OXFORD

PUBLISHING
Evie Ioannidi
Communications & Events
Assistant, The Publishers
Licensing Society
WHAT: The Publishers Licensing Society
is a not-for-profit organisation which
distributes revenue from photocopying
and scanning of works to publishers
across the UK. It’s owned by the publishing
industry’s trade associations, and I take an
active role in marketing the society, and
the organisation of seminars on the topics
of collective licensing and permissions. I
also help the Publisher Relations team,
speaking to publishers about the work
that we do.
ADVICE: Obviously a degree from one
of the most prestigious universities
in the world isn’t going to count for
nothing, but never forget that your
time at Oxford is so much more than
your studies. Every extracurricular
activity I took on has helped me.
From editing a failed literary journal
to rowing, they’ve all popped up
in interviews and they’ve all been
received with more interest than my
opinion on Troilus and Criseyde.
PUBLISHING
Regent’s Park College,
BA English Language and
Literature, 2015
WHY: I knew I wanted to work in
publishing, but I also knew that it’s a hard
industry to get into. After applying for a
number of different publishing jobs, I was
offered an interview at PLS. I was hesitant,
but I knew I had to take it after meeting
the team – and it’s definitely paid off! It’s
a wonderful company to work for. My
colleagues are great, and I am learning
so much about communications as well
as the publishing industry. There’s nothing
more satisfying than knowing a small
publisher is receiving remuneration which
will genuinely make a difference.
TOP TIPS: Refine which aspect of
publishing you want to go into – this
will help you write focused cover
letters.
Show an interest in it – read industry
news like The Bookseller, become an
editor for a student publication or do
the marketing for a play.
Don’t give up even if you’re rejected
by your dream job. Just keep
applying for every vacancy – you
never know what will work out.
Clarissa Pabi
Senior Digital
Marketing Executive,
Penguin Random House
St Anne’s College,
BA English Language and
Literature, 2012
WHAT: I work on getting people
excited about books, using digital
and online platforms (eg, video,
social media, websites, online
advertising) and I work with social
media influencers, and traditional
marketing (eg, advertising, live events,
brand partnerships). I’m the in-house
Brand Manager for the BBC’s Doctor
Who books, and work on marketing
campaigns for brand authors as diverse
as George the Poet, YouTubers Dan
& Phil, Sheryl Sandberg and Deepak
Chopra.
WHY: I loved how varied my Oxford
degree was, and now I love how varied
my work and the people and authors
I work with are. Also, creativity and
thinking imaginatively is central to
marketing, and in digital there is so much
scope for that.
GETTING STARTED: After graduating,
I secured a year-long internship at
Penguin Random House via Creative
Access (see p.36), working for Ebury
Publishing. Halfway through this I was
offered a newly created role in Consumer
Outreach and Marketing, before being
promoted to my current role.
ADVICE: Publishing can be right for
anyone, and don’t ever think otherwise.
If you enjoy stories and storytelling, or
being in a creative business, then it’s
for you.
TOP SKILLS: A growth mindset is a
very important skill, having belief
in your ability to learn and that
your potential is never fixed will
set you apart from other people.
For example, I think that applying
insights from other industries to your
own job allows you to develop your
expertise, take the lead and offer
something even more unique and
valuable to your company. Go to
events, read books and articles, listen
to podcasts, watch YouTube: share
this with your peers and maintain
the same intellectual tenacity and
curiosity that Oxford inspires in and
demands of you.
TOP TIPS: The best thing you can
ever do is work experience – this will
give you an overview of the industry,
the publishing process and where
you, your skills and interests fit in.
And once you’re in the door, give
back, hold the door open and help
other people step through.
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