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Penguin Random House

Is this your company?

Stimulating Work but sort of a sweat shop - Sales Manager Penguin Random House Employee Review

4.0
19 July 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

At the largest publisher in the world, you get to meet and work with amazing people--bestselling authors, world-renowned thinkers, and global celebrities. You are largely given the financial resources you need to do your job.

Cons

While many of the imprints (ie. Knopf, Viking, VIntage, etc.) have their own unique cultures and personalities, the merger of Penguin with Random House has flattened the once familial environment of Penguin into a much more corporate-style atmosphere. Many employees are overworked and work long hours that their base salaries do not reflect. If you are in sales, your commissions don't necessarily compensate for the hours of travel and time away from your personal life.

Explore other reviews about Penguin Random House

5.0
20 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

• Caring people. Psychological safety is emphasized by people at every level. I feel like leadership at each step of the reporting chain is very approachable and transparent. • Great work/life balance. • There is a lot of openness to trying new technologies or doing different things for such a large and established organization. There is very little "trend chasing," it's more like you're listened to. As the CEO started out as a technologist, he has a realistic view of what new tools (including, but not just, AI) can do for us. • Informal, especially for a company created by the merger of two nearly-100 year old publishing firms and was recently acquired by a nearly-200 year old company. • Company supports learning and development. • Free books! • I care greatly about the company's mission and it's clear how my work impacts the company's ability to execute on it. • Things often move slowly, which is both a pro and a con.

Cons

• Pay and insurance are very average, but I can live with that. This is a much bigger con for employees whose jobs require them to be on-site, especially in e.g. London and New York. • Said learning and development seem to have a ...deliberate pace. While this is fine and what I wanted, other tech people coming in from more "tech-y" organizations mightn't gel with it. • Things often move slowly, which is both a pro and a con.

5.0
20 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great writing, Top tier production

Cons

The male director never asked me once how I was doing or offer any advice to calm my nerves (on my first production ever with them) which lead to a burdensome recording process.

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