Publishing Assistants come out of school with a variety of skills helpful in the printing and publishing of magazines, books and other publications. Some of the many skills these professionals need include experience with Photoshop, Pagemaker, scanning, text proofing, editing, writing and photography.

Publishing Assistants usually work in publishing houses, but they can also work for smaller companies which produce magazines, newsletters and educational materials. Publishing Assistants often work in fast-paced, high-stress environments where deadlines are very important.

Publishing Assistants gain experience in all aspects of publishing by helping senior editorial staff in the commissioning, planning and production of books, journals, magazines and a broad range of publicity materials. Though much of the work in this type of career is routine, it is in fact essential to the production of publications. While a Publishing Assistant can be a career in itself, this job can also be a jumping-off point for a career in editorial work.