Start your story: looking for work experience this autumn?

Start Your Story: Looking for work experience this autumn? There are changes are afoot…

We’ve been looking at how we can make work experience fairer and more accessible to everyone.

Why? Because publishing and books don’t currently reflect the population of the UK. We’ve set ourselves the goal of helping to change this and make our industry more inclusive by 2020. You can read about more about what we’ve been up to here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.co.uk/about-us/creative-responsibility/inclusion/

So, what’s changing and why?

New periodic application windows

Rather than asking you to sign up for work experience on our Facebook page, we have a new application form, making it easier for you to plan ahead and book work experience weeks or months in advance. Applications for placements from October-December are now open and will close at midnight on Wednesday 7^th September. You can find out more and apply on our careers page https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/your-career/work-experience/

Don’t worry if you don’t secure a placement this time round, the next application window will open in November for places in early 2017.

Keep following the Work Experience Facebook page to find out when the next application windows are and for behind the scenes information and blogs…

The Application Form

We will no longer be asking you to submit your CV. Instead we’ll ask for a few bits of information to make sure you’re eligible to take part in work experience (more info below), as well as your contact details so we can let you know whether you’ve gained a place.

We will also ask you a few questions about why you’re applying for work experience at Penguin Random House. We won’t select based on this, but your answers will act as your introduction to department you may be placed with, so they have a flavour of who you are and what you want to learn.

Random Selection

You’re not applying for a job, so why should you be selected as if you are? Places will be decided by random selection. All you have to do is fill out our form during the application window, stating your eligibility, department preference and availability.

To be eligible for work experience, you must:

• Be over 18. We are looking at what we can offer those under 18. Watch this space!
• Have the right to work and train in the UK
• Not have undertaken work experience with us in the last 6 months, we want to make sure these opportunities are open to as many people as possible

Expenses

We’ll cover up to £75 for food and travel per week. If you’re coming from further afield and need some extra help, let us know if you’re offered a place and we’ll see what we can do.

For more information and to find out what you could be getting up to during 2 weeks of work experience in one of our departments, head to https://www.penguinrandomhousecareers.co.uk/your-career/work-experience/. There are opportunities in Rights, Publicity, Marketing, Sales, Contracts and Editorial. Make sure to apply before midnight on Wednesday 7^th September – it could be where you #startyourstory.

Best of luck!