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Penguin Random House

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Best publisher, but worst ageism in the world - Business Analyst Penguin Random House Employee Review

3.0
17 Oct 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Good experience to be gained and looks good on the resume to be working at the largest publisher in the game. -Free books and generous benefits/PTO (notice how I don't say compensation). -Remote work is fully embraced. -Work/Life balance is encouraged. - DEI team is one of the best I've ever seen.

Cons

- You are expected to wear many hats that can be outside your pay grade and scope of work. They essentially make you work 3 roles for the price of 1. It creates this sick cycle of taking on more work in hope that you get promoted (you won't). -Compensation is very low and not competitive. You can make at least 60% more doing the same/similar thing in another industry at the entry level. Yes, you read that right. The entry-level in other industries pays more than the mid-senior level for a similar position. Especially if you are non-publishing side (i.e. business/tech). -Growth opportunities are limited and the process for promotion is not transparent. Performance reviews are not taken seriously and management will play games with your head. The only way to get a significant promotion/raise is if you leverage an outside offer. Asked for 3 years straight and no budge. Once I got an outside offer, money and an opportunity for promotion pops up out of thin air. -Reverse ageism. No matter how good you are, you will not be respected as a junior. If you do great work, you'll get compliments, but no promotion/raise. During performance reviews, those compliments become downplayed and they will act as if the work was not significant. -Lifers at the company who have been doing the same thing for 10-20+ years. Resistant to automation and will gatekeep their work for the sake of job security. This is a blocker for many projects and limits operational improvements, potential revenue, and growth opportunities for junior employees. -Management structure has a rigid hierarchy and doesn't take juniors seriously.

Explore other reviews about Penguin Random House

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.

2.0
8 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Nice office to work from

Cons

No clear steps for advancement

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