Carly DaSilva

1. Tell us about your current position and what you do.

I correspond with a wide variety of professors and professionals within the fields we cover in order to obtain endorsements (“blurbs”) for our books, which we can then use in our promotional materials, on our website and the websites of our trading partners, and on the books’ jackets.

2. How did the English major prepare you for working in book publishing?

My position is largely based on being able to communicate efficiently and effectively not just with endorsers, but with our editors and my supervisor, and being an English major definitely made me more aware of how to speak and write confidently and with clarity. Being able to express your ideas in a way that is both compelling and easy to comprehend is so vital in any position, but in publishing I feel it is a core skill that you must have not only to excel in the industry but also to find your way into it. To communicate well, it’s essential to read often, and to think about the best way to say what you need to say to the particular person (or people) you are speaking, or writing, to. The English major encourages critical thought, empathy, and understanding–I honestly believe studying literature has helped me to be the best person I can be.
Of course, having such a supportive network of professors in the English department was hugely helpful to my thinking about and then pursuing my career. A packet from a Writing Communities course I took provided me with the resources I needed to find internships in publishing. My professors’ advice, to apply often, to keep trying, and to get as much work experience in the industry as possible, was key to my success. I completed four publishing internships total, three while I was a student, before applying to this job, and these experiences definitely made me a strong candidate.

3. What are some past jobs/positions you have held?

The jobs I’ve had don’t directly connect to publishing, but every job I’ve held has helped me hone skills that I continue to find useful in this industry, and I think in every industry. My first job was working as an office assistant in TCNJ’s Department of Art and Art History. I then picked up a second job as a theater technician in Kendall Hall.

I also picked up two summer internships between semesters at TCNJ that were directly pertinent to publishing: one at a literary agency, and one at an independent publisher and distributor, both in NYC. Fall semester of my senior year, I took a textbook publishing sales internship in Hamilton. My experience has definitely been multifaceted.

4. Were there any particular TCNJ courses/internships that helped jump-start your career?

Two—the Writing Communities course required for the Creative Writing minor and the Open Options Humanities and Social Sciences seminar. The latter was what actually led me to consider a career in publishing—we all took assessments to identify our strengths and weaknesses and which majors would be best for us, and all signs pointed to me becoming an English major. That decision to switch to English led me to picking up a pamphlet at the career center on “what English majors can do with their degree,” which led me to the idea of exploring the publishing industry. That initial interest blossomed as I dove into the industry summer of my sophomore year. The Writing Communities course is essentially a course in using your English degree for something other than teaching and law. It focuses on writing professionally in ways you don’t usually think about—writing book reviews, writing jacket copy, writing press kits—and also the organizational and communication skills you need to build in order to coordinate and contribute to events and meetings. It’s a great course, and if you’re interested in publishing or freelance editing/copyediting or becoming a professional writer for a company, I’d suggest definitely working it into your schedule.

5. What are the most important skills you learned that you use today in your career?

To take initiative and step up to the challenge—if an opportunity arises to prove yourself, seize it. If you notice something that needs to be done, do it. If you notice a need that needs to be filled, fill it. And quickly. That’s another skill—to not only do the job, but get it done on time, and also be the first to say, “Pick me!” In any field, it’s a positive trait to be eager to step up to the plate.

Let’s not forget effectively using e-mail, talking comfortably on the phone, and being able to navigate every MS Office program.

6. Do you have any advice for current TCNJ students trying to break into the business?

First, if you really want to be in this industry, don’t give up. Look up everything you can online, talk to Catie Rosemurgy and Jess Row and the professors you know and love, and just keep applying. Apply early and apply often. Apply to everything! Take what you can get considering what you can take (a lot of these internships are unpaid). Rejection is a constant—don’t be discouraged by it. You will be rejected, and it’s okay. Keep trying.

Second, don’t lose touch with people. The people you meet in your first internship could e-mail you two years later with a lead to your first job out of college. Keep in touch with your employers, your coworkers, your fellow interns, your professors, everyone you meet. Connections are crucial no matter which position you end up filling in the industry, and I will honestly say it is much easier to land a paid internship/job with a reputable house or agency when you know someone.

Third, when it comes to interviewing, know your strengths and how to talk about them. Identify your best qualities, and if you find that difficult, talk to current or past employers and ask them what they think your strengths are. You can also ask people you work with in extracurriculars, or people you work with doing community service. Talking about your strengths, and also specific moments when you’ve utilized them, will definitely be part of future interviews.

7. What are some of your favorite memories at TCNJ?

Talking to professors about projects and papers and getting valuable feedback and suggestions (or just about whatever—talking to professors was always great and something I definitely miss).