How to Start Your Career in Communications: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you interested in a career in communications? With the world becoming more interconnected, communication is more critical than ever, making it an exciting and rewarding field to pursue. If you’re looking to start a career in communications, here are some steps to help you get started.

Step 1: Get a Communications Degree

A degree in communications is an excellent way to start your career. Communications degrees are in demand and offer many transferable skills in today’s hyper-connected world.

You can enrol in undergraduate communications, public relations, marketing, or journalism programs to gain knowledge of communications concepts and principles. Some universities also offer graduate programs for those seeking advanced degrees.

If you prefer online learning, consider taking online communications courses that provide a flexible schedule and a cost-effective alternative to traditional education.

Step 2: Gain Relevant Experience

Having relevant work experience can significantly improve your job prospects in communications. To increase your employability, it’s important to make connections and get internships in the field you’re interested in. For instance, Government communications positions offer a stable 9-5 work/life balance, and there are communication positions available in virtually every department. Interning in a government department increases the likelihood of being hired for a full-time job due to the need to learn various systems and procedures and gain knowledge about the department.

Step 3: Develop Your Skills

Creativity and understanding different audiences are essential skills in communication. As a communicator, it is essential to know how different audiences react to different communication outlets and whether they prefer videos, graphics, or articles.

Good writing is a critical skill in communication to ensure that the audience understands the message. Being able to write fluently, catch grammar mistakes, and edit content is important for creating high-quality materials.

External communications skills, such as pitching to the media and responding to reporters, are also essential to have. Shadowing or taking on external projects can help you gain this experience. Managing internal teams is also a critical aspect of communications. Translating client requests and messages to generate successful advertisements and working with different departments to create effective marketing campaigns requires excellent communication skills.

Understanding strategic goals and how to form a communication that is digestible is an essential skill in communication. Many stakeholders want something executed to check a box, but it is important to ensure that the information is not a waste of time for the audience.

You can develop these skills by:

• Reading communications books and publications
• Taking online courses or attending seminars
• Participating in workshops and training sessions
• Volunteering for projects and events to gain practical experience

Step 4: Build Your Network

Networking is an essential part of any career, and communications is no exception. Building connections through internships, joining local associations, volunteering for not-for-profit organizations, and networking with alumni and professors is crucial to developing a specialised skill set and finding employment.

Step 5: Find Your First Communications Job

Landing your first communications job can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can succeed. Some things you can do to increase your chances of getting hired are:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your communications skills and relevant work experience.
• Prepare for interviews by researching the company, practising common interview questions, and dressing professionally.
• Negotiate your salary based on market rates and your qualifications.

Specialisations

Various job opportunities exist within communications, including writing for a newspaper, social media management for a news station, sports blogging for a publication such as The Athletic, and PR/marketing/advertising roles. Some of the specialisation opportunities are:

• Public Relations
• Marketing Communications
• Corporate Communications
• Digital Communications
• Crisis Communications

Things to Know Before Starting a Career in Communications

1. Working at an agency can be beneficial but may involve being underpaid and overworked. On the other hand, in-house corporate communications jobs can provide a better work-life balance and higher pay but may require some agency experience. Therefore, be open to both internal and external communications opportunities, as experience in both areas is often required for certain roles.
2. Employee communications and engagement is a growing field, especially in the current virtual work environment. Many companies are hiring for employee engagement roles.
3. Digital advertising and social media management are important skills to have in the current digital age. Being able to generate digital advertisements, book spots for ads, and measure the analytics of different marketing campaigns is valuable for roles such as marketing managers and assistants.
4. Many jobs, even those not specifically in communications, can provide valuable experience in this field. For example, managing volunteers and creating email blasts, writing press releases, public speaking, and managing social media accounts for a company all provide an experience that can be relevant to communications roles.
5. Communications is not just about being an extrovert; there are many roles, such as campaign strategy, content and copywriting, analysis, branding, and other backseat roles in ad agencies, that you can pursue.

Conclusion

Communications is a dynamic and rewarding profession that offers a wide range of opportunities and career paths. With public relations, marketing communications, corporate communications, digital communications, and crisis communications, you can find a specialisation that aligns with your interests and skills. Pursuing a career in communications can offer you diverse opportunities and a promising salary range. With the right education, skills, and network, you can succeed in this exciting field.