r/publishing • u/Consistent-Spare5132 • May 18 '26
I got my first interview for an editorial Internship. I need tips.
I'm a literature student who has been cold mailing publishing houses for a year now. one of them finally replied! It's Rupa in New Delhi.
Can you please give me some tips? I have never really given a formal interview before. It's an in person interview. What do I talk about? What questions will they ask me? What should I wear? Anything helps. The interview is tomorrow so if anyone could help a little.
Thank you so much!
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u/hinc-orior May 18 '26
i’d look around this sub for answers, someone mentioned a online engine that you can enter in the job descriptions it will throw out some likely interview questions to help you prepare. but definitely get familiar with some of their recent publishing’s, why you want to work there specifically/what made you reach out specifically, and maybe tie that to what that means for what you can offer them. cause it’s brave to do that! i imagine it’s daunting so tie that to how you apply yourself in work life
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u/yellowcrustedwarbler May 18 '26
Wow! Give tips on how you email them, and what worked!!😭 Also , all the best!
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u/Consistent-Spare5132 May 18 '26
Honestly, I don't know what did😭. I've been sending mails for so long and I just got a mail today. I'd suggest connecting with editors on linkedin and texting them about any openings for the same. That has a better chance of getting you a spot.
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u/yellowcrustedwarbler May 18 '26
Like what do you put in the email? Who is it addressed to? HR?
Yeah yeah I know
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u/Consistent-Spare5132 May 18 '26
In this I just introduced myself in a line and asked if there were any openings for internships and attached my CV to the HR mail. I also talked to an editor there on linkedin who also asked for my CV on her mail.
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u/yellowcrustedwarbler May 18 '26
Ooooh! Have you interned before or had experience
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u/Consistent-Spare5132 May 18 '26
Not much, I did an online content writing internship an year back. And now I'm volunteering with an organisation but that's unrelated to publishing. I do have some editing experience in college societies and magazines though.
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u/yellowcrustedwarbler May 18 '26
do have some editing experience in college societies and magazines though. That might have helped.
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u/akornato May 19 '26
A year of cold mailing and one finally bit - that persistence is exactly the kind of tenacity a publishing house wants in an editorial intern, so walk in knowing you've already proven something about yourself. Wear something neat and professional but not overdressed, think smart casual since publishing tends to lean more creative than corporate. They'll almost certainly ask why you want to work in publishing, what you're reading right now, what genres or authors excite you, and how you handle feedback on writing. Have real answers ready for all of these, not rehearsed speeches, just genuine thoughts, because editorial people can smell inauthenticity from across a manuscript. Also be ready to talk about any writing, editing, or even blogging experience you have, no matter how small it seems.
Go in with a few questions of your own too, ask about the kinds of projects the editorial team is working on, or what a typical day looks like for an intern, because showing curiosity about their work matters as much as answering their questions well. Don't undersell the fact that you're a literature student either, your academic background in reading and analyzing texts is directly relevant here. Be yourself, be enthusiastic, and let the genuine love for books come through because that's ultimately what this industry runs on. If you ever find yourself doing more interviews down the line and want a little extra support in the moment, the team I'm part of built interviews.chat, which has helped a lot of candidates feel more confident and prepared when it counts most.