Richard Hawes holds one of the most integral roles in any publishing environment. He is an editorial assistant working with the special publications team at the Kent Messenger Group’s head office at Larkfield, near Maidstone. Here he talks about his job

* What does your role involve?

My role is to grease the wheels of the department to ensure everything runs smoothly. A lot of this is administration: sorting mail, making copies of papers available, monitoring stationery, sorting reader competition entries etc. The other aspect of the job involves taking some of the less significant editorial tasks from the hands of the staff.

* How did you obtain the post of an editorial assistant?

I was made aware of the position by one of the sub-editors. I had spent several years looking for a way into the media. At 27 I am older than many others who take this role but I believe this job arrived for me at the right time. It took me 10 years to get this break and I’m making the most of it.

* What do you enjoy about your job? Are there any difficult areas?

I have thrived on the responsibility and the options the position gives me. I work with good people in a pleasant environment. Finding a place you feel comfortable in is half the battle in life. The routine work is fine, but the sense of achievement and the way I’m being encouraged to think about my career is great.

I have already fulfilled my ambition of becoming a film critic, as well as contributing CD and DVD reviews to our lifestyle magazine. My ambition for a career in film journalism now seems a realistic goal.

The main difficulty is getting to grips with the many tasks and computer systems. But each question that provokes an embarrassed: "I don’t know," leads to a further tidbit of knowledge.

What is the next step up the ladder for you? I’m beginning to build a portfolio. As I become more proficient at certain things I hope also to add extra levels to my responsibilities. Currently I’m looking toward feature writing as film journalism is very much a niche which could take some time to achieve.

Are there personal qualities that help in this profession?

Good people skills as well as the ability to work on your own are essential. You will come into contact with many different personalities both inside and outside the company. Equally important, you must be organised and self-disciplined as the position offers as much responsibility as it does freedom.

* What would your advice be to individuals interested in following a similar path?

This position could create a lot of opportunities if you keep your options open, but you must never lose sight of your primary role. Demonstrate commitment to the job and use your personal time to explore more interesting options. Commitment and enthusiasm will both serve you well, especially in your first few months. If you are still in school start making contributions in anyway you can.