I applied online. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at Penguin Random House (New York, NY) in Dec 2018
Interview
First thing you need to know about interviewing for Penguin Random House is that they're obnoxious and don't respect your time at all. If you get a response from them for a position (which I did only after a dozen attempts and despite have "connections" within the company) they don't give you a specific time to schedule the phone interview. Instead, they ask you to choose a slot where you have to commit to keeping yourself free for three hours so they can call you when it suits them.
After a successful phone interview, I was told that I would hear back from the hiring manager next week regarding the in-person interview. After ten days of radio silence, when I reached out to them again, I was told that they were still in their first round of interviews for the internship (which was scheduled to begin two weeks from then). I reached out to them again a week before the internship was scheduled to begin and still haven't heard back from them.
The least they could've done is give me a concrete no. It takes all of two minutes to send that email template. Instead, they strung me along for over a month. I missed out on opportunities that I had put on hold because I was told that there would be a next round of interview and it never happened.
I have never interacted with a company as unprofessional as Penguin Random House before. Just because they're a leader in book publishing, it doesn't give them the right to treat interviewees with such utter disrespect and disregard.
I applied online. I interviewed at Penguin Random House (Colchester, Engeland) in Aug 2019
Interview
The interview was 45 minutes long, this included a 10 min mental maths & accuracy test (no calculator). Both interviewers were really friendly. They asked the usual questions and emphasised that either way you will receive interview feedback, which is great. I got asked for an interview and had a week to prepare, i then got feedback 3 days after. Do your research into the company and prepare for the usual situational questions and you will be fine.
I applied online. The process took 2 weeks. I interviewed at Penguin Random House (New York, NY) in Aug 2019
Interview
Initial phone screen followed by an in person interview in the Manhattan office. It was a pretty laid back interview. The building is massive with multiple imprints and the lobby was very cool - filled with books and bookshelves. Everyone I interacted with during the process was friendly and polite and they sent me an email to let me know I did not get the position just over a week after the in person interview.