Types Of Jobs and Careers in Publishing House

If you are a bibliophile and an avid reader, then you must have thought about working in a publishing house. There is no greater pleasure for someone who loves books than working in a field where the job responsibilities are his/her favorite hobbies. Publishing can offer various opportunities to people, depending upon their skills and interest. There are many roles in publishing that you can check out and then decide the one you are most comfortable working in. Here are some of the interesting and important job profiles of a publishing house.

Eligibility Criteria for Working in a Publishing House

Most publishing houses prefer individuals who have a background in Literature or Journalism. If you have a degree in BA English, BA (honors) English, MA English, BJMC, etc. you have good chances of landing a job in a publishing house. Several certificate courses or diplomas in courses like Creative Writing will further increase your chances and pay scale. There are some great Arts Colleges in India that build their students for such writing avenues. For those who want to study journalism or mass communication, some of India's topmost Journalism Colleges provide the best knowledge and training.

Also Read: List of Journalism Courses after 12th - Career Options, Jobs & Salary

Job Profiles in Publishing

Given below are some of the top jobs in publishing. You can take a look at the list given below and find out information regarding the same.

1. Copy Editor

The job of copy editors is to review content created by someone and ensure that it is free of any grammatical errors. A copy editor needs to check the written material for correct punctuation, syntax, and usage of phrases and the tone of it. He/she needs to make sure that the content follows the rules of writing and provides clarity to the reader. The logical aspect, structure, coherence, typography, and word consistency are some of the important parts of the content. As a copy editor, you will have to see that all these conditions are met before the content can be published. You will have to work on it to make it flawless. The average salary of a copy editor is roughly Rs. 4,00,000 per year in India.

2. ProofReader

If you are an English aficionado and have a keen eye that spots grammatical mistakes and typos then you are perfect for this job. The proofreader does a final checking of the content before it is sent for publication. He/she does not have to make any changes themselves, they just have to point out the language or grammar errors. Their job is basically about tweaking the diction and syntax in a written piece to guarantee its most fluid and original projection possible. The average salary of a Proof Reader is around Rs. 3,72,000 per year.

Also Read: Top Universities for B.A. English Literature in India - Entrance Exams, Admission Process

3. Literary Agent

Literary agents are middlemen between a writer who wants to get his book published and the publishing house. Beginners in writing rely more on literary agents because they have much more knowledge about editors and publishers. They know which publisher is on the lookout for a particular genre of manuscript. These agents charge a particular amount for getting you the ideal publishing house and then they might also charge a specific percentage of the revenue of your book. Literary agents usually get about 15% of your total income from the first sale of your book before taxes.

4. Book Editor

The position of a book editor is of high importance in the field of publishing. They have a high influence on which book should get published and which shouldn't. From acquiring books for publication to reading and reviewing the content, the job of a book editor is crucial. They are required to have deep knowledge of all the genres and the rules of writing. At some places, those who have some published bestsellers under their name are preferred as book editors as it is established that they have advanced knowledge about the field. The average salary of a book editor is usually between Rs.3,60,000-Rs. 7,20,000 per year.

5. Publicist

If you want to work in the field of media and marketing in a publishing house, then the job of a publicist will be great for you. Publicists have to fetch the press's attention towards the publishing house and its authors. Publicists mostly work directly with agencies and authors while pitching books. An important part of their job is to build relationships with media outlets, reviewers, literary scenes, and websites. They also have to do damage control in case of any author lands into some kind of trouble. The average salary that you can expect as a publicist is roughly Rs.577,724 per year.

6. Marketing Professional

Marketers are required to use their writing skills in making catalogs and managing press releases. They also have to create copy content to mark the highlights of a particular book or an author so that they are well known in the market. They have to advertise the great features of books and writers in proper articulation so that customers are tempted to invest. Marketers also have to be actively involved in marketing campaigns for promoting magazines and books to several retailers. If you want a fast-paced job and have apt marketing skills then this is an ideal job for you. The average salary that you can expect is roughly between Rs.5-6 lakh per year.

Also Read: Top Careers for an English Literature Graduate

These are the primary jobs that can be of interest to you if writing is what you want to go for. Apart from these positions, there are also job opportunities for graphic designers, finance experts, and those with experience in sales. However, a publishing house hires people who have some level of experience so it is not easy for a fresher to get through. You can take part in various internship programs that publishers offer to get hands-on training and experience which will further help you in securing a job in publishing.

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