What Can You Do With a Communications Degree?

Communication skills are crucial for success in any job. But can you make a career out of it? Absolutely. More than ever, in our interconnected and digital world, organizations need dedicated professionals who will help them break through the noise and effectively reach their target audiences to accomplish their business goals. Getting a B.S. in Communications will teach you how to collect and analyze information, develop integrated communication strategies and clearly convey ideas through writing and speaking.  

6 Signs a Communications Degree Might Be Right For You

Communications specialists are vital to the success of any organization. Businesses need leaders who can differentiate their organization in a competitive marketplace. Nonprofits need master storytellers who can raise money for their cause. Government institutions need strategic communicators who can clearly convey their position and rally communities into action. Before you commit to getting a degree, we’ve identified five key indicators that studying and pursuing a career in communications might be right for you:

• You’re naturally curious about the people and world around you
• You’re outgoing and always enjoying meeting and connecting with new people
• You’re a strong writer and comfortable talking about and presenting your ideas
• You thrive in a team setting and do your best work when collaborating
• You have creative hobbies like art, theater, photography or creative writing

If this sounds like you, a B.S. in Communications can take your natural talents and hone them into professional skills that will help you excel in a multitude of careers.  
 

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10 of the Best Jobs For Communications Majors

As a communication major, you study concepts from psychology, business, sociology, journalism and communication and apply them to real-world challenges. Because of this broad-based education, graduates work in a variety of jobs across industries.

We’ve compiled a list of promising jobs for communications majors where you can put your critical thinking, interpersonal skills and creativity to work.

Public Relations Specialist Do you enjoy building relationships and telling stories? A job in public relations might be right for you. Public relations specialists help manage the public image of the company or client they work for. They’re responsible for promoting the business, values and mission with the larger community—including media, government and customers. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Write press releases and coordinate interviews
• Contact reporters, producers and editors in print and broadcast media to cover stories about their company or client
• Collaborate with marketing teams in promotional activities

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Not only will you learn the technical skills of press release writing and social media management, you’ll learn the soft skills needed to build relationships with media outlets and successfully pitch stories. Brand Strategist Are you a critical thinker who loves data? Brand strategy might be a rewarding career for you. A brand strategist develops the unique positioning and value proposition for companies, helping promote a consistent and effective brand message with key audiences. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Guide market research, analyze consumer behavior and assess industry trends
• Differentiate the company through messaging and marketing tactics
• Collaborate with creative team and measure effectiveness of campaigns

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Communications majors will learn effective market research techniques and messaging frameworks, while improving collaboration skills through projects completed in business-like teams. Copywriter Are you a talented communicator who enjoys succinct and clever writing? Copywriting might be a good choice for you. Copywriters help develop a distinct brand voice for companies and execute copy across digital, print and video tactics. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Conduct research and interviews to identify compelling brand stories
• Write copy for websites, social media and marketing materials
• Collaborate with designers to align copy with layout and graphics

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Communications programs heavily emphasize writing skills—from top-level messaging to proofreading copy—with a focus on how to captivate audiences in a multi-screen digital world. Social Media Manager Are you a quick thinker who stays on top of trends? Social media might be the right platform for your career. Social media managers develop comprehensive strategies that will make businesses stand out on social platforms to increase brand visibility and engagement with consumers. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Stay on the cutting edge of digital technology and social trends
• Create, edit, publish and share content
• Engage with followers and respond to customers

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Communications majors will learn how to use and manage major social media platforms, as well as gain skills in content creation—from writing posts to editing photos and videos. Communications Director Are you a natural leader who loves public speaking? Becoming a communication director could be a good fit. These professionals oversee the department and are responsible for the public perception of a company. This role works with a company’s leadership team to align a comprehensive communications strategy with business objectives. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Develop marketing strategies and public relations campaigns
• Manage media relations and ensure the quality of all information released
• Hire and manage the communications team

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Communications programs teach you the foundational skills to be successful in this role—emphasizing the importance of comprehensive communication planning and messaging execution in reaching an organization’s goals. Grant Writer Do you have a passion for helping worthy causes? Use your communication talents as a grant writer. Grant writers work for nonprofits and educational institutions to develop proposals for funding from the government, companies, foundations and trusts that will help support their organization’s mission and goals. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Identify funding opportunities and write, submit and manage grant proposals
• Convey the organization’s mission, history and programs in a compelling way
• Collaborate with development team to execute fundraising strategies

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Majoring in communications will give you in-depth experience crafting compelling messages that will help you persuade institutions to fund your organization. Event Planner Are you extremely organized and thrive under pressure? Event planning could be the career for you. Event planners are responsible for concepting and managing memorable events that meet or surpass their clients’ and guests’ expectations. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Plan, organize and manage all event details—from location and decor to guest list and entertainment
• Collaborate with marketing and PR teams to publicize the event
• Proactively manage any issues on the day of the event

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Communications programs provide a strong understanding of promotional tactics, budgeting and human interaction that are all critical for event planners. Sales Representative Are you a people person with a talent for persuasion? Working in sales might be perfect for you. Sales representatives identify prospects, pitch potential customers and nurture current customer relationships to boost revenue and improve profitability. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Establish, develop and maintain positive business and customer relationships
• Present, promote and sell products to new and existing customers
• Identify potential new products or services based on customer needs, problems or competitor undertakings

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: Communications courses span the topics of psychology, business and sociology—an ideal combination for sales professionals whose success depends on being able to balance interpersonal relationships and profitability. Outreach Coordinator Do you like to rally people around a cause? Community outreach might be the right role for you. Outreach coordinators act as the face and voice of their organization, connecting the company and the community in meaningful ways to further the organization’s mission. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Organize special events, including fundraising and donor appreciation events
• Maintain a calendar of an organization’s community outreach activities
• Develop and nurture relationships with community partners

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: The role of an outreach coordinator revolves around communicating a mission and working with others to accomplish it—both of which are foundational to a communications education. Media Buyer Are you a great negotiator? Media buying might be a good fit. Media buyers are responsible for securing premium advertising space at a reasonable cost for their clients or organization in an effort to reach the right consumers and accomplish business goals. Day-to-day responsibilities:

• Identify target audiences and plan media campaigns
• Negotiate rates, ad space and airtime across platforms
• Optimize plans and budgets according to the best media mix

How a communications degree can help you get ahead: In addition to teaching you about current media trends, majoring in communications will help you become an effective negotiator, critical thinker and relationship builder, which are essential skills for media buyers.

Gain the Skills You Need With a Communications Degree

Intrigued by the possibilities of working in communications? Start by finding a communications program that applies theory to real-world industry challenges. Franklin University focuses on hands-on learning, using case studies and client situations to teach critical lessons. While completing assignments, students develop skills they can apply immediately in professional life, while preparing them with an expert portfolio and skills for advancement. Explore the Franklin University B.S. in Communication program to determine if it’s right for you.

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