 He later received a Master's degree in English Literature from the University of Edinburgh and a Doctor of Philosophy in Hispanic-American literature from the University of Salamanca.Upon completing his higher education, Padilla returned to Mexico.During the early 1990s, Padilla worked as an editorial director for "Playboy" magazine's Latin American publication while also writing his column, "El baúl de los cadáveres", in Mexican literary magazine "Sábado."