10+ Careers for Majors in Communications

 10+ Careers for Majors in Communications

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What is a major in communication?

Degree Types in Communication

What kinds of jobs are available for majors in communications?

1. A marketer; 2. An HR specialist

3. Author 4. Coordinator of Meetings and Events

5. Talking politics

6. Retail

7. Manager of Brands; 8. Expert in Social Media; 9. Public Relations

10. Creator

Bonus Careers for Majors in Communications

Top Competencies for Heads of Communications

Cooperation, Project Management, meticulousness, analytical abilities, and flexibility

Increased Employment Opportunities for Majors in Communications

We're all capable of communicating, however some of us are more adept at it than others! And if you're thinking about majoring in communications or are already studying it, you may be curious about the kind of careers available to communication students.

While communication is a part of practically every career on the world, certain positions are specifically designed for communication majors. However, you could be unaware that you are qualified for certain positions.

What kinds of jobs are available to communication majors? Which one is best for you, then?

What is a major in communication?

"What is a communications major?" must be answered before we can continue. It is necessary to define communication.

Communication, according to the definition, is the sharing or exchanging of information. Thus, we are corresponding as you read this post! Naturally, however, this is just one kind of communication. You are interacting whether you read a news story, watch your favorite sports team, or even just browse Instagram.

Majors in communications study all of these forms of communication in addition to others. For instance, they could study advertising in order to write product descriptions. However, the options are almost limitless: students may also pursue studies in crisis communications, public relations, print media, or radio!

Degree Types in Communication

Any kind of degree in communications, from an associate's to a doctorate, may be obtained. However, there are specializations within every kind of degree.

For instance, while marketing is a subset of communications, you may get a graduate degree in marketing—possibly as a business degree—instead of obtaining a bachelor's degree in communications and then pursuing a career in marketing.

You may pursue a bachelor's degree in journalism if you're interested in the field (which is also a kind of communication). He or she will probably be enrolled in a journalism or liberal arts program, however.

Furthermore, a degree in communication opens several job alternatives for you. "A degree in communications allows people to advance in a variety of industries and opens up diverse career prospects." We're never really communicating at the end of the day, claims Jamie Levin, principal of Zelevin Communications.

Levin continues, "It provides a versatile skill that can be applied across a variety of industries." Effective communication is more crucial than ever in today's corporate climate, particularly because many employees are geographically scattered and working remotely or in hybrid modes. As such, it is a highly valued skill in the workplace.

What kinds of degree specializations are available in communication, then? Here are a few instances:

Sports teams' interactions with sponsors, media, and supporters are referred to as sports communication.

Selling and promoting goods and services is known as marketing.

Sharing content and programs via radio or television is known as broadcasting.

Journalism is the preparation and delivery of news articles for print or broadcast media.

Media studies: the examination of the development and significance of media in general.

Digital and electronic communications: Live streaming and other digital broadcasting.

Public relations is the management and upkeep of a person's or organization's public image.

Organizational Communication: The Language Used in Public and Corporate Settings.

Health communication is the exchange of health-related knowledge to enable people to make more informed decisions.

What kinds of jobs are available for majors in communications?

According to Dirk Matthews, senior director of alumni relations at Columbia College of Chicago and incoming president of the National Career Development Association, "communication is one of the main skills employers look for in new graduates." "This talent, which is applicable to many different occupations, is taught to communications students in many forms.”

This is not a complete list, nor is it comprehensive. Your employment chances go well beyond this list since businesses consider communication to be one of the most important skills in applicants.

"Just because someone is adept at communication doesn't mean he can't do anything else besides communicate," Levin states. "This is a highly adaptable skill that helps people succeed in a range of fields and roles."

Even though it may not seem like it, entry-level positions for communications majors are also included on this list. Many disciplines include entry-level job titles that start with "assistant," "specialist," or "coordinator," but not all do.

U.S. According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), each of these positions for communications majors contains expected employment growth from 2022 to 2032 as well as typical pay for 2022.

1. Average income for marketers: $68,230

13% employment growth is anticipated (far faster than average).

The promotion of a product or service is known as marketing. Marketers place more of an emphasis on increasing awareness and educating prospective consumers, even if the sale of the product or service is often the ultimate aim.

human capital

$64,240 is the average pay.

6% employment growth is anticipated (faster than average)

Your ability to communicate both orally and in writing will be greatly used in human resources. You may draft job descriptions and ads, interview candidates over the phone, or prepare a presentation about impending adjustments to fringe benefit plans.

3. Average pay for writers: $73,150

4% employment growth is anticipated (faster than average).

Writers use written language to communicate. Even though this covers items like books, essays, and blogs, writers often utilize their skills to facilitate communication. Writing speeches for CEOs or celebrities, ghostwriting, and scripting TV programs or instructional videos are a few examples.

4. Event and Meeting Coordinator

The average pay is $52,560.

8% employment growth is anticipated (faster than average).

Perhaps the last professions that spring to mind for a communications major are meeting and event planners. However, event and meeting planners interact in a variety of ways. Making sure that attendees get the most out of the event is just as important as coordinating with suppliers and customers. This involves ensuring that the agenda and signs are clear so that attendees know where to go and when, arranging the booths rationally, and publicizing the event.

5. Talking politics

Salary average: $128,020

7% employment growth is anticipated (faster than average).

Political scientists should use the salary and growth statistics as political communications is not a BLS employment category. However, one kind of employment for a communication degree is political communication. Political communication is concerned with the political message, but many employment activities entail writing and marketing. These are items that promote the candidate and his or her vision, such as speeches and campaign slogans.

6. The average sales wage is $35,290.

Estimated job growth: expected to fall; about 1.8 million operations annually

The BLS used the general word "sales" to refer to any function linked to sales. Thus, this covers everyone from a start-up to a person employed by a retail establishment that sells SaaS items. While employment losses are anticipated in this specific area, the great majority of them will occur in physical retail establishments.

So how are communication skills used by sales professionals? Obviously, to persuade you to purchase the item. In order to assist clients in selecting the finest choice, vendors additionally enlighten and educate their clients.

7. The average pay for a brand manager is $138,730.

6% employment growth is anticipated (faster than average)

Marketing a brand is the responsibility of brand managers. It could be an organization, a thing, or even a person. However, their responsibilities extend beyond marketing. They are in charge of its creation and upkeep. For instance, to analyze how the brand is reacting to social media platforms and develop a marketing plan based on that information, a brand manager may work with a social media team.

The average income for a social media expert is $66,420.

Expected increase of jobs: quicker than usual

Making material go viral isn't the only aspect of working in social media. Measuring its effect on lead generation and sales closure is another aspect of it. Together with communication skills, it calls for a reasonable level of analytical abilities.

9. The average compensation for a public relations specialist is $67,440.

6% employment growth is anticipated (faster than average)

A typical entry-level position for a communications degree is that of public relations expert. Through forward-thinking and public communications, the public relations team contributes to the development of a favorable image for a company or person. You may produce press releases, follow up with media contacts, and schedule press releases as a public relations professional.

The average compensation for producers is $85,320.

7% employment growth is anticipated (faster than average).

Perhaps the first image that springs to mind when you think of a producer is someone who contributes to high-profile Hollywood productions. You would also be correct! However, the term "producer" also refers to podcasts, video games, and radio programs. Additionally, producers use their communication abilities at every stage of the process, even though they make many commercial choices related to production.

Extra Employment Opportunities for Communications Majors

There are even more careers available for communications majors. You may work in the following additional communications-related fields:

Content Creator for Corporate Communications

Journalist, reporter, government or nonprofit communications, advertising in healthcare communication

Top Competencies for Heads of Communications

Whatever job route you go on, communication is without a doubt the most important ability you will need. However, as you study, you will also acquire other abilities in addition to communication.

According to Dirks, "the majority of communications majors have experience with project-based assignments." "Students can hone their innovative problem-solving and project management skills through it."

Cooperation

Even though you could work alone, you'll often need to cooperate with suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders. For instance, if you work in social media, you may need to collaborate with a marketing team and graphic designer to coordinate your plan.

Project Management Although not technically a project management position, project management is a skill that is often used in communications professions. If you host a podcast, you may have to plan live episodes, invite guests, and manage production timelines. This calls for you to make calls, plan out your calendar, and—you guessed it—apply your project management expertise.

paying attention to the details

Writing on paper is necessary for many communication jobs, whether it's a speech, screenplay, or blog post (or screen). Rewriting, editing, proofreading, and correction are all vital and essential activities. You could send out a press release with a mistake if you're not careful.

analytical abilities

These positions need a lot of creative thinking, but they also call for a strong analytical set of abilities. You'll need to gather and evaluate data since certain jobs (like writers or social media professionals) rely on it to make judgments. If you're a content writer for a website, for instance, you may have to investigate the performance of a particular piece, ascertain the cause of a decline in traffic, and devise a plan to alter it. Need to get ready.

flexibility

In the end, adaptation is a crucial communication skill for individuals. Occasionally, things happen quickly, and you have to modify your plans. Assume you operate a brand and that there are misunderstandings about your offering. In order to handle the problem fast, you'll need to be adaptable and use crisis communication as opposed to your normal brand management approach.

Increased Employment Opportunities for Majors in Communications

The occupations that may be available to someone majoring in communications are much too many to mention here. Not sure whether a large task is the best kind for you? Find out what job is best for you by taking our comprehensive quiz!