Will Wiseman

Current Employer/Organisation Name

Springer Nature

What have you been doing since leaving Exeter, and what are you doing now?

Since leaving Exeter I spent just over a year back home, working in a local job as an Office Administrator at a grant making foundation. After leaving in January 2023, I moved to London and started my career in publishing working at Springer Nature, first as an Editorial Assistant and now as a Senior since the beginning of the year.

Why did you choose this career? And what do you enjoy most about your work?

I chose this career because it made sense to me having left Exeter with a Humanities degree. I didn’t have much experience or knowledge of the publishing industry at first but over the almost three years that I have been working here, I’ve been able to develop a deep understanding of it. What I enjoy most about my work is the people, both the colleagues I work with as well as the authors and editors I support in bringing their research to life. It feels really rewarding to see their gratitude and appreciation for the work I’ve done.

Please tell us if you were a member of any societies, groups or sports clubs?

I was a member of the German Society and a committee member in my second year. I was also a member of the LGBTQ+ Society.

What did you enjoy most about your programme and what was the biggest highlight?

I really enjoyed the broadness of the History programme, giving me the opportunity to study a wide range of topics and themes, spanning hundreds of years across the globe. My biggest highlight was the opportunity I had to study abroad in my third year. I spent it at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich, and despite being there during the COVID lockdown in 2020, I’m still so thankful for the experience.

What did you most enjoy about studying here?

I enjoyed the scenic environment the campus had to offer. It really made going up to campus and studying a much more pleasant experience.

Why did you choose to study at Exeter?

I chose Exeter because the History programme was ranked one of the highest in the country. I liked the variety of the course as well as the opportunity to take an elective in something outside my major as I was keen to carry on learning German which I had been doing since my first year of high school.

What skills and experiences have been most useful for your career?

My critical thinking skills which I developed throughout my course have been extremely useful, not only for my career but also for life in general. I have been able to shadow my editorial colleagues in reviewing proposals and thanks to my critical thinking skills I have picked up the dos and don’ts quickly and easily. Having a degree in a subject that was essay-based, I have a keen attention to detail which has been helpful if I am editing the back cover copy for a book or checking the metadata of a project before it’s handed over to production.

What advice would you give to a current student who wishes to pursue your career?

My advice would be, don’t get your hopes down if you’re not successful at first. It’s a competitive industry to get into and you may find it hard getting your foot in the door. My previous job as an Office Administrator definitely gave me the transferable skillset my manager was looking for during my hiring process. My ability to handle different types of stakeholders and being organised and proactive definitely gave me an advantage when I was trying to get into the publishing industry.

What are your plans for the future?

I plan on progressing my career in the industry into an Editor role as my experience as an Assistant has definitely equipped me with what I need to be able to take on this role. Looking even further into the future, I may not stay in book publishing as I’d like to make the pivot into the music industry, perhaps music publishing or journalism.