How to become a Reuters trainee

About 2,000 people apply each year for 15 journalism training places at Reuters.

The application process opens in September and closes mid-December, with trainees starting the following September in Reuters newsrooms in London, New York and across Asia.

The training programme runs for nine months and involves about two months in the classroom and the rest of the time rotating around the different news desks for hands-on, practical experience.

Trainees are guaranteed a job at the end of the programme if they meet the required standards.

Belinda Goldsmith (photo), global head of editorial learning, offers tips on how to give yourself the best possible chance. She joined Reuters from Papua New Guinea in 1994 and has worked for the company in Australia, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom.

• What does Reuters look for in a trainee?

We are looking for smart, motivated people who are passionate about international and financial news.

They need to prove a commitment to journalism during their years at university and through work experience, internships, or published work.

Trainees do not need to have studied journalism at university or college as we view graduating in subjects such as economics, history, and international relations can be as beneficial.

Fluency in other languages and financial literacy is an advantage.

• Does everyone applying need to be a graduate?

The trainees we take on are not only university graduates, but also people who may have been working for several years.  

Someone with a specialist background in law, medicine, computer science or accounting, could be a good fit for the programme as Reuters caters for groups of niche professional clients and is expanding into data driven journalism.

Applicants are expected to write well in English and to be interested in financial journalism with a working knowledge of the markets, monetary and fiscal policy, and show an eagerness to learn more about this fascinating area. A visual eye and multimedia experience can also give applicants the edge.

• What tips would you give to aspiring journalists?

Read widely. Read Reuters.com and other publications that excel in business journalism. Look at how stories are written and find out when you don’t understand.

Use your network. Getting a break in journalism is tough but there are jobs to be had for people who are determined to become journalists. Persistence and ingenuity are both skills that journalists need to show. ■