After earning my undergraduate degree in English I was unsure how to break into the UK job market (especially because I was from outside the EU), so I decided a business-based degree in Publishing at City University London was the best way for me to enter the industry. The MA enabled me to gain an understanding of the industry as a whole through courses in acquisitions, marketing and sales, in addition to long-term projects which provided opportunities for in-depth study into real issues facing the market today. These projects allowed us to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of real publishing companies, and encouraged us to see how these companies could improve their business by embracing new opportunities. During my five week placement at Random House Children's Books I had active hands-on experience I would not have gotten otherwise, as my evident knowledge of the industry enabled my supervisors to trust me with independent tasks. In addition to the fundamental knowledge gained through classes, the MA proved invaluable through its impressive network of contacts and professional reputation, as instructors and alumni are active throughout the industry. Through these contacts I got a job working at Faber and Faber in the Faber Factory, an innovative service for over fifty independent publishers to enter the developing eBook market. My job has enabled me to not only learn about eBooks, but to become an active participant in an emerging marketplace. I would not have been able to do this job without the whole-hearted support of the Publishing MA at City and the experiences I had there.