I’ll set the scene for you.

It’s a miserable, dreary day in November of 2022. I’m unsure and apprehensive of what’s to come, feeling overcome with nerves for the interview and application process for my postgraduate placement. This was a new concept for me as I’d never been expected to partake in a placement for my undergraduate degree and I knew this was important. No. Not important. Crucial, to my postgraduate degree and future career.

We were introduced to Michèle Smith, Managing Director at Jasami Publishing Ltd, when she came into our class that afternoon, providing us with insight into what the experience would be like working as an intern at Jasami. She gave my classmate a book as a prize for answering a question, her clear charisma and knowledge for the industry intrigued me and I just knew I had to send her an email by the end of the day.

Rushing home, I wrote out my first email to Michèle; rewriting, rewording, and redrafting. Finally, I send off the email with a quick Swish from my mailbox.

Ding. She had responded.

After a back-and-forth email chain, she offered me a phone conversation to discuss the placement opportunity. What I did not expect was the conversation to be so relaxed and comfortable, and on top of this, to create a core memory as myself and Michèle discussed the importance of kindness in the industry, and in her company. If I could offer any advice to people applying for placements, especially if you are not sure, I’d recommend reaching out to the placement provider and asking questions about the role as this insight made me clearer about the role and excited for the placement.

At the end of our phone call she asked me if I’d like to have an interview with her. I accepted.

Post phone call, I was overcome with self-doubt, I kept saying to myself:

“I don’t want to limit myself, but I’m interested in editorial”

“Should I try a different area of the publishing process?”

“I have proofreading experience. Would this be enough to help me with the placement?”

I was fortunate to discuss this with Michele as she announced I would be taking on a role as an editorial intern. Overjoyed with the outcome, I learned the importance of not limiting yourself to one aspect of the publishing process. However, I also learned that if you’re particularly interested in learning from a specific aspect, then go for it! Editorial is a career close to my heart and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work on a real-life children’s book and I’m very proud of what myself and my team were able to produce.  

I’d like to end this blog by articulating that nerves are completely natural, they come and they go but I’m so glad I didn’t let them get the better of me, I didn’t listen to the self-doubts and I’m grateful that I reached out that miserable, dreary day in November.

Image by Tomita, K. (2016) Turned Off laptop Computer. Available at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/turned-off-laptop-computer-389818/ (Accessed 29 April 2023)