Everyone knows that a strong communications education is invaluable for anyone hoping to thrive in today’s fast-paced world. It teaches you how to communicate effectively, and it teaches you how to understand different communication styles and interpret what others are saying. Thanks to the growing demand for skilled communicators, there are more than enough rewarding careers available for graduates with a solid communications degrees. From working in journalism to working as an editor, a communications degree will take your career in almost any direction—and that’s without even considering all of the opportunities that await after graduation! Read on to learn about some of the best jobs for graduates with a Communications degree.
Communication is any form of verbal or written communication intended to convey meaning from one person to another. College-level communications majors learn to communicate using a variety of media, including print, digital, and audio/visual. They acquire the skills of oral and written communication, public relations and advertising, and interpersonal/intercultural skills.
A journalist is someone who uses written communication, such as articles and editorials, to break news and report on current events. Journalism majors learn to write clear, concise prose and learn how to use the media as a source for news-breaking information. After earning a bachelor's degree, journalists can work at newspapers, magazines, or online publications. Many also join broadcast media in order to further share their expertise with a wider audience.
Advertising, marketing, sales, and public relations are all related fields and they’re all related in the sense that they all involve communication. However, advertising is more than just marketing in that it involves creating a message to draw interest and then creating a plan for how to communicate that message to the intended audience. Marketing refers to the whole process of acquiring customers, so it is related to advertising and sales. Public relations is the art of convincing the public or the media that your company’s actions are positive, socially responsible, or acceptable.
Journalism is one of the most common careers for those with a communications degree. Graduates can pursue a variety of professional paths in journalism. Some begin working for local newspapers, writing for the general public or for specific sections such as sports or entertainment reviews. Others work for news websites, either freelance or as staff reporters at a news outlet. A great many choose a career as in-house editors where they oversee the publication of content and might have opportunities to move into managing departments, such as news gathering and content production.
An editor is responsible for the creation of written content, including articles, photos, graphics, and more. Working as an editor is a great choice for those interested in writing and publishing content, but who aren’t interested in writing original articles. While some prefer to freelance, many editors work full-time in shops that produce content for a variety of media outlets.
Besides the core communications skills covered in a bachelor’s degree program, graduates must also be well-versed in the field’s specific topics and trends. If you want to work in advertising, you need to be familiar with the latest trends in branding, product design, and advertisement. Likewise, if you want to work in journalism, you’ll need to be knowledgeable about the latest news stories and events.
There are hundreds of helpful communications careers, but these are a few that might interest students with a communications degree:
Communications majors are rarely only interested in one path. They might enjoy writing and publishing content and find great employment as a journalist or an editor, while others might prefer to work in advertising or sales and find work as a public relations specialist. Even though most communications jobs require a bachelor's degree, some employers do accept associate degrees. There's no doubt that a degree in communications will help you find a rewarding career.