Education

• 1). Earn a degree in almost any field. Publishers typically require editorial assistants to have a four-year college degree. Editorial assistants have diverse educational backgrounds, so you can choose almost any major. If you aspire to acquire books in a specific category, it’s usually better to major in a closely related field. For example, if you want to acquire fiction or business books, consider majoring in literature or business and finance, respectively.
  
  
• 2). Take a business math course. Acquisitions editors must calculate production costs, potential revenue and return on investment when evaluating the potential profitability of a proposed book.
  
  
• 3). Take marketing courses to understand consumer demand and how to pitch products.
  
  
• 4). Learn how to use a wide range of software packages. Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Photoshop and InDesign are some of the programs that book publishers typically use.
  
  

Internships and Research

• 1). Apply for book publishing internships while still in college. Many publishers offer internships during the summer, and some offer them during the school year.
  
  
• 2). Study the industry. Read book publishing trade publications, particularly “Publishers Weekly.” If you’re interested in educational publishing, read “Library Journal” and “School Library Journal.” Read book reviews and conduct field research in bookstores and libraries to evaluate what book publishers are publishing and to see how books are marketed.
  
  
• 3). Apply for jobs related to book publishing. Working at a bookstore or a library is a great way to learn about book selling and acquire a better understanding of what books readers and researchers buy and use.
  
  

Finding a Job

• 1). Research book publishers. Identify the companies that are the best fit for you in terms of their publishing program and location. New York City is the traditional hub of book publishing, but the industry is becoming increasingly decentralized, with publishers located throughout the country.
  
  
• 2). Create a targeted resume. Craft your resume to accentuate the parts of your education and work experience that are relevant to book publishing
  
  
• 3). Read want ads. Mediabistro and Publishers Marketplace are two of the major online sources for finding editorial assistant job postings and other book publishing jobs. Also check job listings at specific book publishers' Web sites.
  
  
• 4). Apply for editorial assistant positions. Editorial assistants learn the ropes under the guidance of an acquisitions editor. In many cases, a mentorship relationship develops between an editor and an editorial assistant, which will enable you to develop the skills needed to become an acquisitions editor.
  
  
• 5). Research a publisher after you've set up an interview for an editorial assistant position. This knowledge will show your interviewer that you’re interested in the publisher and committed to an editorial career. Dress in business clothes for your interview. Always send a note to your interviewers to thank them for their time and to reaffirm your interest in the position.
  
  

On-the-Job Training

• 1). Request greater responsibilities once you're working as an editorial assistant. As you become more familiar with the editorial process, ask your boss for editing assignments.
  
  
• 2). Network. Building up industry contacts will improve your chances of having book proposals sent to you. Establish relationships with editors and other coworkers in your company Attend publishing industry functions. Introduce yourself to agents and other editors and let them know the type of books you want to acquire and publish. Send letters to prospective authors to suggest book ideas or to ask them to send you book proposals.
  
  
• 3). Keep current with U.S. culture. Read newspapers and magazines to follow trends and identify potential authors. If you plan to acquire books in a specific field, read the major publications in that field to keep up to date.
  
  
• 4). Read book proposals. As part of your editorial assistant duties, you likely will review book proposals submitted to your boss and write reports evaluating whether your company should pursue certain projects. Encourage agents and prospective authors to send you proposals. Search for publishing opportunities. Assess the marketplace and competitive books to develop your own book ideas. Discuss the ideas with your boss. Find an appropriate author for your best idea and work with the author to develop a book proposal.
  
  
• 5). Present a book proposal to your editorial board, once you have a promising proposal. With the guidance of your boss, follow the in-house procedure for proposing the publication of a book. Show your editorial board how the book fits in the marketplace and why it will succeed. If the board approves publication, negotiate a contract with the author or agent to acquire your first book.