Publishing Resume Example
A career as a publisher typically involves overseeing content creation and managing editorial staff. A strong resume for publisher applications showcases your skills, experience and achievements and helps you stand out from other candidates. In this article, we'll explain how to write a winning resume for publisher applications that best showcases your skills and experience.
This complete guide to a publishing resume will equip you with the tools you need to compete in your applications. The guide will show you practical examples of how to structure your resume to show off your best and most relevant skills and career achievements. It will also show you how to tailor your resume according to the job description and your unique skill set. Continue reading to discover how to showcase your creative skills in your resume, with tips from careers experts from Jobseeker.
Main sections of a publishing agent resume
Most resumes contain similar key sections, with a publishing agent resume being no different.
A functional or skills-based resume format might be best for applications where you have little or no relevant publisher experience. This layout prioritizes your skills and education sections above your work experience. Focus the content of your resume on your soft and transferable skills, and any hard or technical skills you've learned from your studies or career to date. You can also mention any relevant internships, training courses or voluntary roles you've taken on.
Work experience is typically the most important resume section for publisher applicants with some prior experience. As such, it's best to use a traditional, reverse-chronological resume format. Rather than simply listing your responsibilities in each role, show the impact you made and offer evidence that demonstrates the skills and experience listed in the job description.
Senior job applications require a slightly different approach to mid-level or junior publisher roles. Use a reverse-chronological format focusing on your work experience, with a particular emphasis on the impact you've made. Your senior resume will likely be more comprehensive than resumes for more junior roles. You can add extra details about your career, such as awards, publications presentations, professional memberships or certifications.
The order you present these sections can vary according to your career stage, but it's still essential to include each of the following:
Resume Header
The resume header is the place to add your name and contact details, along with your LinkedIn URL if you have a profile, so employers can find more information about your career journey and skills. You don't typically need to add a photo, or any other personal information to this section. Make your resume header clear, concise and as brief and compact as possible. Consider different layouts that spread the information horizontally across the page rather than using a different line for each piece of information.
Opt for a professional-looking email address based on your name. If your email address could be construed as unprofessional or inappropriate because it contains nicknames or unsuitable language, create a new, more professional email address for your job applications. Always check your contact details to make sure they're up-to-date before you send your resume.
Joseph Lee
joseph.lee@example.com
(111) 222 33 444 55
742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
linkedin․com/in/joseph–lee123
Resume Objective
The next section is the resume summary. The section might also be called 'resume objective' or 'personal profile'. This is a brief introduction to you, your key skills and your career achievements and ambitions. While a resume summary focuses on your career achievements and experience, a resume objective typically focuses on your ambitions for the future. In addition, your objective should highlight why you're an ideal candidate for publisher roles by showing key skills and qualities that reflect the job description.
Alternatively, focus on introducing your career ambitions, and why this role is a good fit, both for you and the organization.
The best resume summaries reflect the job description and focus on qualities that are relevant to working as a publisher, while highlighting elements of your personality that make you an ideal candidate. They also quantify the information provided with evidence. See below for some great examples of what to include in your publishing resume summary.
Good example:
Experienced Publishing Agent with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a proven track record as a Literary Agent. Skilled in identifying and nurturing literary talent, negotiating contracts, and managing author relationships. Adept at manuscript evaluation, market analysis, and strategic planning to maximize publication success. Passionate about promoting diverse voices and fostering impactful storytelling in the literary world
Bad example:
Publishing agent with some experience in literature and working with authors. Involved in finding and supporting writers, discussing agreements, and maintaining author connections. Have looked at manuscripts and thought about market trends to help with publishing. Interested in supporting various voices and encouraging storytelling in the book world
Alternatively, a poor resume summary would include bland, generic information that does little to prove your suitability for the role, while failing to provide any useful insights on you as a person or as a candidate. The graphic above shows some of the pitfalls to avoid when creating your resume summary.
Work Experience
In your work experience section, list any previous relevant roles you've worked in, as well as your key achievements as a publisher. Add each previous employment in reverse-chronological order. This means starting from your current or most recent role and working back in time from there. Include your job title, the company name, the location of the job and your dates of employment.
Add some bullet points under each job entry, explaining your achievements in the role, so the reader can see how you contributed towards success for the company. Provide evidence of your impact and make sure each point addresses a requirement listed in the job description.
A good resume work experience section includes your most relevant previous jobs and highlights your key achievements in each role. To make the best possible impression on hiring managers, make sure each entry in your work experience section references skills and experience listed in the job description, and shows how you added value to each role with quantifiable evidence and outcomes. See the examples below for some ideas of what a great resume work experience looks like.
Good example:
Literary Agent, January 2022 - Present
InkWell Literary Agency, New Orleans
- Negotiated record-breaking book deal for debut author, securing a $1.5 million advance with a major publishing house
- Successfully placed 10 books on The New York Times Best Seller list, spanning multiple genres and authors
- Brokered international rights deals for clients in over 15 countries, expanding global reach and market presence
Bad example:
Literary Agent, January 2022 - Present
InkWell Literary Agency, New Orleans
- Managed various tasks to support publishing goals and objectives
- Assisted in enhancing author visibility and book sales
- Facilitated communication between authors and publishing partners
Above, you can see a weaker example of a resume work experience section to best avoid. A poor resume work experience section would typically use vague descriptions of activities in previous jobs, while focusing too much on responsibilities rather than achievements. Failing to focus on the skills and experience that match the job description is likely to harm your chances of success.
Portfolio and Work Samples
Showcasing your publisher work samples in a portfolio or personal website can be a great way to prove your worth to employers. If you have examples of your work online, include a URL here.
Online portfolios tend to be most relevant for creative roles, but you could provide details of any previous successful projects or work published online. Add a link to your portfolio or include separate links to your previous projects in this section. Conversely, for non-creative careers, it's still worth adding examples of your best work to this section, if you have them available online.
Education
The education section provides space to list your highest and most recent academic achievements that are relevant to working as a publisher.
If you're applying for publisher positions you'll typically need to have a degree. A Bachelor of Arts in English Literature will usually help your chances of success. You could also list any qualifications that demonstrate your content acquisition strategies or MS Office proficiency.
List your relevant qualifications in reverse-chronological order. Add the name and level of the award, the institution, its location (if this isn't obvious from the name) and your dates of study. You can enhance this section by adding bullet points that show any outstanding grades, awards or achievements and any specialist subjects you studied. These details can make you stand out from other candidates.
If you organized or participated in any clubs or societies while at university, or you took part in any voluntary work, you could also mention these here.
Bachelor of Arts in English Literature, 2017 - 2020
Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI
Skills
The skills section is one of the main ways to show employers you've got the skills required for publisher roles. Whether your skills include MS Office proficiency, time management skills or any other useful skills for the role, you'll want to list them here. Again, include any skills that match those listed in the job description. Focus particularly on technical skills required for publisher jobs and transferable skills that show your qualities as a publisher.
Highlighting your hard skills
In your hard skills list, include any specific abilities related to the role you're applying for. These could be technical skills or industry knowledge that showcases your expertise in your chosen profession. Furthermore, your list of hard skills provides a strong indication to the reader of your expertise in publisher roles, and how well you'll fit into the position. Add up to five key hard skills that show you're an ideal candidate for the role. It can also be beneficial to add context to each skill, showing how you've used it to positive effect in your career to date.
Your resume hard skills list should reflect your unique and specific industry expertise and experience, while also fulfilling the requirements listed in the job description. See the examples below for an idea of what an effective publishing resume hard skills list looks like.
- Contract negotiation expertise
- MS Office proficiency
- Content acquisition strategies
How to list soft skills on your publishing resume
In your list of soft skills, add any personal strengths, qualities or transferable skills that make you a good fit for the job. Soft skills are often less specific to different industries, but that doesn't make them any less important. Indeed, without soft skills, you may struggle to adapt to publisher roles or meet the standards expected of you. So make sure you include several key soft skills on your resume. Aim to include approximately five soft skills that reflect the skills listed in the job description.
An effective publishing resume soft skills section should be targeted to include skills that reflect your personality and unique characteristics, while also matching the job description. The graphic below includes some examples of good resume soft skills.
- Attention to detail
- Strong communication skills
- Time management skills
Resume tip:
Make your creative resume stand out by highlighting niche achievements, like creating bespoke art for high-profile clients or leading experimental design workshops. (1) Pair this with a portfolio link that visually showcases these unique projects to impress potential employers. (2)
Relevant Certifications and Licenses
In your certifications section, list any professional certifications or licenses that are relevant to working as a publisher. You could list accreditations for certain professional roles or licenses for certain activities that help to make you a strong candidate. Therefore, make sure you list the dates of your certifications and licenses so employers can see they're up-to-date and valid.
Review the list below for some suitable certifications for a publishing resume:
- Literary Agent Certification, 2022
- Publishing Certificate Program, 2022
- Book Publishing Certification, 2022
Optional Sections
In addition to the core sections of a publishing agent resume, there are several optional sections you could include to enhance your chances. Choose any optional sections that showcase essential or desirable skills or experience for publisher jobs.
Hobbies
Adding your hobbies and interests is a legitimate way of showing off your skills and personal qualities. They also help to show a different side of your personality, and can help your resume create a more memorable impression on hiring managers. If you're short on real world work experience, hobbies and interests can be a useful way of providing more information about your qualities. Only include hobbies and interests that showcase your personality and personal qualities, and add something different to your application.
Voluntary Work
Listing volunteer work is another useful way to prove your relevant experience for publisher roles. Write your volunteer section in a similar format to your work experience, including your role, the organization name, relevant dates and the details of your contribution.
References
Standard publisher resumes don't tend to include references, but you might find them requested occasionally. Check the job advert to see if you'll need to add references to your resume. Only include referees that you've had prior approval from, and notify them to expect contact from the employer.
References will be available upon request.
Best words to use in a publishing agent resume
Add strong verbs to your work experience section to show the hiring manager the impact you made in your previous roles. Choose verbs from the suggestions below that highlight your key skills or those mentioned in the job description.
- Evaluate
- Negotiate
- Strategize
- Liaise
- Streamline
- Cultivate
- Advocate
- Orchestrate
- Coordinate
- Oversee
Jobseeker's clean, attractive resume formats can help your applications make a strong impression on employers. Check them out for help designing a winning resume, and see our cover letter templates to help win over recruiters and hiring managers.
Example of a publishing resume
Using each of the sections above, we've created this example publishing resume, to help guide you when creating your own:
742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL
•
joseph.lee@example.com
•
(111) 222 33 444 55
•
linkedin․com/in/joseph–lee123
Accomplished Publishing Agent with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and extensive experience as a Literary Agent. Proven track record in discovering, nurturing, and representing diverse literary talent. Expertise in manuscript evaluation, contract negotiation, and market trends. Strong communication and relationship-building skills with authors, publishers, and industry professionals. Passionate about fostering new voices and shepherding high-quality literary works to publication.
Literary Agent
2020
-2022
InkWell Talent Agency (Jacksonville)
- Secured six-figure book deals for multiple debut authors, resulting in bestselling status and international translations
- Negotiated film and television adaptation rights for high-profile literary works, expanding clients' reach into multimedia platforms
- Achieved a 95% submission acceptance rate with major publishing houses, enhancing client portfolios and industry reputation
Contract negotiation expertise
MS Office proficiency
Content acquisition strategies
Attention to detail
Strong communication skills
Time management skills
Literary Agent Certification
Publishing Certificate Program
English - Fluent
Spanish - B2
Quick tips for a publishing agent resume
Advice to help you craft a winning resume
- Keep your publishing resume concise, with a target length of one page for less experienced candidates, and two pages for senior positions.
- Order your work experience in a reverse-chronological timeline, starting with your most recent position.
- Use strong action words to demonstrate the impact you've made in each publisher role (e.g. 'liaise', 'streamline', 'cultivate').
- Adapt your resume depending on the job you're applying for. Take a look at the job description and make sure you reference all the required key skills and experience.
- Quantify your career achievements by including evidence of your impact throughout your resume.
Pitfalls to avoid with your resume writing
- Don't use an email address with offensive, funny or casual connotations. Instead, create a professional email address based on your name.
- Don't exaggerate, lie or hide details about yourself as these can all undermine your chances of success with publisher applications.
- Don't include personal details beyond your name, location and contact details. Adding your age, gender, nationality or a photo can create unwanted hiring bias.
- Don't crowd your publishing resume with too many unnecessary details. Focus on only the most critical skills and achievements.
- Don't list work experience that has no relation to the role you're applying for. It wastes space and is unlikely to impress hiring managers.
How to make an ATS-friendly resume
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is just one of the tools employers and recruiters can use to streamline their hiring practices. This typically includes screening candidates by scanning and ranking their resumes based on their likely suitability for any vacancy. There are several things you can do when writing your publishing resume, to give yourself the strongest chance of ranking highly in the ATS stage and progressing through the recruitment process.
Here a some simple tips to follow for an ATS-friendly resume:
- Adopt a traditional structure for your resume, such as a reverse-chronological format or a functional format. These are likely to be the easiest layouts for ATS software to scan.
- Add keywords that match the job description throughout your resume, as ATS applications scan for these and well-placed, considered use can help your resume rank more highly.
- Use clear headings that break your resume up into readable, scannable sections that match the standard content employers expect from a resume.
- Use a resume design that includes clean, professional design elements to give your content space to breathe. This might include clear, readable fonts, subtle color accents and simple design elements.
- Use concise language to keep the length of your resume to between one and two pages. This will make it easier to scan for ATS applications.
If you're looking for inspiration for your resume, discover our comprehensive resume examples and in-depth, expert career blog.
Frequently Asked Questions about a publishing agent resume
It's generally not advisable to add a personal photo to your resume. Resume photos can help to create a visually appealing document, but they can also introduce selection biases, whether intentional or not.
Circumstances where it may be necessary to include a personal photo in your resume tend to be for creative roles that require public appearances. This could be appearing on camera, acting, modelling, meeting with clients or public speaking engagements.
Alongside your publishing resume, it's important to produce a professional cover letter that creates a similar positive impact on the reader.
Firstly, choose whether you're going to write a full cover letter, or whether a brief email confirming your application and drawing attention to your resume will be sufficient.
If you decide you want to write a traditional cover letter, follow the standard letter-writing conventions around layout and structure. In the main body of the letter, write an opening paragraph to introduce yourself and explain why you're applying for the publisher role. Your second paragraph is typically where you highlight your key relevant skills and achievements. Finally, close by expressing your enthusiasm for the role and leave a call to action to encourage the hiring manager to make contact with you.
Jobseeker's tried and tested cover letter templates were created by experts to help you make a strong impression with your applications. Follow the simple steps to create a winning cover letter today.
Even if you have little or no relevant work experience, it's still possible to write a publishing agent resume that makes a strong impression on employers. Select a resume format that emphasizes your skills and education over your work experience, such as a functional format. Optional sections at the end of your resume can play a stronger role if you're lacking relevant work experience. Use certifications and training, hobbies and interests, volunteer roles and internships to show you've got the necessary skills for the job.
Picking a suitable font for your resume is one of the key design decisions that can set the tone for your application. The key choice is whether to select a serif or sans serif font, and to decide which is the most suitable font size. Typically a font size between 10 and 12 is most readable. For a creative job application, a sans serif resume font is probably the most suitable. This modern, dynamic style is easy to read and fits with industry design norms. As such, sans serif fonts are probably the most suitable for a publishing agent resume.
The most suitable resume format for you depends on two crucial factors. Firstly, whether you have a body of relevant work experience. Secondly, the type of job and its seniority level. For roles where you're lacking experience, such as graduate jobs or career changes, you could use a functional or skills-based resume format. This places your skills and education above your work experience. On the other hand, if you're experienced in your industry or applying for senior positions, a traditional, reverse chronological resume format is usually best. This places most emphasis on your work experience.
Takeaways for a winning publishing resume
The best resumes focus on your skills and the value you've added to previous roles, rather than focusing on your duties and responsibilities. Pick a resume format that matches your experience levels, and tailor the content of your resume to reflect the details of the job description.
Jobseeker has a wealth of resume tools, including resume templates and examples, to help you create a winning job application. Sign up today to get started. Whether you're a junior or senior candidate, a professional cover letter can help to grab the attention of the employer. Jobseeker's cover letter examples were created by careers experts to provide useful tips and ideas for your cover letter.
Sources:
(1) Careers for creative people, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/creative-careers.htm
(2) Occupational Outlook Handbook, Craft and Fine Arts, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-and-design/craft-and-fine-artists.htm
