Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Submit • Literary Agent • Backlist

BISAC

Term from Book Publishing industry explained for recruiters

BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) is a standard system used in the book publishing industry to categorize and organize books by subject matter. Think of it like a filing system for books that helps bookstores, libraries, and online retailers know where to place or list books. It's similar to how grocery stores organize products into aisles and sections, but for books. When someone in publishing mentions BISAC codes or categories, they're referring to these standardized labels that help get books into the right hands.

Examples in Resumes

Assigned BISAC codes to over 500 titles in the company's backlist catalog

Managed metadata including BISAC subject headings for new releases

Led team training on proper BISAC code selection and implementation

Typical job title: "Metadata Specialists"

Also try searching for:

Metadata Coordinator Editorial Assistant Publishing Assistant Book Metadata Specialist Publishing Coordinator Cataloging Specialist Digital Asset Coordinator

Where to Find Metadata Specialists

Professional Organizations

Job Boards

Professional Networks

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle implementing BISAC codes for a publisher's entire backlist catalog?

Expected Answer: Should discuss project management approach, team coordination, quality control measures, and strategies for handling large-scale metadata updates efficiently while maintaining accuracy.

Q: How do you stay current with BISAC code updates and ensure your team implements them correctly?

Expected Answer: Should mention monitoring BISG updates, creating training materials, establishing review processes, and maintaining documentation for consistency across the team.

Mid Level Questions

Q: How do you choose between similar BISAC categories for a book that could fit multiple subjects?

Expected Answer: Should explain analyzing the book's primary market, considering the author's intent, and using sales data to make informed decisions about primary and secondary category assignments.

Q: How do BISAC codes affect a book's discoverability in different sales channels?

Expected Answer: Should discuss how different retailers use BISAC codes, impact on search results, and importance for both physical and online book placement.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is a BISAC code and why is it important?

Expected Answer: Should explain that BISAC codes are standardized subject categories for books that help with organization, sales, and marketing across the publishing industry.

Q: How many BISAC codes would you typically assign to a single book?

Expected Answer: Should know that books usually receive 1-3 BISAC codes, with the primary code being most important, and explain why multiple codes might be needed.