Penguin Random House General Intern Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 43 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at Penguin Random House.
Penguin Random House
Intern
Intern Easy Positive experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Take home
Interview formats
Behavioral
The interview process was pretty straightforward and fair overall. You had to answer 3 questions, each around 250 words, using the Applied platform. The whole process was anonymous, and thankfully, no CV or Cover Letter was needed. It's a super competitive internship though, with thousands applying for just a handful of spots, so it's tough to know exactly how to nail those answers. Good news is, all the questions were posted on the website, so you had a week to prep from when the post first went up.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you share an experience where you developed a relationship and used your communication skills to resolve an issue? Describe how you fostered the relationship to achieve a resolution and what the final outcome was.
- Describe a situation where you came up with an idea and proactively worked to make it happen. What actions did you take, and what was the ultimate result?
- If you had the chance to talk to an expert about a topic you're curious about, what would you discuss? Explain your interest in the subject and what drives your desire to learn more.
Penguin Random House
Intern
Intern Easy Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Background check Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
I applied for PRH's Summer Internship program and there were multiple departments. After applying, I waited months to hear back. I got an email from HR to set up a phone chat. The chat was with an HR associate and it was a casual chat with typical questions. Later that week, I got a call that a hiring manager wanted to speak with me. A few days later, I had a call with the hiring manager to talk about the internship and the team. They asked very few questions about me, I guess they liked me from my resume. The next day the HR rep called me and said I was offered the intern position!
Confirmed questions2 questions
- Can you tell me about how you keep yourself organized?
- What kind of technologies are you familiar with?
Penguin Random House
Intern
Intern Average Neutral experience Decline offer 6 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Recruiter call Phone screen Recruiter call Phone screen Offer
Interview formats
Behavioral Other
I had multiple phone calls, maybe 5 or 6 in total, where I was moved between different departments. They mostly asked basic get-to-know-you questions. The first department I applied to rejected me, but the recruiter thought I was a good fit and passed me to another department she knew had an opening. This happened a few more times until I was offered an internship in a digital department. However, by that point, I had already accepted a job elsewhere. I really wanted to work for Penguin, but they seemed to take a long time to get back to me.
Confirmed questions1 question
- In the publishing industry, what do you consider our most valuable asset?
Penguin Random House General Intern Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from Penguin Random House interview reports.
“Tell me about your favorite book genre and the reasons behind it.”
Read reports →“Can you tell me about a book that has inspired you?”
Read reports →“Can you tell me about any books you've read lately?”
Read reports →“In the publishing industry, what do you consider our most valuable asset?”
Read reports →“Describe how you would communicate a single message to many people simultaneously.”
Read report →“What is your perspective on the importance of publishing?”
Read report →“Can you tell me why you decided to choose Penguin Random House?”
Read report →“What career path would you pursue if not publishing?”
Read report →“Tell me about what stood out most to you in a recent book you read.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 43 Penguin Random House interview reports.