more than one typed page.
- If possible, include concrete facts and numbers. If you tell an employer that you regularly wrote for a newsletter published to the company website but provide no specifics, that’s probably not the sort of information that will differentiate you from the other candidates applying for the job. But if you wrote 50+ newsletters over five years of employment—and each of your newsletters averaged 100+ views—those are concrete numbers that will set you apart. Don’t be shy with these kinds of numbers and statistics; they are what make you unique compared to the competition!
- Provide links to your online published work when possible. Some experts now argue that the “traditional” resume will, very soon, become an obsolete tool. Instead, prospective employers will be searching for candidates online; if nothing pops up, as far as they’re concerned, you’re irrelevant. Don’t just say you have published work out there—give the hiring manager a way to find it! Be sure to also maintain an online presence on social media (such as LinkedIn) in order to stay in touch with the people that you meet along the way who might be able to help you advance (see #5).
- Recognize when you’re in the right place at the right time. Be aware of a challenge in front of you, and be prepared to make the most of it. You’ll never know what kinds of opportunities you can get if you don’t apply for them, so don’t be afraid to reach for a promotion or a project lead assignment if the chance presents itself. But keep in mind, this might mean the type of career move you weren’t necessarily expecting. The publishing industry is constantly evolving—especially now, with developments like changes in technology mediums and the rise of open-access publications. Stay on top of these kinds of trends, and don’t hesitate to pursue shifting to a different role within your current company (transitioning from content publishing to content delivery/production, academic editing to trade editing, etc.), or even a different company entirely, when the time is right.
- Network, network, network. Having an amazing resume is one thing, but if you can’t get it into the hands of the right people, it means nothing; it’s not about luck, it’s about being in the game. Submitting your resume to an online portal might not cut it; if you’re one of 150 candidates applying for the job, there’s a good chance the person (or people) making the hiring decisions may never lay eyes on your resume. It is therefore imperative to take advantage of any networking opportunities that your current publishing position might offer, whether they be in-person conferences, online/phone seminars, or even just meeting up with coworkers on a Friday night for dinner and drinks. If you’re looking for a starting point, check out the websites or social media pages of industry organizations (such as the International Society of Managing and Technical Editors, the Council of Science Editors, and the Society for Scholarly Publishing), and look for networking events that they might be hosting near your area, and/or information about volunteering options. You never know when a topic might come up that will further your publishing career, or when you might meet that certain somebody who will help you get a foot in the door if they see your work.
These key steps—and a little patience—might just help to get your career in publishing rolling!
