CGP Books

Employee Profile — Jane

Product Development Manager (Previously Editor)

Tell us about yourself:

I’m a geologist by training, and spent a while working in research after university. During this time, I did quite a bit of outreach in schools and enjoyed engaging children in science. CGP’s Graduate Editor advert, offering the chance to create fun education resources, struck a chord. I applied — and haven’t looked back since!

Tell us about your role:

As an Editor, I initially worked on an unusual product for CGP: a guide to the Life in the UK citizenship test. This gave me an insight into the development process, so when a vacancy in the Product Development team arose, I applied and got the job although I hadn’t been an Editor for long. After 3 and a half varied years as a product developer, a year ago I took on the role of team manager (which presented a whole new set of challenges!) and I’m enjoying the wider perspective this gives me on the whole business. While I still develop the occasional product, I now have more opportunity to think about the longer term, looking at how the team can continue to improve the ranges we offer, and also at potential new areas of publishing that CGP could move into.

Tell us about your industry:

We keep a close eye on the frequent changes in the world of education, to make sure we’re not missing any opportunities. It’s exciting trying to figure out how we can get an edge in the market, and this keeps us on our toes.

What advice would you give to graduates looking for jobs now?

Stay positive! Applying for jobs can sometimes be disheartening, but keep looking and be prepared to consider things that might not have been on your radar when you started.

Employee Profile — Ceara

Senior Sales and Marketing Executive (Previously Senior Editor)

Tell us about yourself:

After five years of study, armed with an MA in Psychology and Maths and an MSc in Health Psychology from the University of St Andrews, I thought I’d be left with a concrete career plan. Not the case. I was still no clearer as to what I wanted to ‘be’. 

Tell us about your time in Editing:

I applied to CGP because I loved their books when I was doing my GCSEs. After a rigorous application process, I was offered the job of a Graduate Editor, working on a variety of subjects and book types — including apps, workbooks, revision guides and 11+ material. An Editor’s job is varied — as well as writing, Editors proofread, review, draw graphics and even sign-off the books themselves. It was so much fun!

Tell us about your current role:

After four years in Publishing, CGP advertised (internally and externally) for a Senior Sales and Marketing Executive — an opportunity I couldn’t ignore. Using the skills and knowledge I’d gained about CGP, our books, and how we work, I went through another rigorous interview process, and was offered the position. And it’s fantastic! I manage product launches, devise marketing campaigns for the books I know and love (some of which I’ve written), and now have an overarching view of CGP.

What advice would you give to graduates looking for jobs now?

My main piece of advice for every applicant is to have a positive attitude with an open mind. Even if it isn’t an obvious career path, just give it a go. I feel so lucky to work at CGP — there aren’t many people who get excited on a Sunday evening because they have work the next day!

Employee Profile — Matt

Senior Editor & Training Supervisor

Tell us about yourself:

I loved my time at university, but left without any firm ideas about what I was going to do next. Educational publishing wasn’t something I’d ever really considered as a career path, but I was excited to be able to use some of the skills and knowledge I’d acquired during my degree.

Tell us about your role:

I have a couple of different roles within the editing department, which means there’s nice variety to my job. As a senior editor, my time is spent planning content, commissioning work from external authors, writing material (including the odd bad joke!), reviewing other editors’ pages and proofreading whole books. My Training Supervisor role sees me coordinating training and development across the department, which provides great opportunities to work with different people and help individuals to learn and progress — all of which I really enjoy.

Tell us about your industry:

Education policy is never too far from the headlines, and as an educational publisher we have to prepare for curriculum changes even before teachers do. The recent overhaul of GCSEs and A Levels has kept us particularly busy — but the changes also provided new and exciting opportunities for us.

Tell us about your future prospects:

The next step for me would be to become an Editing Team Manager, where I’d take on the responsibility of leading and managing a team of editors. For the moment, I’m still fairly new to the Training Supervisor role, so I’m looking forward to seeing what this role will bring and hopefully being able to having a positive impact on the department through it. 

What advice would you give to graduates looking for jobs now?

Keep your eyes open! Trawling through job boards isn’t the most glamorous of tasks, but the time and effort does pay off. Be confident in your abilities, look for jobs that will utilise your skills and be prepared to put in some hard work along the way. Good luck!