Work Experience with The Random House Group

The Random House Group provides opportunities for people to undertake 2-week unpaid work experience placements in a variety of publishing functions such as Editorial, Publicity and Marketing. Over 150 people undertook work experience within the Random House group during 2007, across different departments and imprints. During the past 18 months, we recruited 16 people who had previously done Work Experience at Random House into entry-level temporary and permanent roles.

Work experience will enable you to learn about how the organisation and its different departments work. You will have the chance to develop and practice your publishing skills and talk to people within the industry and gather advice and contacts. All this will enable you to make more informed career choices about whether this is the right industry for you. Work experience here is an excellent way to get your foot on the publishing career ladder if you are interested in working in the industry.

Several departments have taken part in the work experience scheme i.e. Sales, Design, Marketing, Editorial & publicity. Below you can read about the sorts of things you may get involved with:

Publicity
• Helping to organise book signings/book launches
• Calling journalists or shops for reviews or to help set up events
• Creating show-cards
• Working on press releases
• Creating flyers for events
• Researching and updating mailing lists
• Uploading quotes/reviews
• General Admin: photocopying, telephoning, mailings, filing

Marketing
• Devising advertising plans
• Working on press releases
• Researching and updating mailing lists
• Writing sales brochure copy
• Creating flyers for events
• Uploading quotes/reviews
• General Admin: photocopying, telephoning, mailings, filing

Editorial
• Reading and reporting on submissions
• Attending meetings and typing and sending out minutes
• Proof-reading
• Drafting book blurbs
• Internet research
• Putting together spreadsheets and maintaining databases
• Reading unsolicited manuscripts
• General Admin: photocopying, telephoning, mailings, filing

Distribution
Work experience opportunities are available within our Distribution business for young people who are looking to gain an insight into working life. This is usually arranged through Trident, which is a national organisation, supporting young people between the ages of 14 – 19 to find suitable work placements with the aim of improving their employability and developing them as individuals. Working closely with local schools, we offer two week generic clerical work experience placements within a variety of functions including Customer Services, Royalties and IT.

What do previous work experience students have to say about work experience at Random House?

'My placement completely exceeded my expectations; everyone was very friendly and willing to answer any questions I had. I loved my time at Random House and could not have asked for a better start to my future career in publishing.'
Sophie, Publicity & Editorial

'After my placement in the Random House offices, I know, unequivocally, that this is the job I want. In a short time I was able to see many facets of publishing. To have had my first real exposure to publishing in one of the UK’s biggest and most distinguished publishing houses has given me a terrific head start for entering the field!'
Zoe, Marketing & Editorial

'I spent my time in the editorial department of Vintage, at a time when the new Vintage Classics range was being launched. It was very exciting to be around with so much action and energy in the department. I found the experience very useful, it gave me a glimpse inside publishing and helped me to better understand the industry.'
William, Editorial

Would you like to apply for Work Experience at the Random House Group?
If you are interested in work experience within publishing, please email us with your CV, a completed Work Experience Request form (click here to download) and a diversity questionnaire.

Please note that we can only offer placements that will start up to three months from the date of application. Unfortunately due to the high number of applications we receive we are unable to reply to every applicant individually.