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      Penguin Random House

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      Sales Representative Interview

      11 May 2023
      Anonymous interview candidate
      Toronto, ON
      No offer
      Negative experience
      Difficult interview

      Application

      I applied through an employee referral. The process took 3 weeks. I interviewed at Penguin Random House (Toronto, ON)

      Interview

      Had four interviews, including a mock sales pitch that ended with a conversation with the VP who asked if I had "any disruptive or unique ideas for the publishing industry" because he said young people often have ideas that people who have been in the industry don't think of because they're busy doing things the way they always have. Didn't get the job, but it felt gross to know he's taking ideas from interviewees and I would assume, if they're good, using them. He asked a lot of questions about how things are organized and work at my current job, which felt like he was just trying to get answers about the competition. Heard later that they didn't hire anyone after all that, just reorganized internally. Four interviews is just far too many, it's a waste of everyone's valuable time. Three of those interviews had multiple people in the room asking questions - I can't imaging they needed to all be there.

      Interview questions [1]

      Question 1

      They gave me two books (already published) and gave me a week to prep a sales pitch for it. They acted as a book buyer, and though they didn't give me any (fake or real) historical data to work from I had to suggest a number.
      Answer question
      2