Launch Your Publishing Career: A Guide to HarperCollins Internships
At HarperCollins, authors and their work are at the center of everything we do. This commitment extends to their employees, who help them succeed by bringing their passion to the business. HarperCollins provides its authors with unprecedented editorial excellence, marketing reach, longstanding connections with booksellers, and industry-leading insight into reader and consumer behavior. As one of the world’s largest publishing companies, with a diverse backlist of bestselling authors in a wide range of genres, HarperCollins offers a number of internships across their US offices each year, providing a unique insight into the publishing industry. These internships are highly competitive.
A Deep Dive into HarperCollins Internships
HarperCollins offers a variety of internships across its different departments, including editorial, marketing, publicity, design, finance, and systems/IT. These internships range in duration from 8-12 weeks, depending on the specific program.
As an intern at HarperCollins, you can expect to gain valuable hands-on experience in the publishing industry. You’ll work closely with a team of professionals who will provide guidance and mentorship as you develop your skills. Interns feel they hold an important role in the process. They learn so much more about publishing than they had anticipated, including how to evaluate and analyze, strategic vision, and direction. The company is full of people who just love books and love what they do, and this passion shines through across the entire company.
Internship Opportunities in North America
HarperCollins offers a 10-week paid summer internship program that runs from early June to mid-August. Interns work 28 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, at either the New York City or Nashville headquarters. Internships in New York City support HarperCollins Publishers, while those in Nashville support HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus.
The summer internship program includes:
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- Weekly Speaker Series: Interns gain valuable insights from leading industry professionals and explore the full spectrum of the publishing process.
- Publishing Project: Interns collaborate with fellow interns on a small-group project and present their findings to senior leadership.
- Networking Opportunities: Interns build meaningful connections across various divisions.
- Professional Development: Interns benefit from continuous feedback, mentorship, and a comprehensive performance review at the end of the summer.
- Career Coaching: Interns participate in recruiter-led sessions designed to help them craft impactful resumes and gain insider tips on standing out in the job market.
In addition to the summer program, HarperCollins offers a paid 10-week spring internship that provides hands-on experience and insight into a specific area of publishing that interests you. This internship does not involve formal programming and requires a commitment of 21 hours per week over the course of 3 or 4 days, with a schedule tailored to both your availability and the hiring manager’s requirements. Locations vary by role and can include hybrid or remote opportunities.
Internship opportunities are also available in the Canadian offices based on business demand.
The main differences between the spring and summer internships are the time commitment and the inclusion of comprehensive programming and structured activities in the summer internships.
Recruitment Process and Timeline
Recruitment for spring and summer internships takes place in the fall. For example, the recruitment timeline for 2026 internships is as follows:
- Information Session (Virtual): September 19, 2025
- Spring and Summer Applications Go Live: September 22, 2025
- Spring and Summer Application Deadline: October 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET
How to Apply
To apply for a HarperCollins internship:
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- Visit the job listing page for a list of available internships.
- Review the job descriptions to learn about each internship and ensure that you meet the requirements. Responsibilities, qualifications, and application instructions are listed in each job description.
- Complete the online application for the internship that interests you. Applications and internships are role-specific. You may apply for up to two internship roles each calendar year.
- Attach your resume and cover letter to each application. Candidates who do not submit a cover letter will not be considered.
It is important to tailor your application to the specific internship you’re applying for. This means carefully reading the job description and highlighting your relevant skills and experiences.
Standing Out From the Crowd
To make yourself stand out during the application and/or interview process:
- Ensure you meet the minimum requirements outlined in the job description.
- Highlight relevant experiences in your resume and cover letter that align with the role you’re applying for.
- Research the various imprints and identify those that resonate with you.
- If there are specific books published by HarperCollins that you love, be prepared to discuss them.
Enthusiasm for learning about the book publishing industry, engagement in school activities or roles related to book publishing, experience in general administrative or office tasks, and a genuine passion for books are all highly valued.
Application FAQs
- Do I need to be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program to be considered? Education requirements and qualifications are specified in each application.
- When can I expect to receive a status update on my application? Due to the high volume of submissions, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted by the Recruitment Team.
- Can I apply to multiple internship opportunities? You may apply for up to two internship roles each calendar year.
- If I apply to multiple internships, is a separate cover letter required for each application? Yes, each cover letter should be specific to the role you are applying for.
- Who should I address my cover letter to? Please address your cover letter to “Hiring Team.”
- What should I expect if I’m selected for an interview? You can expect virtual, behavior-based interviews. At this stage, you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you have about the position and learn more about the role.
- What types of internship opportunities do you offer? Opportunities vary each year but typically include roles in editorial, marketing, publicity, sales, finance, and systems/IT.
- Where are your internship opportunities located? All summer internships are based at our headquarters in either New York City or Nashville to accommodate program-specific components. Internships in New York City support HarperCollins Publishers, while those in Nashville support HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Spring internship locations may vary by role and can include hybrid or remote opportunities.
- Do you offer internships outside the United States? Internship opportunities are available in our Canadian offices based on business demand.
- What is the difference between your spring and summer internships? The main differences between our internship opportunities are the time commitment and the inclusion of comprehensive programming and structured activities in our summer internships.
- How can I narrow down my search if I'm interested in multiple roles? Review each job description, exploring the imprints or areas each role supports, and apply for the internship that resonates with you the most.
- Do you provide housing for interns? Housing is not provided by HarperCollins Publishers. Interns are responsible for securing their own accommodations during the internship period.
Accommodations
HarperCollins Publishers is committed to providing an inclusive and accessible hiring process for qualified individuals with disabilities. They will only respond to accommodation requests.
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