First, you need to put away romantic ideas about publishing. Just the same as a librarian doesn't get to spend his or her day whiling the hours away with a good book, people in publishing careers have to do a lot of unglamorous work. It's not fun all the time, and just like any other job, you'll have your bad days. The sooner you understand and come to terms with that, the better your chances of getting a great publishing position and really enjoying it. We get more out of our jobs and have a higher level of satisfaction once we realize that every day isn't a picnic.
Another important factor is making sure you know you're looking for the right position. Circulation manager jobs at publishing companies are one of the most competitive searches you'll do. These are highly sought after positions that require the ability to make a tight deadline. Unfortunately, mergers are reducing the number of circulation managers in the industry overall. This makes competition even fiercer.
Top publishing jobs can be found at more than just major book houses. There are also positions in directories, newspapers and magazines. Circulation managers may be involved in sales, and make use of data produced by their firm's market research department. They study trends and decide what promotional campaigns will be used to get new readers. They also work with other sales workers to make sure that things get where they need to be and that campaigns are carried out correctly.
Circulation managers have to be able to communicate well. In fact, pretty much every job in the publishing industry requires good communication, detail oriented skills, and the ability to stick to a deadline. A bachelor’s degree in an appropriate field is often helpful, with English, journalism, liberal arts, communication, marketing, and advertising being popular bases for employment in the publishing field. People looking for this job have to be able to express themselves clearly in writing, be creative, and have good familiarity with important computer programs.
It's unlikely that you'll be hired as a circulation manager without prior experience in the publishing field. You may start out as a publishing assistant or other type of lower level job and work your way up. Interpersonal skills are more important than formal education, and you may be able to make your way into this field without a relevant degree if you know enough about it. Advancement is mostly in the form of taking on larger and more important clients. You'll need to be persistent at your job as well as self motivated, and well organized if you want to succeed. The ability to work independently is vital for these publishing jobs.
If you want to work for a big name, you'll need to get experience. Fortunately, this can be picked up in a number of ways. Try getting an internship, working for a smaller company, or even working with your school's paper, magazine, or literary journal. You'll learn a lot more about publishing, and you'll be getting yourself ready for some of the top publishing jobs available.
Unfortunately, the publishing industry isn't as healthy as some others, with jobs actually declining somewhat. The state of the economy is reducing the number of positions as well as a number of other factors in play. However, that doesn't mean that positions won't be available. Information is always in demand, which means that the publishing industry is unlikely to ever slow down a lot.
Greater efficiencies and consolidation are reducing the numbers, but the right candidate can still find work as a circulation manager or in another publishing position. This does mean that you'll have to have a very well polished resume and a great presentation of yourself in order to get the job. Spend your time researching the positions you want and pay attention to the impression you're presenting - these can be very important.
Salaries for circulation managers remain relatively high, with the average person in this position making about forty thousand dollars a year. Salaries are higher with companies and increase with experience. That means that if you're the right candidate for this kind of position, you could do very well. However, you'll be dealing with a lot of other professionals looking for the same jobs.
To find circulation manager jobs, don't just check the classifieds. While careers sites and similar resources can be a big help, you may have to go right to the publisher. Find a company you'd like to work for, and submit your resume. After all, the worst you can hear is a ''no''. Be willing to stick your neck out and stay flexible to get the best jobs in this competitive market.
