Penguin Random House Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 411 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Which role are you interviewing for?
30 roles · 411 reportsCandidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Penguin Random House.
Penguin Random House
Editorial Assistant
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Did an internship with PRH Editorial before applying for the role. Tailored my cover letter and CV. First round was an online interview with a robot. Second round was an online interview with an editor and senior editor. Third round was an in-person interview with three senior editors. Never heard back after that. Followed up after 2 weeks and got an automated reply. Super disappointed because I'm a strong candidate and really cared about the role. All that effort for an automated rejection after two weeks of silence? Wow.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you introduce yourself?
- What book are you currently reading?
- Please elaborate on your experience.
Penguin Random House
Motion Graphics Designer
Senior Average Neutral experience No offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Take home Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
Applied and the very next business day got invited to a skills test. The test involved a significant effort to create a :20 animation sample with audio, and it was unpaid. Following the skills test, there was an HR screener, and then an interview with the hiring manager. The conversations were great, but ultimately, I wasn't selected, likely due to the large pool of talented individuals currently seeking employment. They were very respectful throughout, but the rejection was disappointing. My main feedback is that if such a substantial unpaid design test is required, there should be complete transparency about the number of other candidates being considered.
Confirmed questions1 question
- How do you approach working with and guiding other designers?
Penguin Random House
Strategy Associate
Entry Average Negative experience No offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Take home Background check
Interview formats
Technical
The hiring process here was pretty bad, honestly, especially with how they treated candidates. First, there was this mock assignment with only four days to finish it. The prompt was a bit weird and didn't seem like real company stuff. After I sent it back, I heard nothing, no feedback at all. They just moved on without saying anything about how they judged it or why I didn't get to the next stage. If they want us to spend days on a project, the least they could do is give some feedback on how to make it better. The whole thing felt disorganized and like they didn't care about our time. Not very professional or aligned with their stated values.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Submit an assignment to clean up data and present it meaningfully.
Penguin Random House
Permissions Assistant
Entry Easy Positive experience Accept offer 2 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
It was pretty chill. First, I had an hour-long chat with two folks from the Perms team. We went over some standard interview questions, talked a bit about my blind assessment, and then I got to ask them stuff. Then, a few days later, I had a 30-minute call with the head honcho of the whole Contracts/Perms division. It was really laid-back; we barely even discussed the job itself! He also gave me a chance to ask about the department and the vibe at PRH. Everyone I spoke with was super nice, friendly, and happy to answer all my questions about the gig and the company!
Confirmed questions6 questions
- Could you describe your top three professional strengths?
- How do you go about researching information?
- Can you walk me through your blind assessment?
Penguin Random House Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Penguin Random House interview reports.
“How do you keep up with news in the publishing industry and with the latest books?”
Read reports →“What trends are you observing in the Indian book market, and how might these, along with PRH's existing publications, inform future strategies?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me about a challenge publishers are currently facing in the independent bookstore market?”
Read reports →“Considering the current trends in the Indian book market and PRH's published works, what strategic recommendations do you have?”
Read reports →“Can you suggest a brand partnership that you believe would be a good fit for a particular selection of books?”
Read report →“In your own words, how would you describe an accrual to someone without a finance background?”
Read report →“What would be your approach if an influencer we partner with posted content that contradicted our company values?”
Read report →“Can you tell me about the best book you read over the summer?”
Read report →“Can you share an example of a book marketing campaign that you found interesting?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 411 Penguin Random House interview reports.