Executive Trainee

As one of the world’s leading independent communications agencies, Ruder Finn fosters a What’s Next mindset —with an emphasis on curiosity and future thinking and a team that pushes boundaries, drives innovation, and operates as early adopters. Our culture is built on curiosity, creative independent thinking and a hunger for knowledge.   

Ruder Finn’s 16-week paid Executive Training (ET) Program provides recent graduates a unique opportunity to join a fast-paced, future-focused environment and learn from peers and leaders across the agency. Created in 1978, our ET Program offers Executive Trainees the opportunity to gain hands-on experience as integral members of account teams, working full-time on exciting client work across various sectors.   

Throughout the program, you’ll engage in lunch & learn sessions, workshops and hands-on client work, designed to build essential communications expertise and future-ready skills. 

Ruder Finn is a collaborative and energetic group of professionals who place a high priority on strategic thinking, ingenuity, imagination and the ability to solve complex problems that deliver measurable business results. Executive Trainees will have the opportunity to contribute to client meetings, research, media monitoring, content creation, meeting recaps, AI and technology-enabled projects, and more. Each Executive Trainee will support one of our core sectors or specialty groups. 

The program will run approximately from early/mid-June through the end of September and requires in-person attendance at least once a week for our lunch & learn sessions at our New York or Austin offices. The first week of the program will require mandatory in-person attendance for onboarding sessions. 

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree (by start of program) 

• Excellent written and verbal communication 

• Fundamental research, writing, and critical-thinking skills 

• Proactive mindset with ability to work independently and in a team setting 

• Flexibility and enthusiasm to adapt to shifting priorities 

• Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to juggle multiple assignments 

• Team player with strong interpersonal skills 

• Foundational understanding of public relations and interest in additional areas of communications including digital marketing, creative, social media and more.

• Interest in how data, AI, and emerging technologies influence integrated communications and storytelling 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment 

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (including Word, PowerPoint, Excel) 

• Prior internship experience preferred, but not required 

Additional Information 

• ETs must be available to work full-time, 40 hours/week 

• The anticipated compensation range for this position, at the time of posting, is $18.00-22.00/hour with eligibility for overtime. This range is an estimate based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, internal equity, geography, relevant years of experience, certifications, skills, abilities of the selected applicant, and other job-related qualifications 

• ETs may have advancement opportunities upon completion of the program, including potential full-time roles based on performance and business needs 

Application Requirements 

To apply, please submit a resume and writing sample and/or creative portfolio (Examples: press release, pitch letter, media kit, campus newspaper, etc.). 

Please note: The application deadline is March 20, 2026.