Publishing MA: After you graduate

"I recommend the Kingston Publishing MA because it's the perfect publishing 'finishing school', giving you the skills you need before sending you off to your career."

What does being a digital project co-ordinator involve?

I give highly illustrated books a digital life. I project manage the ebook conversion programme, co-ordinate app development and work closely with e-tailers to secure digital product promotion.

What's the best thing about your job?

Getting to work across departments and imprints, working with a mix of different people and products every day. That and all the gadgets I get to play with.

Why did you choose the Kingston Publishing MA?

I wanted to transfer skills I'd developed in other industries to publishing and I thought the MA would be a great starting point. My first encounter with Kingston was at an open day; I left feeling that it was an interesting and welcoming place and that the MA was the challenge I was looking for.

The course offered a well-rounded understanding of the publishing industry and its challenges. But it also offered a good taste of commercial flavour and got me thinking about what makes a good product and why. 

What was the most important thing you gained from the Kingston Publishing MA?

The most important thing was the thinking time it bought me. The lectures allowed me to brood over the industry and when it came down to writing my dissertation I knew the area I was passionate about. The mixture of taught and self-study was the springboard for my career.

How did the Kingston Publishing MA prepare you for the world of work?

The key things I took from the MA to the workplace were a broad understanding of the industry and the technical knowledge I'd developed about digital publishing through my dissertation. But I picked up other key skills too, such as learning how to present to colleagues (which is a key part of my role).

"I recommend the Kingston Publishing MA because it offers a friendly and inspiring atmosphere with opportunities for further study and real work experience."

What does being an editorial assistant involve?

I have to be aware of each and every project and be ready to answer questions and help out at many points throughout the publishing process. It takes a lot of organisation and concentration!

What's the best thing about your job?

Being exposed to real world experience and exciting personal development opportunities.

Why did you choose the Kingston Publishing MA?

I wanted to continue studying so I chose to further my study with something that would ultimately help me get started on my career. I chose Kingston because the location was good and I managed to secure a scholarship. On top of this the course content looked interesting, with good links to the industry.

What was the most important thing you gained from the Kingston Publishing MA?

I found the experience of working as co-project manager on the student writing anthology Ripple invaluable as I was able to put all my newfound knowledge into practice. I learnt a lot from my successes, and my mistakes!

How did the Kingston Publishing MA prepare you for the world of work?

Practically I wouldn't have been able to get my job without the MA due to the large number of applicants for low-level publishing positions. Taking a career-focused MA gave me the opportunity to make the transition from academia into the world of work almost seamlessly.

"I recommend the Kingston Publishing MA because it gives you a ticket to the publishing industry."

What does being a foreign rights and marketing executive involve?

I have a dual role at Zed Books. In the rights department I deal with foreign publishers and promote Zed titles worldwide; I am responsible for selling foreign language rights and serial rights. In the marketing department, I manage a number of social media platforms and promote Zed's books and authors online.

What's the best thing about your job?

Selling foreign rights! Dealing with foreign publishers and learning their business culture is very interesting. 

Why did you choose the Kingston Publishing MA?

I am originally from Poland and, as a foreigner, I wasn't confident enough to start seeking a job in publishing. I thought a masters would give me the confidence and the knowledge of the industry. 

I heard that Kingston had the best Publishing MA course in London, which is all true!

What was the most important thing you gained from the Kingston Publishing MA?

Definitely contacts I made during my internship – after all, I got a job at the end of it! Apart from that, I gained good presentation skills, an ability to calculate foreign rights fees and knowledge of relevant publishing jargon. 

How did the Kingston Publishing MA prepare you for the world of work?

When I started the course I already knew my goal – which was a role in a rights department. The MA course gave me a good understanding how the rights selling process works. The knowledge gained from learning about practical publishing tasks is extremely useful in my current role. 

"I recommend the Kingston Publishing MA because it gives you an invaluable understanding of the general mechanics of the publishing industry, and allows you to test and implement theoretical skills in the practical environment of work experience – something vital for getting into the industry." 

What does being an editorial assistant involve?

I act as a link between the various departments, providing up-to-date title material and updating the status of particular titles. I proofread, maintain the online title management system, launch titles and deal with submissions. I also handle ebook production for our adult titles.   

What's the best thing about your job?

Feeling and seeing your influence on the eventual publication of a title, and knowing your work was essential in getting a title to publication. The social side is also pretty enjoyable…

Why did you choose the Kingston Publishing MA?

Because the course included a compulsory practical element. Placements, and certainly entry-level jobs in publishing, were not easy to get, and the contacts the course tutors had were very useful in enabling students to get valuable publishing experience. It also has a reputation as one of the best Publishing MAs and a good location close to the heart of British publishing in London. 

What was the most important thing you gained from the Kingston Publishing MA?

I use what I learned on the course in my work every day. The practical knowledge I gained from the editorial production module was invaluable for my job – I still occasionally refer to the proof correction symbols provided in class!

More vitally, the contact Kingston provided me with to gain a work experience placement is now my direct boss at Michael O'Mara.

How did the Kingston Publishing MA prepare you for the world of work?

Without the general grounding in how publishing operates and how the various departments operate and liaise with each other, I'd have been at a loss as to what was going on while on work experience and when starting my job. It allowed me to go into a publishing house already understanding, at least to a certain extent, what was going on and what the objectives of different departments were.

"I recommend the Kingston Publishing MA because it gives you a great grounding in the industry from people who are passionate, experienced and genuinely care."

What does being a marketing executive involve?

I market Nelson Croom's online professional development courses. This involves marketing to customers through our direct-selling websites. We also target businesses, for who we create tailored versions of our courses, as well as bespoke resources.

What's the best thing about your job?

The people I work with and the variety of experience I gain. As Nelson Croom is a small company I am learning about HTML, website maintenance, editorial and sales, which is only possible as the people I work with are friendly, approachable and want to help me grow professionally.

Why did you choose the Kingston Publishing MA?

I attended a talk by one of the MA lecturers and found myself really excited about the prospect of a career in books. I decided then and there to complete a masters after a year out.

I studied my undergrad at Kingston and loved it, which was one of the main draws for staying there. The second was a meeting I had with course leader Alison Baverstock. During our conversation you could see how much she loved what she was doing and also that she genuinely cared about her students. This convinced me Kingston was the place to do my MA.

What was the most important thing you gained from the Kingston Publishing MA?

The contacts you make during your masters are vital, since publishing is all about networking. The MA at Kingston also allowed me to see one of my loves, books, as an industry and appreciate the requirements there are to work in that industry. The MA set me up for my career in publishing by giving me the knowledge, contacts and experience I needed.

How did the Kingston Publishing MA prepare you for the world of work?

The mandatory work placement was a great way to experience what the industry is like, especially as these placements are becoming harder and harder to come by. The wealth of industry experts brought in to give seminars was also a great help in preparing me for life in publishing. They often offered honest advice from their experiences, which helped to highlight what working life would be like.

"I recommend the Kingston Publishing MA because of its practical approach to understanding a fast-changing industry, the enlightening Masterclasses with speakers from all different areas of publishing, and the numerous contacts it will introduce you to."

What does being a business development executive involve?

I look after the print production, editing and proofreading of marketing material, specifically for events, and assist the business development and marketing manager in researching new income streams and looking after the Association's corporate membership. It's not technically a publishing job, though I use my publishing skills.

What's the best thing about your job?

The constant variation of my work and the amount of experience I have gained in only six months. 

Why did you choose the Kingston Publishing MA?

The emphasis Kingston has on teaching practical skills to prepare students for the job market really attracted me. As a cultural criticism undergraduate I had spent three years discussing the meanings behind paintings, music and literature, so I wanted to just get on and learn something useful. I have always enjoyed reading, writing and coming up with new ideas, and I thought a degree in publishing would help turn those things into a job. The part-time option was ideal because it meant I could work while studying.

What was the most important thing you gained from the Kingston Publishing MA?

Being able to channel my skills into one subject area and then transfer them across industries. It sounds like a contradiction but studying a specific subject opened up a lot of different avenues for me. I completed my MA feeling confident I could apply for a number of jobs in different fields, despite the emphasis of the course being on books. For example, looking at publishing as a business model helped me enormously when applying for my current job.

It allowed me a couple of extra years to really think about my career, what it is I am interested in and the direction I want to go in. I really needed that time. It also gave me great contacts and ideas.