Designer applicants have rated the interview process at Penguin Random House with 3.8 out of 5 (where 5 is the highest level of difficulty) and assessed their interview experience as 50% positive. To compare, the company-average is 58.7% positive. This is according to Glassdoor user ratings.
Candidates applying for Designer roles take an average of 14 days to get hired, when considering 4 user submitted interviews for this role. To compare, the hiring process at Penguin Random House overall takes an average of 24 days.
Common stages of the interview process at Penguin Random House as a Designer according to 4 Glassdoor interviews include:
Phone interview: 29%
One on one interview: 29%
Drug test: 29%
Presentation: 14%
Here are the most commonly searched roles for interview reports -
I applied online. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Penguin Random House (London, England) in Nov 2021
Interview
Previously had a really good interview. I wasn't offered the job, but received positive, in-depth feedback and the experience left me thinking highly of the company.
So I applied again. Had a new interview with a different team (similar role) and it was the complete opposite experience. Very obvious from the get-go they'd already decided on another candidate and were just going through the motions with me. Very few questions with no real follow-ups, barely looking at the camera, cutting the interview off at exactly half an hour. Felt like a waste of my time and theirs.
I never received the outcome or feedback from HR but think I can assume by now I'm not being offered the role!
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Talk us through your portfolio
What attracted you to this role?
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Penguin Random House (London, England) in Mar 2025
Interview
Very friendly and welcoming interviewers, in-person initial interview to share work and introduce yourself, then a design task related to the job position using actual photography and copy from a book, then a virtual follow-up interview meeting some of the wider team (this interview was a lot more question based and formal than the initial interview)
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
The initial interview was less formal, it was more a case of introductions and sharing work (physical printed works and a digital portfolio). The virtual interview was way more formal and question based.
I interviewed at Penguin Random House (New York, NY)
Interview
3 rounds of interviews, first with recruiter, then with the rest of the team, the recruiter interview was simples, the following interviews were more difficult, but still completely fine. The following interviews were with art directors.
I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Penguin Random House (London, England) in Jan 2024
Interview
Really positive experience - they listened to me and made me feel at ease. I didn't have much experience in the field, but still made me feel valued. I didn't go further with them, but still felt that the experience was positive