Penguin Random House Assistant Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 5 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Penguin Random House.
Penguin Random House
Assistant
Entry Average Neutral experience No offer 7 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Background check
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
Overall, everyone was very nice, respectful of my time when I was going in for my in-person interviews, and took their time getting to know me and asking about my qualifications. I would say communication was going well until the very end when I received an automated message saying that the position was filled. I felt that after such a personal and professional process, that it was very impersonal ending when I knew I was a finalist. Not sure if Penguin is allowed to give feedback on interviews but no one seemed comfortable to say much, which is fine, but I think it's okay to also say that it is policy not to give feedback/they aren't comfortable doing so. Spoke with seven different people during my process that lasted more than a month. Felt the process took too much time.
Confirmed questions4 questions
- What motivates your interest in PRH and this specific role?
- What are your career aspirations for the next five years?
- What is currently on your reading list?
Penguin Random House
Assistant
Entry Difficult Negative experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite
Interview formats
Behavioral Other
The interview process felt a bit like a mind game, honestly. There wasn't much clarity on what they were looking for. It all wrapped up in about two weeks, starting with a phone call screen, then two more interviews, and then they offered me the job. Mostly, they asked open-ended questions.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Could you tell me why you're interested in joining this company?
- What kind of things do you like to do in your free time?
Penguin Random House
Assistant
Entry Easy Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Onsite Group
Interview formats
Behavioral
I first had an unscheduled phone screening with HR about a week after I submitted my resume through Media Bistro. Then, I was called in for an interview with the hiring manager and after that, I was called in again to meet the rest of his team. It was a straightforward experience overall.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- What draws you to the publishing industry?
- Could you tell me what you're currently reading?
Penguin Random House Assistant Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Penguin Random House interview reports.
“What is currently on your reading list?”
Read reports →“Could you tell me what you're currently reading?”
Read reports →“Why are you specifically interested in x imprint?”
Read reports →“What kind of things do you like to do in your free time?”
Read reports →“What draws you to the publishing industry?”
Read report →“What would you do if you clashed with a colleague or superior?”
Read report →“What are your career aspirations for the next five years?”
Read report →“Describe a situation where something went wrong and explain how you resolved it.”
Read report →“What motivates your interest in PRH and this specific role?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 5 Penguin Random House interview reports.