Penguin Random House interview questions

I was contacted by HR only after my acquaintance physically put my resume on their desk (they don't seem to review online applications ever). I think had an interview with the marketing manager and the events coordinator. Everyone was very casual and outgoing, and I left after 2 hours feeling confident. They gave me an assignment that required reading a novel and writing a marketing plan on it, with the deadline being two days later. I submitted it the next day. I was then ignored by HR, despite weekly check up emails, for A MONTH AND A HALF. When they finally did get back to me it was to say they hired internally (something it seems happens a fair bit).

My interview consisted of four steps - a phone screening, two separate interviews with the manager and assistant manager of digital, and a third interview with the head of Young Adult books. The interviews were enjoyable and conversational, as we talked about our favorite books and what drew me to this particular area of publishing. The fourth step in the process was submitting an assignment, which I did promptly. After that, I didn't hear anything. My assignment was an online article, which I could track activity on, and I saw that it was never opened after I submitted. A week later I followed up with HR, and was told the position had been filled. Overall, the experience was positive, but knowing that the work I was asked to submit was not even reviewed really soured the entire process for me.