Bookseller

Career path and progression

With financial backing and a lot of experience, you could open your own bookshop.

You could work for a publishing house and sell books to retailers.

You could also work from home as a book dealer, or set up an online bookshop.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• customer service skills
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to sell products and services
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• business management skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• persuading and negotiating skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Related subjects

Most relevant

• English Literature - Booksellers need a broad knowledge of books across different genres, authors, and time periods to recommend titles and advise customers. Understanding literary movements, classic works, and contemporary fiction helps them curate stock and lead book clubs or in-store reviews.
• English Language - Booksellers communicate with customers all day, explaining what books are about and writing in-store reviews or promotional material. Strong written and verbal communication skills help them create engaging book displays, write compelling descriptions, and connect with readers.
• Business - Booksellers manage stock levels, process orders, handle accounting tasks, and negotiate with publishers and wholesalers. Those who want to open their own bookshop need a solid understanding of finances, marketing, and how to run a business day to day.

Also relevant

• Accounting - Booksellers handle payments, manage budgets for stock orders, and complete admin tasks like accounting and tracking deliveries and returns. Understanding how to keep financial records and manage cash flow is especially important for those running their own shop.
• Art and Design - Booksellers create eye-catching book displays and design promotional materials for in-store events. Some specialise in shops selling graphic novels or art publications, where a good understanding of visual design and illustration is particularly valuable.
• History - Booksellers benefit from a broad knowledge of history when recommending historical fiction, non-fiction, and specialist titles. Those working with rare or antiquarian books need to understand the historical context and significance of the works they sell.