PETA Interview Questions
& Process

They had me do several rounds of interviews and then a test only to ghost me and never respond. If that is an indication of how they treat people then I don't want to work there.

The interview process kicked off with a phone call lasting about 40 minutes. After that, I was asked to complete 5 projects, some related to the job. Project 1 involved drafting two offer letters for fictional employees to check for accuracy. Project 2 was creating a sample job posting for intern candidates, though the instructions were really vague. Project 3 was about ranking tasks by importance. Project 4 required a "how-to" guide to show my ability to explain things clearly. Project 5, surprisingly, was the main focus of the final interview, even though it had nothing to do with the role. I had to make a slideshow presentation of about 20 slides and then present it verbally for over 10 minutes. I had a week for all 5 projects but submitted them early. The final interview itself involved a peer interview to gauge team compatibility, followed by a meeting with the HR manager. During this meeting, I discussed the 5 projects and gave my presentation. The HR manager gave me a lot of positive feedback via Zoom emoji, praising my passion, research, and overall effort on the projects. They complimented my "how-to" project specifically and said I was a "breathe of fresh air." I was feeling really good about my chances. The day after, I sent a thank-you email. It took them 4 days to even acknowledge it, and then another 3 days to send the rejection email, saying they were moving forward with someone who "better fits their needs and passion." It felt like a huge letdown after putting in so much extra work, especially for a $17/hour job that wasn't even a guaranteed offer.

I actually liked the interview process and everyone was really nice. Since I was local, it was convenient for me to spend two days doing a working interview. I was given a few computer tasks that weren't too hard and needed some research and creative thinking. However, they didn't really feel like typical project manager tasks. The office vibe was a bit different for me as I'm used to classrooms, outdoor management, and working from home. It was pretty quiet, and talking on the phone felt a bit awkward because all the desks are in an open area. The tasks included things like cleaning up a spreadsheet and coming up with a campaign slogan and objective. I didn't feel like they were asking for free work; talking to other employees suggested they had similar tasks during their working interviews too. There was also a mock phone call exercise to handle caller concerns. I was told I'd hear back in 2-3 weeks about the job. I specifically asked if I'd still hear back even if I didn't get the job, and they said yes. Well, it's been a few months and I haven't heard anything. After four weeks with no word, you can imagine my frustration. That was the only thing that made the process seem unprofessional. I know they're busy, but a quick email saying they went with someone else would have been enough. Honestly, I'd apply for another job at PETA, just not in that department.

I applied for the Evidence Analyst job at PETA. About a week later, I got a phone screen with the department head. We talked for an hour about my education and work history. Then, I was invited to Norfolk for a week-long "working interview." PETA paid for my housing and lunches but not transportation. I had to book a flight and take a week off work. The first day in Norfolk, HR gave me a handwritten writing assignment with three prompts. After that, I was introduced to the Cruelty Investigations department, given a desk, and my first assignment. Throughout the week, I did 11 writing tasks, including legal research and drafting letters. When the week ended, I was told I'd hear back in about a week as the department head was traveling. Two weeks after the interview, I got a form rejection email. I asked my contact why, and he said I didn't have enough experience, which confused me since I'd discussed my background multiple times and he'd previously said it wasn't an issue. I felt upset about spending money and time off work for a rejection based on something that should have been clear from my resume. While I support PETA's mission, their interview process felt cold and costly.