The Scheme Virtual Q&A

Virtual Q&As

In case you missed the virtual Q&A, here are the questions and answers from each session:

Session one with Hana and Sharika

“What tasks will we complete on the selection day?”

You’ll complete a group task, an interview, and two independent tasks from home.

All the tasks take approximately an hour (or less) to complete, and are based around the qualities.

“Do you have any advice for the learning and selection day?”

In the interviews, listen carefully to what’s being asked rather than thinking about what you’d like to say next.

You don’t need to prepare (really!), but it can be useful to jot down anything you’ve done that might be important or relevant for an interview e.g. volunteer work, group projects, customer service roles, in case your mind goes blank on the day.

“What was your favourite thing about The Scheme?”

The other schemers that we joined with! We met up for training and days out and it was amazing. We still keep in touch, and get excited when we get to see each other.

“What are the workshops on the learning and selection day?”

Here you’ll have an explanation about why you’re completing your task, and how it’s relevant to an editorial traineeship.

We hope that even if you don’t come away with one of the final 8 places, you’ll have learned something interesting about a career in publishing.

“What type of training did you have on the scheme?”

We had lots of training, especially at the beginning. It’s tailored each year, but includes things like formal group training sessions, and experiencing other departments.

“Is it random who interviews you?”

Yes. Your interviewer could be from any of our divisions.

You’ll be interviewing for The Scheme Traineeship as a whole, and the final 8 trainees and managers will pair up a little later down the line.

“Do you have any tips on how to maximise your experience on The Scheme?”

Email and have coffee with everyone! Go to as many meetings as possible while you’re here.

“How did you feel towards the end of the 6 months?”

You got a lot of HR support with being sent jobs going and advice, and you’ll be in the best possible position for the next step in your career.

“What are your days like now as Assistant Editors?”

Packed to the brim with meetings! It’s project manage-y, reading submissions, acquiring books, author care, admin, organising meetings etc.

Every day is about getting a book from the very beginning of its life to the end.

“What did you struggle with on The Scheme?”

Self-doubt. In the learning and selection day, don’t change your answers to be more literary, if that’s not you.

Think to yourself “why did you ask me that question, what did you want to get out of it?”

Be your authentic self. That’s how you’ll shine.

“How do you remember all the new information you learn on The Scheme?”

Taking notes!

Going into Waterstones to see what’s being published, and what our competitors are doing.

Also, attending publishing events.

Session two with Aniké, Danai and Lydia

“What’s the culture like as a trainee?”

Every division is different, and has a different vibe and feeling, you’ll get to know the divisions throughout the experience. Everyone was very friendly.

“What unexpected lessons have you learned working at Penguin?”

Working remotely has been a big learning curve! You have to be more intentional about reaching out to people.

One lesson has been the acknowledgement that people are there to support you. You don’t always have to figure it out yourself because someone will help you.

“Since the learning and selection day is virtual, how do I stand out?”

Enthusiasm goes a long way.

Bring yourself, don’t perform an identity, make room for other people, give honest answers and not just what you think people want you to say.

“Did doing The Scheme change your career direction?”

Danai – I applied on a whim!

Aniké – I’d been trying to get in to publishing for 18 months, and I didn’t get on to The Scheme the first-time round.

Lydia – I didn’t know anything about publishing before joining, and here we are!

“What was different from your expectations?”

I thought it would be super bookish. I carried this thought around while I was on The Scheme, and pretended to know things that I didn’t know. Now I know that it’s not true of everyone, there’s not the expectation to be incredibly literary.

In non-fiction, I imagined you had to have grounding in science and history, but the most important thing is to just ask so many questions.

“What if I’m really quiet, will I be able to do well on the learning and selection day?”

Of course. Take time to think, and be deliberate about your input.

“Is there a clear progression? Did you go straight into your role?”

This is different for everyone. Some people applied for roles at the end of The Scheme and got them, some people got them earlier on. Some people chose to go in a completely different direction!

HR are working on smoothing out the process, so it’s easier to find and apply to full time roles at the end of the traineeship

“Do you get to work globally?”

You do get to work with different publishers and agents in different areas sometimes.

At the moment it’s easier than ever to have meetings while we’re working virtually.

“Where did/do you see yourself in 5-year time?”

Not sure about the destination, but have the boat, which is a mentor who I can express these uncertainties and talk about all the paths with.

“How do all the departments work together?”

Collaboratively, we have meetings and collaborate on different stages of the book’s journey. We have unique perspectives on each part.

“How does a traineeship differ to a normal entry level position?”

We had a great WhatsApp chat group!

The emphasis is on that you don’t know anything about publishing to get onto the traineeship, so learning and development was a priority.

“What skills were essential to do your roles?”

Prioritisation and confidence.

“How did you find your assessment day?”

I had a great day, everyone was nice, and seeing everyone confirmed it wasn’t a scam!

If you don’t understand something, ask again, or ask for a minute to think, that’s okay.

Session three with Hannah and Lydia

"What did you enjoy most?"

Being able to talk about how to be in the office and asking questions with the other Scheme trainees.

It was really useful to have a cohort of people starting at the same time all across the business.

The traineeship eased you in to full time work and office life.

"What was the most challenging bit?"

The logistics of the length of the traineeship.

Moving to London for the role, in temporary accommodation, so it was tricky balancing questions about the longer term at the same time as doing your best on The Scheme.

There’s a lot to think about in 6 months, and it can really fly by!

"What’s the best or favourite project?"

Hannah: Working on Girl, Woman, Other.

This project came in while on the scheme, got the opportunity to work on the edit while the author was less well known as an author. it’s been a wild journey since then!

"How do the departments feed into each other?"

Lydia: One example is that we work really closely with comms and sales for Mo Gilligan’s book.

Getting the retailers on board and working commercially sensitively to get the book ready for autumn.

"How was the selection process?"

Have fond memories of it, compared to other selection days for other things, this one was way more warm, friendly and straightforward.

When you go into it, you’re watching out for tricks - but people are sincerely there to get the best out of you.

There’s no building towers out of spaghetti, you could talk about your interests, meet people from different departments, no tricks and everyones lovely.

Going to the selection day helped you decide if you wanted to be in publishing.

Really enjoyed the tasks, particularly the group task as gave a flavour for the role.

"How did you find the culture?"

Especially being on The Scheme, it was welcoming and supportive.

Once you’re on it, you’ll see it’s different in each division.

Lydia’s division is open, diplomatic and entrepreneurial and you all have a say and can bring new ideas.

Other divisions might be a bit more traditional - projects come through agents which changes the culture a little.

Whatever your experience is working with HR so far, is quite reflective about how it is, there’s a real openness about talking things through.

You could email anyone across the whole business and ask for a coffee.

"What was your career progression like on The Scheme?"

Think about progression as early as possible if you want to stay in publishing!

Talk to HR about it, and check in with The Scheme team.

The experience is all about trying new and different things, it’s a real immersion into the role, and you get to spend another week learning about another department anywhere in the company.

"What surprised you?"

Everything! Had no idea what publishing was or how books were made and how teams fitted together, so, everything!

Authors don’t choose their own covers/titles.

The quantity of books published and how many projects you work on in one month.

"Did you feel rushed in the selection day?"

Not really. Didn’t feel afterwards there wasn’t a feeling that we hadn’t finished or said. There are also big breaks between each task.