Frequently Asked Questions About PETA's Internship Program

How to Apply

Please fill out and submit the following materials:

• Intern application: This can be found online and includes several essay questions. Each question should be answered in no more than a paragraph.
• Résumé or curriculum vitae: This should include your educational, work, and volunteer experience as well as any experience related to the desired intern position.
• Letters of recommendation: Three letters of recommendation should accompany your application materials. Letters of recommendation can be written by coworkers, professors and instructors, or representatives of organizations you have volunteered for.

Application Requirements

What are the age requirements?
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older in order to be considered for an internship at PETA. If you are under 18 years of age and want to get active for animals, please visit peta2.com for more information about how to get active in your area.

Can I apply if I live outside the U.S.?
Yes. We accept interns from around the world. If you live outside the U.S. and are applying for an internship, you will need to check with the appropriate government agency regarding a visa. PETA does not respond to any questions regarding visa issues. If you have been accepted, you will receive a letter confirming your internship with PETA.

Are there deadlines for submitting applications?
Applications for internships between September 1 and May 31 are accepted year-round. However, in order to receive a timely response, application materials should be submitted at least one month prior to the date when you would like to begin your internship. Housing for summer internships (June 1 to August 31) fills up quickly; in order to ensure housing, applicants are encouraged to submit application materials no later than April 30 prior to the summer you are interested in interning with PETA.

What qualifications are necessary?
Qualifications vary by department, and applications are considered based on the skills of the applicant and the needs of the organization.

How long are internships?
Internships range from two weeks to six months. Extensions past six months will be considered, depending on the intern's performance and the organization's needs.

Are interns paid?
Interns receive a weekly stipend of $75.

Housing and Amenities

Is housing provided?
Interns will have the opportunity to meet and live with people from across the country and around the world. For a limited number of interns, housing is available at no charge at the Gordon House, which is near PETA's headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. The Gordon House is PETA's home for interns; it is located about a mile and a half away from PETA's headquarters in the heart of Ghent—Norfolk's trendy, historic neighborhood. The house accommodates up to 13 people and has eight bedrooms, three bathrooms, two kitchens, and a washer and a dryer. Smoking is not permitted inside the Gordon House. Restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets, boutiques, a park, and an art house theater are located within walking distance.

Interns are required to share household cleaning chores and keep common areas clean for all residents' comfort.

Am I required to be vegan?
Out of respect for animals and the work that PETA does, all interns are required to be vegan while on PETA property. This includes diet (no meat, dairy products, eggs, honey, or other animal byproducts), personal care items (cruelty-free and no animal byproducts), and clothing (no fur, leather, silk, or wool).

Will I have a roommate?
All interns are assigned a roommate and will be separated by gender. There is a limited number of single rooms available, but they are not assigned prior to arrival.

Does the Gordon House have a computer and Internet access?
One computer with Internet service is provided. Interns are encouraged to take a laptop with them if they have one, as several local shops have a wireless connection available.

Are companion animals allowed at the Gordon House?
No. We regret that because of space considerations, we cannot accommodate companion animals.

What should I take with me?
Take your clothes and personal items, such as a hairdryer and other grooming items. If you are coming from outside the U.S., you will need a plug converter for any items that require an electrical outlet. Bed linens, towels, laundry and dish detergent, an iron, cookware, dishes, and utensils are all provided.

Transportation

Do interns have to find their own way to Norfolk?
Yes. Once interns have been accepted, they will be responsible for any travel expenses related to their arrival to and departure from Norfolk.

Once I arrive at the airport or bus station in Norfolk, how do I get to the Gordon House?
You will take a cab from your point of arrival (airport or bus station) to the Gordon House. Your confirmation letter will list the Gordon House's address, and you can get specific directions online. You will be greeted and given a tour upon arriving at the Gordon House.

How will I get to and from the Gordon House and PETA's headquarters?
The Gordon House is located approximately a mile and a half away from PETA's headquarters. A shuttle will pick you up and take you home during the work week. Bicycles and helmets are available for interns to use to commute to and from the office and to get around Norfolk during evenings and on weekends. In order to use the bikes, you will need to have your own bike lock. The neighborhood near the Gordon House is also conducive to walking.

Office Culture

What kind of work will I be doing as an intern?
Assignments are generally based on the needs of the organization as well as interns' skills and interests, and they vary by department. Opportunities include participating in grassroots activities, including demonstrations, community outreach, and tabling events; conducting online research; corresponding with activists; and getting the animal rights message out through local, national, and international media. Interns also do clerical work, prepare mailings, create props for demonstrations, and work on other projects.

What educational and training opportunities will be available?
Interns are invited to attend regular training sessions on effective advocacy, armchair and online activism, college campaigning, outreach, wildlife rescue, and public speaking. In addition, there will be opportunities to attend various presentations to help build your advocacy skills and knowledge about animal rights issues. A tour of the PETA building and an orientation are also scheduled to help you learn what resources are available at PETA.

How many hours a week will I work as an intern?
Interns are scheduled full-time for 40 hours each week. However, scheduling may vary by department or if an intern is on tour.

Will I be able to travel?
A highlight of PETA's internship program is the opportunity to travel with campaigners. It is very likely that interns will be able to go on tour with campaigners, depending on the events that are planned during an intern's stay.

Does PETA provide lunches?
PETA provides interns with a free lunch Monday through Friday. On Tuesdays ("Bagel Day"), interns are provided with free bagels for breakfast. Interns are responsible for buying and preparing their own food outside business hours. Grocery stores are within walking distance of the Gordon House.

Is there an office dress code?
Because of PETA's high visibility, we strive to present a professional image. Interns should dress neatly and not wear clothes that draw attention to the messenger rather than the message. Office attire is business casual. Jeans, shorts, T-shirts, and flip flops are prohibited. As an animal rights organization, PETA does not permit the wearing of any animal products (e.g., fur, leather, wool, silk).

Will interning help me get a job with PETA?
Although there is no guarantee that you will be offered a position if you intern, it is a great way to learn about the inner workings of the animal rights movement and the way that PETA operates on a daily basis. It also gives you a great opportunity to network with PETA staff members and demonstrate your talents and skills.