As a market editor at Hearst Design Group, Carisha Swanson shops for different products -- anything related to homes and interior design -- for House Beautiful, Veranda and Elle Decor. She helps Crate and Barrel market their goods on the side, and is also a freelance writer.
Lifestyle editors fall in line with market editors, by the way. Carisha works in various markets and gets to see new merchandise before everyone else, doing a job that requires good taste. Alongside her team, she attends “furniture runway shows” in cities such as High Point, N.C., Las Vegas, Paris and Bologna, Italy. She’s currently working on the March 2014 magazine issues.
On how she scored her Hearst job:
Lifestyle editors fall in line with market editors, by the way. Carisha works in various markets and gets to see new merchandise before everyone else, doing a job that requires good taste. Alongside her team, she attends “furniture runway shows” in cities such as High Point, N.C., Las Vegas, Paris and Bologna, Italy. She’s currently working on the March 2014 magazine issues.
On how she scored her Hearst job:
In a word: LinkedIn. Carisha contacted everyone where she thought she might like to work. She said there’s lots of movement in the industry in terms of staffing. And after being with Hearst for a year, the company allows you to switch to a different magazine, so you can work where you want.
On her job:
On her job:
Represent brand to its fullest and answers to publishing
Lots of appointments -- half her time is spent outside the office, including checking out previews of next season’s items
Attends pitch meetings
Work with digital teams to create content for columns
Works on a large team -- 10 on the market team
Interiors and market editors scout out homes and apartments
On working at a city or regional magazine:
On working at a city or regional magazine:
Fun, but a lot of work
Faster job advancement
Understaffed so you’ll work a lot and gain a lot of experience
Opportunity to pitch more stories, which are more likely to get accepted
Easier to build your portfolio; more flexibility and creativity
Not necessarily based in New York
Working in the city is a new experience -- buzz of seeing celebrities, lots of free stuffHer advice:
Be humble and volunteer for everything
Be in it because you love it
The first year is tough -- take your vacations or you’ll get burnt out
In an interview, asking if travel is involved will give you a strong sense of the company culture
