If you are looking for a new job in publishing, the job ad should tell you what you'll do, who you'll report to and what good looks like. When it doesn't, pay attention.
Watch for:
The "Swiss Army knife" ad. An Editorial Assistant role that also covers social media, production scheduling, rights admin and event support isn't one job. It's three.
Title and duties that don't match. A "Managing Editor" title with assistant-level responsibility (or the reverse) points to a business still working out what it needs.
Buzzwords instead of detail. "Fast-paced", "dynamic" and "self-starter" are fine in moderation. If they're the whole ad, ask what they're covering for.
No reporting line. If nobody can say who you'd report to, expect confusion about who sets priorities and signs off progression.
A job that shifts mid-process. If the role described at second interview isn't the one advertised, that's your preview of life on the job.
Publishing is full of lean teams, and so some flexibility is normal. The question is whether it's a deliberate part of the role or a sign nobody has thought it through.
How a specialist recruiter helps
Our experienced team speaks to hiring managers before a role goes live, so we know how the job really works. We'll ask the awkward questions you might hesitate to: who does this role report to, what's been agreed on scope, and why is it open? If the answers don't stack up, we'll tell you.
We also know what's realistic. A commissioning editor role at an STM publisher looks very different from one at a trade house, and we can tell you when a brief doesn't fit the title.
Looking at a role that doesn't feel quite right? Talk to us before you apply: info@redwoodrecruitment.com