“I was pleasantly surprised at how welcoming and inviting everyone was for each step of the process.”

I applied for the summer internship at Penguin the day before applications closed. There were nine positions available and they all looked so interesting, I thought even getting an interview would be a long shot, hence why I’d put off applying.

I’ve grown up reading Penguin books – and as a brand, it’s been a steady constant that’s followed me from reading my first books, to finding some of my favourites in university.

I was over the moon when I found out I’d made it through to the next stage of the application process, if not also a little terrified! I was pleasantly surprised at how welcoming and inviting everyone was for each step of the process. Everything was far less stressful than I’d anticipated. 

“It was exciting being a part of a real project and watching ideas come to life.”

My internship was based in the Digital Product team. It wasn’t the kind of role that I had heard too much about before, but I really liked the sound of the project description – and was right in thinking that something unexpected would be a good fit for me.

I spent eight weeks helping to update some real life Penguin websites (The Happy Foodie and Ottolenghi cookbooks) and was also able to get involved with lots of other interesting projects throughout the company. It was exciting being a part of a real project and watching ideas come to life.

“If you’re thinking of applying for an internship at Penguin, I couldn’t encourage you more to give it a go.”

I had known that I wanted to be involved in something to do with books, preferably publishing, from quite a young age. Getting the chance to see a publisher like Penguin from the inside was an invaluable experience in this regard. It opened my eyes to career avenues that I’d never even considered (or knew existed!) and gave me the opportunity to connect with people in those roles.

If you’re thinking of applying for an internship at Penguin, I couldn’t encourage you more to give it a go. Even if you feel apprehensive about the application process or are not sure what you want to do long-term, put in an application and see where it takes you. 

“I can sit here with confidence and say that I understand how a book is made, and how important every single role is “

Typing away on my laptop, thinking earnestly about the past 38 days, my thoughts drift back to my first week.

I was bubbling to the brim with nerves and excitement. I think about when I met my managers over Microsoft Teams and they welcomed me into Cornerstone and Del Rey, the two teams I would be working with over the summer. They told me about my projects and put me at ease with their kind words and friendliness, and I remember feeling my nerves slowly drift away.

My thoughts go back to when I attended my first meetings – experiencing publishing first-hand, for the first time. I soon found myself with the knowledge of what an ‘acquisition’ was, and how great ideas are turned into physical pages. I found myself seeing how front covers are chosen from dozens of beautiful images, how crime books are positioned in the market, and how the amazing campaigns behind different romance books were made.

I think back to how I virtually crossed paths with people from different teams; Editorial, Design, Sales, Rights, Publicity – and of course, my own team, Marketing.

I remember how willing everyone was to spend time to explain things, especially when I recall how publishing was an entire world unknown to me. And, as I type these words, I can sit here with confidence and say that I understand how a book is made, and how important every single role is here at Penguin, no matter what department you work in!

My mind drifts back to the various projects I’ve completed during my time at Penguin. Assisting in managing the Del Rey UK Instagram from day to day was full of fun, as I created posts for the feed. I was working on creating social media adverts for romance novels that will be used on Facebook. I was contributing to the division’s Christmas campaign planning with my own ideas of how to make it more exciting and festive. There was so much to get involved in, from adverts to creating resource packs for retailers. My time here almost feels like a blur. But as I sit here and type wistfully, I’m glad I dove in to all that was to offer.

In diving in, I was surprised by how easily I slipped into the rhythm of things. If I were to paint a picture of my time at Penguin, I have no doubt in my mind that the colours on the canvas would be as vivid and as lively as the people that work here. The company is full of friendly faces, who are patient and willing to teach. All so incredibly welcoming – to the point where it felt like home.

In a type of job as diverse as publishing, something new was bound to happen every day. As I’m typing this, I realise that I’ll miss the weekly catch ups with my managers, where we spoke about anything and everything. I’ll miss the friends I made in the other interns, who were lovely and willing to share their similar experiences. Lastly, I’ll miss logging on every morning, excited to start the day and complete my projects.

Some of you may be hesitant to apply. Your fingers hover over the keyboard and you’re reluctant to click ‘submit’. You’ve never even considered a career in publishing.

But don’t hesitate. My advice to you is just do it! You’ll be surprised how much you’ll learn about yourself in the process and how much you can accomplish in a company like Penguin.

Hi all. My name is Chadia Aliberti, and I was the summer intern for the Non-Trade Sales team.

My host team

The Non-Trade Sales team works to bring books into a wide range of non-traditional retailers, like Urban Outfitters and B&M, and carries out brand partnerships. For example, they conducted an amazing partnership with Vivienne Westwood and Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland; I’d highly encourage you to check out the bespoke cover made exclusively for the fashion brand.

I had the time of my life working with the Non-Trade team: being able to partake in the work they do was a dream come true!

The application process

The application process for the Summer Internship programme is very straightforward.

My process began with answering three questions. I was worried that you would need some expertise as I really didn’t know much about the publishing world before I applied. However, this was not the case. The application questions explore your skills, not your knowledge.

After that stage, we answered a few more questions in a video format online (these were just for the careers team to match us with a particular project).

Then came the interviews. To be honest, this was the part of the process I was most scared of. Luckily, my fears did not come true: the interviews were informal and easy-going, genuinely more like a chat! I had a great time and really enjoyed them. Advice-wise, just be yourself and show that you would be a great person to work with.

After a couple of weeks, I got the call, and on the 5^th of July began as one of the 9 Summer Interns.

The internship

The beginning of my internship was exciting and a whirlwind of meeting new people, getting used to systems and learning publishing terminology (the world of publishing really does operate in its own language).

I then got to work on my projects, which varied massively from week to week. Some weeks I’d be pitching newly published books to different brands, making suggestions as to how they could create a new exclusive book cover, and then use it to promote things like customer loyalty, or to drive-up sales of a particular product. I especially loved doing this as I enjoyed the creativity and innovation needed to come up with new ideas for each partnership.

I also got the opportunity to choose books for book subscription boxes, create presentations on upcoming trends to send to existing and potential accounts, and compile materials to be sent to the whole of Penguin Random House on things the non-trade team got up to (for example store visits) and upcoming key titles.

I loved all my projects, and through doing them had the invaluable realisation that publishing is the career path for me!

Other highlights included going into the office, chatting with co-workers, and receiving lots of exciting emails each day on things like new acquisitions, marketing campaigns and upcoming releases.

Going to the office was nothing short of amazing. The entrance staircase filled with books, where you can get a free copy of Penguin’s ‘Book of the Month’, is remarkable, and the view from my desk was one of the best I’ve seen in London. I really enjoyed working at my desk whilst sipping coffee and enjoying a great view of Battersea. Meeting my colleagues in person was also great, and I am so lucky to say that I leave this experience with friends.

What I learnt

The first thing I learnt throughout my internship is the power of communication within a publishing house. Books come to life and get put onto shelves and into hands mainly through the communication between all the different divisions: editorial, production, marketing, publicity, and sales amongst many others (I’m not exaggerating, there really are so many divisions!).

I would really recommend to any future interns to have chats with people across every division and in each different imprint, so that you can understand how they all work together and how imprints differ from each other.

Another thing I’ve learnt is to not be afraid to ask for help, as people will always be happy to answer any queries you have. Everyone at Penguin Random House really is kind, helpful, welcoming, and supportive.

After the internship

Overall, I’ve absolutely loved my time here and would highly encourage people to apply. It’s such a great program and I’ve felt supported by the HR team, my colleagues, and the other interns. In fact, I’ve loved it so much that I am staying on in the temporary role of Internal Communications Assistant, and I can’t wait for this new journey to begin.

Some final advice I’d give for next years interns is to make the most out of the two months, they fly by fast. Talk to as many people as you can, soak in as much information as you can, and most importantly, enjoy it!

“I was surprised by the vast number of different departments and tasks that needed to be completed before a book could be published.”

I’ve had a wonderful time working with the Editorial team at Penguin Random House Children’s this summer! I’ve primarily been working in the Puffin Picture Book team, helping to develop an audio project, but I’ve also had the opportunity to get involved with a wide range of other projects.

The audio project involved working with Eric Hill’s Spot series. I was engaged in a variety of editorial tasks such as proofreading manuscripts and checking audio files. I even got to sit in on audio recording sessions and hear the voice actors at work!

I also assisted the Editorial team by creating PowerPoint slides based on the previous year’s sales of Eric Carle books (the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar) and used a central database with details of every title Penguin has ever published, to gather information. I helped check Meg and Mog plotters before they were sent to production and enjoyed reading new submissions before giving feedback in team meetings. Everyone was so friendly and interested to hear what I had to say!

As I was interested in the work done by Creative Responsibility, I helped them to collate a list of Penguin picture books by authors of colour. I loved completing this task as it was a great way to get acquainted with all the children’s books Penguin have published.

When I first started at Penguin, I was surprised by the vast number of different departments and tasks that needed to be completed before a book could be published. From Sales to Rights, Design to Production, every department must collaborate and work together to ensure Penguin can continue producing high-quality books.

“The advice I would give to someone thinking about applying is that they should go for it”

One of my favourite parts of the internship has been having the opportunity to speak to a wide range of people and to learn about their roles. Everyone I’ve met has been so passionate about the work that they do and more than happy to talk with me about it!

The advice I would give to someone thinking about applying is that they should go for it because getting real hands-on experience is the best way to learn more about publishing. The internship passes quickly so make sure you speak to as many people as possible! Try to find out which parts of publishing interest you the most then get in touch with someone who works in that area and ask if they are free for a chat.

I’m so grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to work for Penguin Random House this summer. I’ve learnt so much and it has been an absolute pleasure to work alongside such a talented, inspiring, and kind team.

Good luck to anyone thinking of applying, interning at Penguin really is a fantastic experience!

“Working at Penguin has always been a dream of mine and so to say I’ve had fun is an understatement. “

HI, I’m Aoifke, and this year I was one of the nine interns working at Penguin Random House on their summer internship scheme.

During the eight-week placement, I worked in the non-fiction division called Ebury in their communications team- specifically marketing for their BBC/Lifestyle and Self titles.

It’s super exciting and every day is different. Some titles that I’ve been working on include ‘Hill House Living’ by Hill House Vintage, Jon Sopel’s ‘UnPresidented’ paperback release, and ‘Jane’s Patisserie’ by Jane Dunn- to name a few. For these titles, I helped create A+ pages for Amazon, sorted influencer mailing lists, designed promotional content and joined discussions in acquisitions meetings where teams discussed whether or not we should publish a certain book, and looked at current trends in the Arts to inform our decision-making.

Working at Penguin has always been a dream of mine and so to say I’ve had fun is an understatement. Some highlights include a Communications brainstorm for Michaela Coel’s ‘Misfits’ (one of my idols!), researching cottage-core brands to acquire partnerships for a book’s release, and most excitedly- being sent lots of books to read through! Titles like Caitlin Moran’s ‘More Than a Woman’, Rachel Ama’s ‘Vegan Eats’ and more- not only are they fantastic works but they also help me understand marketing techniques and the publishing industry overall.

“I’ve really enjoyed the creative freedom and independence given- it made me feel really valued on the team!”

I’ve never worked in publishing before- my only experience is being Comms Officer of Society of Young Publishers’ North branch- nor have I worked in an office environment. I was really nervous to start but honestly, everybody is SO nice! Whilst it may seem intimidating- as this is the biggest publishing house in the world- the Ebury team have been so supportive and have guided me through the placement.

I was never afraid to ask for help or clarification and they were all so accommodating to my interests, making sure to prioritise certain titles that they thought might suit my passions. This really helped when it came to my project; for my placement I was assigned the task of creating an Influencer Strategy for Ebury. I researched current trends, the rise of Tiktok, and engagement on social media within different categories like lifestyle, cooking, parenting. I decided that my strategy should be to focus on mailing lists in compliance with GPDR- how we can reach out to agents with titles we think their clients would enjoy whilst being beneficial in the time spent on the marketing campaign overall. I’ve really enjoyed the creative freedom and independence given- it made me feel really valued on the team!

“Don’t be scared to apply as you will certainly regret not going for it”

I know it can seem daunting to apply for the internship, especially because of the amount of applicants, never mind the fact that it’s for such a great company! Don’t be scared to apply as you will certainly regret not going for it.

Make sure to research lots about the different departments within publishing- many people think they want to work in editorial but you might find that Communications, Sales or Rights are more for you. If you research that, you may find you prefer a different role in the industry- and so your passion will really shine through on your application. Most of all: be confident and keep trying! I almost didn’t apply as I was certain I’d never ever get accepted- but now here I am, genuinely sad about leaving and already researching vacancies for when I graduate next year.

Aoifke’s Twitter @keatslyre

Aofike’s Bookstagram @aoifkeswords

Are applications open?

Applications for 2021 are now closed.

What’s an internship like at Penguin Random House?

Watch our chat with Editorial Assistant Ellie, who shares her experience of interning in the Puffin Picture Books team:

How many internships are on offer?

There are 9 on offer, and they’re each working on different projects across a variety of departments. Read more about each here.

Do I get to choose which department I’ll work in?

We’ll get to know your preferences along the way. We’ll take your interests and skills into account and match our final 9 interns with the department they’re best suited with. This might not be where you’d first pictured yourself, but whichever department you’re matched with will give you transferrable skills that could be an important step in your future career.

Will I need to travel into your London offices?

Our internships this year are all remote, so you won’t be required to travel to London or come into our offices. While you’ll still meet our team, attend meetings and work on projects, you’ll be doing all of this virtually over the summer.

Do I need a degree to apply?

We removed our degree requirement in 2016. You don’t need to have studied at University, or have work experience in publishing to be eligible.

Is there an age limit for applicants?

Our applications are open to everyone over the age of 18.

Are you paying your interns?

Yes, they’ll be paid London Living Wage.

When will you let me know if I’ve got a spot?

Everyone will find out the outcome of their initial application on 14th April, and shortlisted finalists will know if they’re one of the 9 selected interns by 13th May. All the dates can be found here.

Is the internship full time?

The internship is full time, and you’ll be working Monday to Friday.

I don’t have a computer; can I do the internship?

Our IT team will courier all 9 of our interns a loan laptop to use for the 8 weeks.

They’ll be on hand remotely too, to make sure your tech is all set up, and throughout the internship.

What are you looking for in applicants?

Here’s our page all about applications to tell you more.

If you can’t see the answer to your question, you can get in touch with our careers team here.

You don’t need a degree (or knowledge of publishing) to get a place on one of our internships.

What matters to us are the key things we’ll be looking for throughout the selection process:

	Paying attention to the detail You’ll have a forensic eye for detail, working with care and being able to spot and fix any errors you come across.
	Curiosity You’re always looking outward and are keen to learn. You enjoy exploring many viewpoints, and learning about new ideas and concepts.
	Ability to take initiative You solve problems before they’ve even arisen. You don’t sit and wait for opportunities to come to you; you make things happen.
	Communication This involves everything from being able to write clear and engaging emails and reports to being comfortable talking to a range of people, whether that’s team members, industry contacts or members of the public.
	Organisation You thrive on keeping things on track, whether for yourself or other people, taking a methodical approach to any task.
	Making the work you do count A genuine interest in what you’re doing and approaching it with a great attitude.

Preparing your application

There’s no need for CVs or cover letters, when you apply, you’ll answer three questions in 250 words or less.

To help you think about and plan your answers, here’s what we’ll be asking:

Question one is all about communication

Whether it’s getting other people excited about something, or helping someone to understand your point of view – building relationships is useful in any job.

Tell us about a time when you’ve built a relationship, and used your communication skills to solve a problem. How did you build the relationship to reach a solution? What was the outcome?

Question two is your opportunity to show us how you take initiative

Tell us about a time when you had an idea, and took the initiative to turn it into a reality. What steps did you take? What was the end result?

We’re looking for demonstration of initiative in your example. This might be when you’ve made something happen, or been proactive and solved a challenge before being asked.

Question three is where you’ll tell us about your curiosity

If you could start a conversation with a subject matter expert on something that you’re curious about, what would it be about? Why does it interest you? What makes you want to find out more about it?

This might be anything. For example – cultural moments, social media trends or current affairs.

Applications closed on Thursday 1st April.

If you’ve got more questions, head to our FAQs.