What Does a Career in Communications Actually Look Like?

When you’re starting your career, some job functions are easier to understand than others. But almost every organization also relies on professionals whose work may be less obvious from the outside, and those roles can create career opportunities across virtually every industry. In this series, we’re exploring these job functions, what the work actually looks like, and how to decide whether they might be a good fit for you. Next up: Communications.

What is Communications?

Here’s a simple way to think about it: Communications professionals help organizations get the right message to the right people in the right way.

That can mean building awareness of a company, explaining a complicated idea, attracting customers, communicating with employees, promoting a new product, responding to a crisis, or helping people understand why an organization’s work matters.

And communications jobs are everywhere. Large corporations need them. So do small businesses, nonprofits, universities, government agencies, startups, and professional associations. Some communications professionals work directly for an organization, while others work for agencies or independently.

The work itself can take many forms. Public relations professionals might write press releases, work with journalists, announce organizational news, or help manage communications during a controversy. Marketing communications might involve advertising campaigns, newsletters, events, websites, email, or other content designed to reach customers or supporters.

Internal communications focuses on an organization’s employees, helping everyone understand what is happening and why. And some communications professionals work directly with executives or other public-facing individuals, helping develop speeches, social media content, presentations, or talking points.

As with Operations, the size of the organization can make a big difference. At a large company, you might specialize in social media, employee communications, media relations, or another specific area. At a smaller organization, your Tuesday could involve writing a newsletter, updating a website, planning an event, and helping the CEO prepare for an interview.

Could Communications be a good fit for you?

Don't start by asking, “Have I ever had a communications job?” Instead, think about how you naturally communicate and interact with information and people.

Do you enjoy taking something complicated and making it understandable? Are you a strong writer? Do you find yourself thinking about how different people might react to the same message? Do you enjoy learning about a variety of topics and then figuring out what matters most?

Communications may be worth exploring if you:

• Love writing. Emails, articles, social posts, newsletters, presentations, and other written materials are central to many communications jobs.
• Communicate in different ways. Strong writing matters, but so do speaking, presenting, listening, and understanding visual and digital media.
• Understand your audience. You recognize that the same message won't necessarily work for employees, customers, journalists, executives, and the general public.
• Enjoy working with people. You don't have to be an extrovert, but you'll often collaborate with people throughout an organization and build relationships outside it.
• Can make complex ideas simple. Strong communicators absorb lots of information, identify what matters, and translate it into something another audience can quickly understand.
• Like variety. Communications can give you exposure to many different parts of an organization rather than keeping you focused on a single subject.
• Can handle feedback and pressure. Your work may be highly visible, and sometimes you'll need to communicate when circumstances are difficult or changing quickly.

One final consideration: communications is often about amplifying the work of other people. You may not be designing the product, conducting the research, or delivering the service. Instead, you're helping other people understand its value.

So when you're evaluating a communications opportunity, ask yourself: "Would I enjoy learning what this organization does—and finding the best way to tell its story?"

If you enjoy writing, connecting with different audiences, learning about new subjects, and turning complicated information into clear and compelling messages, Communications might be a career path worth exploring.