r/publishing • u/BluebirdFeeling3024 • 1d ago

Pub Assistant?

Quick question, is a publishing assistant basically an executive/administrative assistant? Is there room to pivot into different departments?

I saw Hachette post a Pub Assistant position at Little, Brown and am curious about the role.

2 Upvotes

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u/futoikaba 1d ago

This is probably exactly the role they do NOT want someone eager to join editorial to take. They want someone admin and business minded. Not to say you can’t ever move, but they’re going to likely be wary about it.

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u/BluebirdFeeling3024 1d ago

I’m open to pivoting into marketing or sales so I’m hoping this pivots into those departments

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u/futoikaba 1d ago

In that case, it’s probably a great role for touching base with a lot of those departments and seeing the big picture on what they do! And if you’re organized and detail oriented I think the same skills will cross over.

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u/SycamoreDreams 1d ago

Agree!! This is a very great role for pivoting into marketing or sales. Get that foot in the door, meet people, etc., and in 1-2 years you'll be set up

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u/Partial-Hydrangea 1d ago

If you're young and this is your first role and you want to be in publishing...go for it. Its not easy but Hachette is a big five. And you never know where your career may take you.

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u/EducationalRegret903 1d ago

As I understand it, you will need to be extremely proactive if you want to pivot outside of that position. It seems like pub assistant roles are the easiest to get stuck in without upward movement.

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u/The_Alleycat 1d ago edited 1d ago

It varies, but yes I believe publishing assistants are essentially an admin assistant who supports the wider team in that imprint.

I think it is a good foundation to pivot into any department as you will gain industry knowledge and transferable skills, so I would go for it. However, it might be that you would then need to move horizontally into an entry level role in your desired department, rather than an executive position.

Also, don’t make any references to the fact you are using it as a stepping stone. I think teams will be wary of this but realistically, I think most know it’s not a role those who are new to the industry are planning on staying in long term.

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u/raefai 1d ago

I started as an admin assistant to the vp at my publisher and then got promoted to associate editor, so it’s possible to move up thru that role but I understand it’s still rare. I don’t work in big 5 or trade as a disclaimer

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u/Orange-Towers 1d ago

In my experience starting as a publishing assistant — if it’s supporting an editor or the publisher — isn’t prohibitive to becoming an editorial assistant most of the time. It’s still in the editorial department. It’s actually harder to start in copy editing, marketing, or other departments and become an editor.

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u/Gold_Departure_873 1d ago

I agree with others that it can be hard to move upwards and you may have to move horizontal. I am currently a publishing assistant, and I will have to move to being another assistant before I can move up to another level