Any on starting a new career in publishing at 31?

[AnneBoleyna]

Hello all,

This is my first ever post on here (I signed up specifically to ask this).
I'm 31 next month and really dissatisfied in my career and industry.

My job is well paid and I have good friends at my work but I'm worried if I don't change things soon it's just going to get harder and harder to leave my present industry (online gaming) and break into another.

I have no children so have no commitments or ties - but I also have no savings. I spent my twenties being flighty and not really taking any jobs seriously, my main priority was always 'fun' - nights out, shopping, holidays, etc. I'm now in a place in my life where I'm taking my future and career seriously and I'm actually good at my present job (I was promoted twice last year), but I feel if I stay here it will just waste more time; I don't want to find myself in 10 years a manager on a great salary but no pleasure or contentment from what I do for a living.

I've always wanted to work in publishing as books and reading are my true passion but my concerns are starting again at entry-level. I never 'tried' in my twenties and I want see what I'm actually capable of and channel my potential in something I love and care about.

I guess what I'm asking is: should I take a cut in salary and start over (most likely in London where the big publishers are) or stay where I am where I have job security, a good salary, and guaranteed career progression?

I'd love to hear any thoughts or advice you guys have, many thanks.

I think it’s up to you, as long as you’re able/happy to live off a smaller salary while you work your way up?
But do you know which area of publishing you’d like to go into? Editorial, sales, marketing, distribution, operations etc? It’s quite a wide industry.

Editorial! I did an editorial internship in my final year at Uni (English Lit grad) and enjoyed it but then fell into my first 'grown-up' job (brand marketing) and have continued in that field.

Don’t do it!

The pay is awful, jobs are competitive and most are in London or Oxford which are really expensive to live in.

I worked in publishing and got out after a couple of years like nearly everyone else I know who worked in publishing.

You could look into doing an MA in publishing to get more insight into the industry? Or do an internship?

Oh nooo . What were you doing when you were in publishing? Had your salary been higher would you have stayed do you think?

I was considering this! Using some holiday to do an internship. Thank you.

Penguin do 2 week work experience placements so that might be a good test to see if you like it, although I think they’re hard to get as so many people apply

Realised I did 5 years in total. Got to marketing manager level. I’ve been working in marketing in HE since and now earn £50k p.a. which is most handy as I’m a widowed parent.

Agree you should try to get an internship to see what it’s actually like.

Penguin do 2 week work experience placements so that might be a good test to see if you like it, although I think they’re hard to get as so many people apply

Do you have any thoughts on what type of publishing you want to go into? Books, magazines, journals, online content? Or what sector within that eg history, politics, science, photography, fiction, nonfiction, sci-fi, fantasy, children's books etc? It might be easier to get experience with an academic publisher rather than mass market fiction publisher.

I’d think hard about digital publishing as this is where the growth is and lots of opportunities to get experience / work. I’ve worked in publishing for the last 10 years and I love it, I earn 50k but I’m in London.

Publishing is incredibly tough. Terrible pay, hugely competitive. I know very few people in publishing who haven’t diversified their roles in the last 5 years, particularly in editorial. DH was managing editor level and is now doing much more content management than in the past - anyone pure editorial in his company were recently let go.