Exploring the Versatility of Careers With a Communication Degree

On the surface, a communication degree may seem like a broad program that may not have the focus of specificity that you are looking for. However, it's actually an incredibly powerful degree, allowing students to develop crucial communication skills that can be applied in nearly any field or industry. 

Knowing the types of communication degree jobs available can help you see the opportunity that exists within this skills-based program. 

Diverse Career Paths With a Communication Degree 

Within the field of communications, there are endless career paths to choose from. By enrolling as a communications major, you actually have the ability to specialize your degree program and focus on a key area that interests you most.  

Public Relations Specialist 

Public relations specialists are communications professionals who focus specifically on cultivating a positive brand image for their clients. A public relations specialist may be employed by a public relations firm, or they may work for the public relations or marketing department within an organization. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), public relations specialists are primarily responsible for: 

• Developing a brand image and public relations strategy. 

• Writing press releases and securing media coverage for their clients. 

• Responding to media inquiries. 

• Drafting statements on behalf of their clients. 

• Monitoring social media engagement and ensuring that their clients are receiving favorable feedback on social media. 

Marketing Manager 

Marketing managers are senior-level communications professionals who oversee the marketing and communications team for a given organization or work to oversee operations at a marketing firm. They are responsible for drafting a marketing strategy and delegating tasks to the marketing team, ultimately ensuring that the organization is able to effectively promote its products or services. 

According to the BLS, common job responsibilities of marketing managers include: 

• Developing an effective marketing strategy. 

• Monitoring and overseeing the marketing department budget. 

• Creating promotional campaigns designed to increase awareness and improve overall brand loyalty. 

• Drafting brand guidelines to ensure that all imaging and messaging is cohesive. 

Social Media Strategist 

A social media strategist is a marketing and communications professional who focuses specifically on developing social media campaigns. Generally, a strategist works to develop a brand's presence on social media and create social media campaigns that will drive engagement across all platforms. Social media strategists must actively work to post content online that increases the number of followers the brand has, improves engagement levels and performs better than the competition. Responsibilities of a social media strategist may include: 

• Creating effective social media campaigns. 

• Interacting with followers on social media in a way that best reflects the company's values and goals. 

• Analyzing social metrics to confirm the effectiveness of campaigns. 

• Monitoring online trends to leverage those trends for engagement. 

Content Writer and Editor 

A content writer and editor is a communications professional who works to curate web content for a brand to increase visibility online. Content writers often rely heavily on search engine optimization strategies to create relevant and accurate content that will earn a top ranking on the search engine results page. While many content writers are employed by individual organizations and corporations, some can work as independent contractors on a freelance basis. The Semrush Blog notes that some of the most common job responsibilities of content writers include: 

• Writing optimized content in accordance with brand guidelines and expectations. 

• Developing social media content for individual clients. 

• Researching topics to create unique and innovative content. 

Broadcast Journalist 

Broadcast journalists are reporters who work in either television or radio, and they actively work to create news content for their target audiences. Primarily responsible for covering current events and trending topics, broadcast journalists also may work on long-term, in-depth investigative reports or human-interest pieces. The primary responsibilities of broadcast journalists are: 

• Researching topics related to their news stories. 

• Conducting interviews about the topic. 

• Analyzing information to create relevant and contextual news stories. 

• Analyzing and interpreting metrics to improve engagement ratings for the news organization. 

Corporate Communications Manager 

Corporate communications managers are in charge of overseeing a communications department at an individual company or organization. By playing a key role in developing the company's brand and improving its overall reputation in the industry, corporate communications managers are considered to be a critical component of the overall managerial staff. Corporate communications managers are responsible for overseeing both internal and external communications strategies, and some of their key job responsibilities include: 

• Creating a communications strategy that aligns with the company's values and goals. 

• Developing the company's website and creating engaging content for it. 

• Overseeing the company's social media platforms and increasing engagement online. 

• Creating a connection between the company and the community by planning events and securing media coverage. 

Event Planner 

Extending beyond the scope of a traditional communications career, event planners are communications professionals who work to plan corporate events or private gatherings for individual clients. They may be employed a large corporation that hosts conferences, large-scale meetings or other types of events, or they may work for an event planning company that specializes in both corporate and personal events. 

Some key responsibilities of event planners include: 

• Developing the scope of an individual event and coordinating with clients to ensure expectations will be met. 

• Creating and overseeing the budget for the event. 

• Securing vendors for the event. 

• Developing an event timeline. 

• Attending the events to ensure that everything moves forward according to the contract. 

Human Resources Coordinator 

Human resources coordinators or specialists are professionals who typically work as part of the human resources department to develop hiring strategies and workplace policies. Human resources coordinators often work to recruit and train new employees, while also coordinating benefits and compensation packages. In some cases, human resources coordinators are responsible for mediating workplace conflicts. 

Some job responsibilities of human resources coordinators include: 

• Interviewing job applicants for open positions at the organization. 

• Providing job applicants with additional details about the job, including information about salary and benefits packages. 

• Developing training programs for onboarding new employees. 

• Keeping track of employment records. 

Advertising Executive 

Advertising executives are leaders in the communications industry, often working to oversee the development of advertising strategy within an organization. Similar to marketing managers, advertising executives work to develop and implement advertising campaigns that will improve sales at the organization. 

Some of the job responsibilities of an advertising executive include: 

• Developing a long-term advertising strategy for the organization. 

• Delegating tasks to members of the advertising team, including managers and sales representatives. 

• Collecting sales data and evaluating advertising metrics to determine the success of a campaign. 

• Monitoring social media and marketing trends to create engaging and effective advertisements. 

Digital Media Analyst 

A digital media analyst collects data from social media campaigns and evaluates metrics to determine the effectiveness of a social media strategy and to monitor the brand's overall online image. A digital media analyst plays a key role in any modern marketing and communications team, as a brand's online presence and visibility will play a crucial role in its long-term success. 

Some job responsibilities of a digital media analyst may include: 

• Analyzing metrics to evaluate engagement levels. 

• Developing web analytics reports for the marketing team. 

• Researching emerging social media trends and fads that the marketing team can leverage. 

Essential Skills for Communication Professionals 

Communications professionals need to develop a wide range of technical, practical and soft skills to be successful in their chosen careers. Whether you are working in crisis communications or public relations, you will find that these are the most important skills to focus on within your career. 

Writing and Editing Expertise 

At the core of the communications field, and all professionals, regardless of the communication degree jobs that they are interested in, will need to focus on improving their writing and editing skills overtime. Strong writing skills allow a communications professional to pursue any specialization they are interested in, as they will easily be able to apply these skills in a wide range of settings and industries. 

Strategic Communication Planning 

Strategic communication planning is defined as the process of optimizing communication to leverage the best possible channels and reach a specific target audience. A strategic communications plan must include: 

• An overall objective. 

• A target audience. 

• An established timeline. 

• Appropriate messaging. 

• An outline of key channels to use. 

• An outline of metrics that will be relied on to monitor the strategy. 

Digital Literacy and Social Media Proficiency 

Digital literacy is defined by the American Library Association as the ability to use technology effectively and efficiently. These skills are critically important for communications professionals who will often be using online technology to implement their communications strategies. 

In addition, communications professionals will often be working with social media, making it important that they are aware of social media etiquette on the various platforms. The interactions that take place on social media have a significant impact on the brand's overall image, making it vitally important for communications professionals to be proficient in social media language and usage. 

Public Speaking and Presentation Skills 

In almost all jobs with a communication degree, professionals will find themselves in a position where they have to present in public. Becoming an effective, confident public speaker will allow you to be prepared for these moments. Verbal communication skills are important for communications professionals, as they are often seen as a representative of the company's overall brand and voice. 

Crisis Management and Problem-Solving Abilities 

If there is a crisis within any department of the organization, the communications team is often called in to help the company manage it as a whole. Communications professionals must be able to draft a crisis communications plan quickly and effectively, all while remaining calm, composed and professional. Being able to effectively problem-solve and address crises happening in real time is incredibly important when you want to pursue a career in communications. 

Advancing Your Career in Communications 

Growth and opportunity define the communications field, and there are plenty of ways that you can advance your career over the course of your lifetime. By creating a strategic plan and prioritizing professional development throughout your career, you will find that you can pursue higher-level or specialized communication degree jobs. 

Continuing Education and Professional Certifications 

Many jobs with a communication degree require candidates to have a bachelor's degree to secure an entry-level position, but there are opportunities for advancement in the field when you prioritize continuing education and professional certifications. Advanced degrees, such as a master's degree, can help you develop the skills needed to pursue leadership positions in the communications field. 

Networking Strategies for Communication Professionals 

In the communications field, networking can be a powerful tool. These are some of the most effective networking strategies for communication professionals: 

• Attend industry events and conferences where you will meet other professionals in your industry. 

• Join professional organizations, such as the Public Relations Society of America or the International Association of Business Communicators. 

• Leverage social media to make valuable and lasting connections. 

Leveraging Internships and Work Experience