The research for this week’s assignment is pretty cool. I have researched entry-level positions in book publishing as an editorial assistant for a couple of months. This assignment will help me search for relevant, suitable positions that fit my career outlook. For this week’s assignment, I used four websites. The websites are Monster.com, TheMuse, and Glassdoor. I did not use Indeed because it was not helpful in job searching. Perhaps the website via my computer kept malfunctioning. I used the search term entry-level editorial assistant. As I use this search term, I include remote locations nationally. I would much prefer remote locations because significant book publishers have headquarters in New York, and as much as I would like to visit there, I definitely would not like living there.

I have discovered the qualifications, responsibilities, and software expectations in my research. My favorite entry-level positions are hiring from the companies of Hachette Book Groups, HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, and Beacon Street Services. The typical qualifications are having an undergraduate degree in English, administrative experience, love for books, creativity, computer knowledge, flexibility, and attention to detail. Strong communication, planning, organizational, teamwork, and problem-solving skills are more qualifications that the job positions are looking for, too. 

There are more responsibilities than qualifications for entry-level positions. The responsibilities slightly differ for each job depending on the companies hiring for that position. I will sum up the responsibilities based on the companies. For HarperCollins, the responsibilities are communicating with authors and agents about all aspects of the publishing process, reading and drafting responses to book proposals submitted for publication, preparing contract requests, and writing promotional copy. Along with these responsibilities, Hachette Book Group’s editorial assistant assists in editing acquired manuscripts. They are required to assist the Editor with sales and projects, too. The remaining responsibilities of an editorial assistant for the last company are performing general administrative duties, coordinating meeting schedules, and managing agendas.

The software expectations include understanding Adobe Creative Suite and title management databases like Firebrand and Microsoft Suites. The software expectations are not that bad. I believe that, in this course, I can learn and master these skills if I have not yet. Microsoft Suites have apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These apps are things that I have learned since high school. I have heard of the other two software, but I am curious to become proficient.

A portfolio and cover letter would be a list of documents, videos, images, etc., demonstrating one or more specific abilities they seek. The first particular abilities employers seek are having an interest in the editorial field and having at least one year of publishing or editorial work experience. You need excellent organizational, administrative, and interpersonal skills, written and polished verbal communication skills, and Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint skills.  Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and title management databases such as Firebrand is a plus employers are looking for in specific abilities, too. Between now and when I graduate, the list of the documents, videos, images, etc., that I need to create will be a portfolio via Canva. Through Canva, I can combine documents, photos, and my experience and skills that show the specific abilities and qualifications employers seek. I can attach the link to Canva in my resume and cover letter.

My experience doing this research was informative. As mentioned before, I have researched editorial assistant entry-level job positions before, but because of this assignment, it is more in-depth. I have learned that I already possess most of what the employers are seeking. The thing I would like to do next is to begin working on my portfolio so that when it comes time for graduation, all I have to do is start applying to the jobs that I find fit if I haven’t yet. At this point, I feel like I have much to do in creating the portfolio. I know what to add and learn. I strive to make it presentable. My only worry is getting past the application stage. Nowadays, many companies are not hiring newcomers unless you know someone on the inside who can bring attention to your application so it can be looked at.