Behind the Books Bi-Weekly Update 9 February 2026

I’m writing this one quite late because… wow, a lot happened.

To go through it all: I had meetings with both connections, the Senior Acquisitions Manager and the Editorial Director, and it was brilliant. Even just talking to them makes you feel so much closer to the whole process. It’s nice to feel like you have people on your side, or at least “seeing” you. Its progress, especially when most of the time it feels like you’re wading through mud while everyone else is in a first-class seat on some bougie aircraft, or at least in economy. At this point, I’d even take a makeshift raft and a paddle. I also secured a volunteering role at the London Book Fair 2026, which I’ll be able to write about soon. I’m really happy and grateful for the opportunity. And on top of that, I got an interview for a bookseller role at my local bookshop, and I didn’t get the job. When I walked out, I almost knew I hadn’t got it. But you always carry a little bit of hope with you.

The interview didn’t go the way I expected at all. It felt random, and the process wasn’t what I had imagined. I went in thinking they would ask direct questions that I could give direct answers to. Instead, it was very conversational. Normally, I’d think that would be better, but not when you aren’t prepared for it.

We barely spoke about the things I thought we would. I didn’t feel like I was given a clear opportunity to show what I know or what I could offer. It felt like I was supposed to casually take control of the conversation and slip in what I had prepared, but then it felt like I was commandeering the conversation. I just needed it to be more transparent than that.

Of course, asking about my life and who I am is important, and I appreciated that. But that chat didn’t seem to stop. I felt like she knew me, but not what I had to offer. I kept waiting for the moment where I would be asked outright… but the questions circled around it instead. At the time, I couldn’t tell if that was my chance.

Now, after not getting it, I can see that of course it was.

But when you’re nervous and desperate, it doesn’t feel that clear.

I think it was the pressure. In my other meetings, everything felt lovely and natural and easy. This interview just wasn’t straightforward, and that threw me off.

It also made me think about people who are neurodivergent and have to do interviews like this. The world doesn’t follow the way their minds work, so trying to decode what people really want must be exhausting.

I know it’s a learning curve. But this one really hurt. This job would have meant so much to me. It would have been a huge stepping stone.

People say rejection is redirection, but the hardest part of this redirection is that I can’t see where it’s leading. At least with that job, there was a path. Now I feel like I’m back in the mud.

ANYWAY! I got to take notes with the Senior Acquisitions Manager, and we had a long conversation, so I was able to get a lot out of her. I wanted to jot it down to look back on later, so here’s the info I captured:

She had quite an unconventional journey into publishing. She studied fashion at university and spent a year as a fashion advisor for Chanel, thinking that’s what she wanted to do. It was only when she was scouted by a recruitment firm that she surprised herself, gave it a try, and discovered she was really good at it. After a long and successful career in recruitment, her move into publishing happened by being scouted by HarperCollins UK. She loved reading, of course, but it was really the recruitment side of things that drew her in.

What I took from this is how important it is to take risks and sometimes go where life takes you. It can lead you somewhere you never expected, but often turn out even better than your original plan.

It would be hard, and probably unnecessary, to follow her exact footsteps. Everyone’s story is unique. But her path does remind us, especially during periods of uncertainty or unemployment, to stay open-minded. Sometimes we have to accept opportunities even if we don’t immediately see the benefit. You never know how it might work out in your favour down the line.

We spoke about AI, which she said seems to be in almost every conversation these days. In her line of work, it comes up a lot, not just because HarperCollins uses AI to sift through the first batch of applicants, which can be 500–800 or more, but also because people are now using it in their applications. This, in turn, increases the number of applications companies have to process. AI is initially used to flag work that’s been copied word-for-word from AI.

She said it’s hard to predict how the company will move forward with AI, since it’s still so new and constantly evolving. It can make things both easier and harder at the same time. Good applicants and strong applications can easily get lost in the noise. People who finally land a job often mention it took dozens of applications to get accepted, which seems unbelievable, but when you’re dealing with hundreds of submissions, it makes sense. After that initial filtering, everything else is very personal and face-to-face.

But let’s be honest: AI may have sped up the application process, but it hasn’t made it easier. It’s raised the stakes and expectations, and the chances of being noticed are lower, or you might be mistakenly flagged as using AI even if you didn’t. There’s no foolproof system for something that’s inherently personal. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to adapt and evolve, or risk being left behind. I hate that idea, but I’m not in a position to fight it.

I asked her, “What’s a question you wish people asked for advice but never do, and what would your answer be?” She didn’t really have an answer for what she never gets asked, but she did mention a question she always gets asked in interviews and doesn’t like: “Can you tell me about a typical week in your role?”

Funny enough, that was actually one of the questions I had written down in my notes… until I quickly backspaced it into oblivion.

Her reasoning made sense. During an interview, or even before, the application usually explains your role and what you’ll be doing with the team. That’s something you should have read and understood in full. In a first-stage interview (usually half an hour), they’ll also spend some time explaining the role. So at the end, to turn around and ask essentially what you should already know and what they just told you doesn’t look great.

It also doesn’t lead to an inspiring conversation. Instead, you want to ask questions that show a bit of yourself, spark a dialogue, and create something shared. At least, that was my impression.

I asked her, “Have you noticed any common mistakes that candidates make that aren’t obvious to them?” She said it mostly comes down to the basics: turning up late, having an online interview in a public or distracting space, or not showing much passion and rigour. You’d be surprised how many people don’t follow basic interview etiquette, and first impressions really are everything.

The takeaway seemed to be: focus on the big “no-nos.” If you control the obvious things, the rest tends to follow. If your heart is in the right place, you can show yourself immediately as a deserving candidate.

We also spoke about whether there are certain months or periods when more roles tend to be advertised. She thought there might be, but was surprised when they looked at the data, it proved otherwise. The only exception is that summer tends to be quieter but aside from that, it’s pretty consistent throughout the year. So, it’s not really something applicants or recruiters can rely on or strategise around.

This one was interesting: I asked, “What’s something people often do when trying to connect with you that you find a bit off-putting?” She said it’s when people apply for a job, then email her directly, connect with her on LinkedIn to let her know they’ve applied, and then follow up a week later with another email. She understands why people do this, it’s tough out there, and everyone wants to stand out. She even commends the effort.

But, she explained, it’s actually misplaced. It doesn’t help you get the job, because she and her team have processes in place. For HarperCollins, at least, you’ll always hear back through the proper channels when your application has been reviewed. Going “the extra mile” by emailing her directly doesn’t speed things up, it just bypasses the system that’s already set up to ensure fairness.

I asked, “What’s your favourite memory from your time at HarperCollins?” She said it wasn’t exactly a single memory, since she’s only been there four years, but a proud moment was when she set up the Open Day, which I actually got to attend, so it felt like a full-circle moment to meet the person who organised it.

She said it was rewarding to create an opportunity for people who want to get into publishing but haven’t been able to “crack it” yet. It gave attendees momentum and was generous, because unless you have an internship, work experience, or a job there, opportunities like that are rare. I thought it worked really well, and I completely agree.

She mentioned that there are five key things interviewers look for:

1. Communication style – How do you communicate with people, especially if working from home?

2. Relationship building – How do you build relationships internally, across divisions? You can give examples from work or even university group projects (stakeholder management).

3. Attention to detail – How do you make sure your work is accurate? For example, getting someone to check your work, or stepping away and coming back with fresh eyes.

4. Prioritisation – In a busy environment, how do you prioritise tasks? Anything that affects other people’s deadlines should come first to keep things running smoothly.

5. Handling things going wrong – Tell me about a time when something didn’t go to plan.

For an initial interview at HarperCollins, the first stage is always around 30 minutes, which can feel very short in the moment. Her advice is to be aware of the time and avoid spending too long on any single question, because you might be moved on before finishing. Be balanced with all your answers.

Finally, one thing people don’t always realise is how business-heavy publishing is. Even if an idea is amazing or completely different, if it doesn’t seem likely to perform well in the market, it probably won’t happen. Many decisions are based on data and sales, which means publishing isn’t as risk-driven as people might think.

And to all my lost bookworms,

Stay Steadfast x