We see our work experience programme as a learning opportunity.
It’s a chance to go behind the scenes of a global publishing house and get an insight into what a work place is like. You’ll meet lots of people, find out what it’s like to work here and hopefully pick up some new skills along the way.
We think this is an awesome place to work and we hope you will too.
Glad you asked.
We have quarterly application windows for work experience. The next window will open in January 2020 for placements between April-June. You’ll be able to apply through the work experience portal.
For more news on work experience and to find out when the next application window will open, follow us on Twitter and Facebook
We’re firm believers that everyone should have an equal opportunity to do work experience with us. Because of this, we have a random selection process. The only things that will influence your application are when you’re available and which department you’d like to join. We pay everyone doing a work experience placement with us the National Living Wage.
As much as we’d like to, high demand means we’re unable to offer everyone a place. If you’re successful, we’ll contact you to confirm the details. If we don’t have a place for you this time round, do keep trying.
To be eligible for a place:
Whether you’ve always known you want to work with books, or simply want to dip your toe in the water, here’s what to expect from work experience at Penguin Random House:
Keep in mind, getting work experience with us isn’t a prerequisite for a job at Penguin Random House. We’re interested in a whole range of experiences – and especially, your strengths and potential.
Our story together could start here…
You’ll be learning your socks off.
During your placement, you’ll be sitting in the hub of your team and learning what goes on around you. That’s not to say that there might not be less exciting bits of the day (we all pitch in for tea and coffee rounds, and – no matter how senior you are – you can never get away from admin), but it’ll be a good insight into what a work place is like and how we get stuff done.
Also, any admin tasks (such as photocopying, telephoning, mailings, filing…) we give to cut your teeth on will be a big help to your team.
Tasks will differ from placement to placement, but this is what you might be asked to help with:
How can you get – and keep – people’s attention? Working on paid-for campaigns, it’s up to Marketing to get our books noticed.
Forming relationships with journalists, festival directors, radio and TV producers … Publicity is about breaking through the noise and getting our books into the press.
This is what you might be asked to support with…
From discovering talent, developing manuscripts, and convincing colleagues that this is the book to publish, Editorial lies at the heart of the publishing process.
This is what you might be asked to support with…
Sales is about building both existing and new relationships, and bringing our books to as many people as possible.
This is what you might be asked to support with…
We’ll be shouting about upcoming applications windows on our Work Experience Facebook page.
It’s also a great place to find out what others got up to and how they found their experience.