can anyone help me get work experience? [

[ivet83]

i am looking for someone who knows people in the publishing industry or someone who works there himself. I want to get editorial work experience and it is proving really hard.Can anyone help me?

himself?

ok himself or herself, does it really matter? that wasn't the point

OK....that is certainly the right sort of attitude that will win you access to contacts in the publishing industry! Good luck with that.

well i am looking for people who are interested in the topic not the awkward ones who pick on one word .maybe you are not the right person to comment?!

Maybe, maybe not. I would not be inclined to help you in any case.

If you are looking for editing work - I would think about your presentation styles - you haven't put yourself across very well here (IMO).

Ivet, publishing is one of the most difficult areas to get into. It is hugely competitive to get work (or work experience) there and you have to present yourself as well as you possibly can at every opportunity because you never know when you are going to meet the person who may be able to help (applies to every work situation really but more so in the really competitive ones). Unfortunately, if anyone here does have contacts in publishing or work there themselves, you have come across very badly in your initial postings. It's all very well living in the age of text but you still need to use capital letters, punctuation and spacing. You have also come across as very aggressive and defensive in your postings. Honestly, I'd think twice about trying to help you!

Annh, you must work with words, you said that so much better than I did

I think that you are both being really harsh on me.After starting my degree, I realized that I would enjoy working as a proofreader/editor but of course I don't know much about writing styles just yet-that's why I am looking to gain work experience. I asked a simple question, not thinking too much about the writing style.I just need advice or help, that's all.

Why do you think you would enjoy working with text? You don't seem to have much of a feel for "register" or use of language.

What is your degree in? Have you finsihed it yet? Perhaps someone at the Uni Careers centre may be able to point you in the right direction??

I know it is very competitive but I thought I could just ask a simple question as it is a friendly chat between mums after all.I am not aggressive, just got annoyed.

I don't think so, I am advertising a job atm, it requires a reasonable standard of english, bith written and spoken.

I judge the CV's & letters of application upon their grammar & punctuation as well as content. When the attend an interview I will judge based upon their clothes and speech as well as their words.

That is part of life and making judgments. To ask for help getting a job with incorrect punctuation and capitalisation would put me off, but to be asking about editing jobs seems very unprofessional

Sorry - but that is the way it is

volunteer for your local NCT branch to be editor of their newsletter?

good point Cargirl......also does the uni have a magazine at all that you could help out on??

I am studying for a BA (Hon) English Language with Literature and I also studied at a secondary linguistic school. I love to work with words and I do have an eye for grammar, syntax and spelling.

Hi CarGirl, could you explain what is the NCT? I didn't quite get that.

National Childbirth Trust, split into lots of small branches each one produces it's own newsletter booklet they are always looking for volunteers to help.

Ivet83, I hope you don't think this is a rude question (it isn't meant to be) but is English your first language?

Ivet, I'm sorry if you think we are harsh and this IS a friendly forum where, on the whole, people couldn't care less about spelling and grammar. However, it's horses for courses, and if you post a question asking about work experience in an area where written accuracy and fluency are imperative, you jolly well need to get it right! There are people from all areas of industry posting here, some of those people are bound to have contacts in publishing, newspapers etc. Some of them will probably be well placed to help with work experience but they won't help YOU if you don't try to help yourself.

KatyMac, I hate to admit it (especially as I don't have time to proof this post!) but yes, I do work with words and my degree is in journalism, although I don't work in an area which can be helpful to the OP.

When criticising a poster's spelling and grammar, please ensure that your post is perfect in every way. Otherwise, you might find that others make rather harsh judgments about you.

Patsy

KatyMac your post has spelling mistakes. Good point PatsyCline.

English is not my mother tongue, and no I don't think it is rude to ask me that. I have been studying English since I was fifteen years old and I am very proud of what I have achieved so far. I will get there anyway!

I'm not looking for job in editing - I know my English is basic and not perfect. However as an employer I know that my job application (or request for help) will be judged.

Your choice, I guess, I actually thought explaining why you might not be taken seriously might help. Feedback not required. I'll remember that.

I have worked in publishing for years and, to be honest, when it comes to proofing and editing I would always look for someone with English as their mother tongue as they would have more of an ear for idiom and the general flow of the language.

I would suggest that you approach publications in your mother tongue, if there are any based in this country (or even online). I think you'd be more likely to get a good response from them.