Comfortable, friendly, a little boring. You'll love it if you love books. Don't expect to be challenged.
Pros
Great benefits; friendly; laid back; low stress; As far as trade publishing goes, they are one of the best to work for. Great place to be 'comfortable', if that's what you crave. Work-Life balance is top notch here; If you have kids this is about as flexible and understanding as it gets. As far as trade publishing goes, PRH is best in class. They are absolutely industry leaders in print publishing - the supply chain, operations, sales and production capabilities are at the top of the industry, and a well-oiled machine. Generally pretty stable. With the merger of Penguin and Random House, they have positioned themselves to be the most stable of the big trade publishers for years to come.
Cons
When it comes to digital and direct to consumer, they are pretty clueless. Management is full of print people, so it's not surprising. "Digital" is seen as hard and risky. Unfortunately, not a data or design driven environment. Decisions tend to be ego driven which can lead to frustration among employees who are doing their best and offering fresh ideas and approaches. Too much micromanagement, in general. Imprints, teams and business units can be provincial. Lack of ethnic and academic diversity in the workforce. This certainly doesn't help creativity and innovation, and leads to the perception that pedigree matters more than ability.
