Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Foreword • Dust Jacket • Beta Reader

Acquisitions Editor

Term from Book Publishing industry explained for recruiters

An Acquisitions Editor is a key person in book publishing who finds and brings in new books for a publishing company. Think of them as talent scouts for books. They review book proposals, meet with authors, and decide which books might be successful in the market. These professionals work closely with authors to develop their ideas and negotiate publishing contracts. Other names for this role might include "Commissioning Editor" or "Editorial Acquisitions Manager." They're different from regular editors because they focus on finding new books rather than editing existing manuscripts.

Examples in Resumes

Evaluated and signed 15 new authors as Acquisitions Editor in business book division

Led the children's book department as Commissioning Editor, bringing in 20+ new titles annually

Managed $1M annual budget as Editorial Acquisitions Manager, successfully acquiring bestselling titles

Typical job title: "Acquisitions Editors"

Also try searching for:

Commissioning Editor Editorial Acquisitions Manager Acquiring Editor Publishing Manager Editorial Director Senior Editor Development Editor

Where to Find Acquisitions Editors

Professional Associations

Job Boards

Industry Networks

• LinkedIn Publishing Groups
• Publishing Industry Groups

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you evaluate market potential for a book project?

Expected Answer: Should discuss market research methods, analyzing sales data of similar titles, understanding target audience, competitive analysis, and financial projections for the project.

Q: How do you handle a situation where multiple publishers are competing for the same book?

Expected Answer: Should explain negotiation strategies, understanding of contract terms, ability to present compelling business cases, and maintaining professional relationships with agents and authors.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when reviewing a book proposal?

Expected Answer: Should mention author platform, market potential, writing quality, competitive titles, production costs, and alignment with publisher's list.

Q: How do you maintain relationships with literary agents?

Expected Answer: Should discuss regular communication, understanding agents' preferences, prompt response to submissions, and professional networking.