Best Communications Jobs
Communications majors learn a wide array of skills throughout their degree—from public speaking to professional editing, media analysis to creative writing. Completing a mix of practical and theoretical courses, most students graduate from the program with a broad understanding of how different messages affect those around them, as well as knowledge about the various forms of media, advertising, and content that we interact with in daily life. Graduates of communications tend to have strong critical thinking skills and a mastery of written and verbal language—a solid basis for many careers in business, public relations, journalism, and more.
Whether you're a recent graduate of the program or just starting out, read on. One of these communications-related jobs may be for you.
This article will be covering the following careers:
| Career | Avg Salary | Satisfaction | Your Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Manager | $76k | 3.2/5 | |
| Public Relations Specialist | $57k | 3.0/5 | |
| Entrepreneur | $71k | 4.0/5 | |
| Sales Manager | $75k | 2.8/5 | |
| Digital Marketing Specialist | $63k | 3.1/5 | |
| Teacher | $40k | 3.1/5 | |
| Recruiter | $58k | 2.8/5 | |
| Social Media Manager | $41k | 3.2/5 | |
| IT Support Specialist | $55k | 2.8/5 | |
| Operations Manager | $82k | 3.1/5 | |
| Advertising Manager | $104k | 3.1/5 | |
| Barista | $18k | 3.0/5 |
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1. Marketing Manager
At the heart of any successful marketing campaign is a powerful message and an even more powerful messenger. Marketing managers rely on a wide swath of communication techniques—including social media, inbound marketing, and traditional advertising—to connect potential consumers with products or services. They coordinate with marketing, sales, and publicity staff to ensure all aspects of a campaign are consistent and engaging. People with a communications major are made for this role, and will be adept at planning, implementing, and evaluating marketing campaigns of all kinds.
Marketing Manager
A marketing manager is responsible for planning, implementing, and overseeing marketing strategies to promote a company's products or services.
2. Public Relations Specialist
On the most basic level, public relations is all about maintaining a positive company image. Professionals in this field spend much of their day communicating with others: calling producers to arrange phone or television interviews for their clients, or writing articles, news releases, or speeches that cast their employers in a favorable light. In this creative and social role, graduates of communications will be able to put the writing, research, public speaking, and social media skills they gained during their degree to the test. Fast-paced and multi-faceted, this career is a natural next step for many communications students.
Public Relations Specialist
A public relations specialist manages the public image and reputation of individuals, organizations, or brands.
3. Entrepreneur
One of the best things about majoring in communications is the variety of topics covered during the degree. Skills in digital marketing, event planning, research methods, and crisis communication can be assets in many careers, but they are especially valuable in an entrepreneurship context. As entrepreneurs, communications graduates will be able to put many of these abilities to work—using their diverse training to build and develop their own business from the ground up.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an individual who takes on financial risks in order to create and manage a business venture with the aim of achieving profit and growth.
4. Sales Manager
The best sales managers are defined by strong relationship building skills, excellent negotiation abilities, and a high degree of social awareness—qualities many communications majors possess. In this challenging role, communications students will excel at resolving customer complaints, coordinating with other sales and marketing staff, and devising new strategies for success. Using their knowledge of how people react to different kinds of sales messaging, many communications majors will find their natural home in this exciting profession.
Sales Manager
A sales manager is responsible for overseeing and leading a team of sales representatives to achieve revenue and sales goals for a company or organization.
5. Digital Marketing Specialist
Communication is the most common degree held by digital marketing specialists. As many as 17 percent of people in this career have a communications background–more than 5 times the average across all careers! This should be no surprise, given the nature of this creative and analytical work. Digital marketing specialists spend their days helping companies reach new clients and customers online. They conduct market research to identify target audiences, then create meaningful content that will resonate with them. People with communications training will enjoy applying their research and writing skills to this evolving field.
Digital Marketing Specialist
A digital marketing specialist specializes in developing and implementing online marketing strategies to promote products, services, or brands.
6. Teacher
At its core, effective teaching is all about effective communication. Teachers use a variety of educational techniques to help their students master new ideas in the classroom, often relying on a mix of verbal, written, and visual messaging strategies. While many first-time teachers find it difficult to adapt their educational style to suit their students' individual learning needs, this is no challenge for communications majors. Armed with their rich knowledge of how language works and the ways in which different messages affect audiences, they're able master this career in no time.
Teacher
A teacher serves as a guide, mentor, and facilitator in the learning journey of students.
7. Recruiter
Recruiters work as intermediaries between employers and their future employees by seeking out the best possible candidates for a particular job vacancy. To do so, these professional headhunters may conduct interviews to screen job applicants, perform reference checks, or attend job fairs and other networking events. They sometimes also work with the applicants themselves, helping them to finesse their resumes or improve their interview skills. Requiring clear communication skills and an ability to network and negotiate with people from all walks of life, this is a natural fit for someone with a communications degree.
Recruiter
A recruiter is responsible for sourcing, identifying, and hiring qualified candidates for job openings within an organization.
8. Social Media Manager
If you've ever followed a company on Twitter, that account was probably managed by a social media manager. These digitally-savvy professionals spend their days researching new social trends, crafting engaging content for platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, and connecting with influencers, customers, and other members of the public. Successfully managing a company's social media presence requires a mastery of both written and visual communication, as well as a keen understanding of how different messages affect online audiences—qualities many communications graduates possess.
Social Media Manager
A social media manager is responsible for overseeing and implementing an organization's social media strategy.
9. IT Support Specialist
Technical support is all about meeting people where they are, something communications majors tend to excel at. They make clear and relatable technical support specialists, guiding customers of all sorts through a wide range of computer and software-related issues. Many people feel confused or overwhelmed when experiencing technical challenges—feelings that only worsen when the support they receive is difficult to understand. But communications graduates are effective at getting the message through to their client, no matter how little they know about the technology beneath their fingertips.
IT Support Specialist
An IT support specialist provides technical assistance and support to end-users and organizations regarding computer systems, software applications, hardware devices, and network infrastructure.
10. Operations Manager
Like communications students, operations managers tend to be jacks-of-all-trades. These skilled professionals oversee the major operations of businesses large and small, helping them to run more efficiently and productively. Depending on the setting, this can include anything from managing the company budget to implementing new office policies. But no matter what their specific duties, operations managers spend a lot of their time interacting with diverse groups of people—including employees and employers, but also lawyers, clients, agents, and others. Communications majors know how to connect with each of these individuals, adapting their language to relate to whoever walks through their door.
Operations Manager
An operations manager oversees the day-to-day activities within an organization to ensure efficient and effective operations.
11. Advertising Manager
Any communication student knows the power of great positioning—an essential part of any advertising campaign. They make excellent advertising managers, attuned to the nuances of producing effective visual, auditory, or written messaging. Most will have already received some formal advertising training during their degree, as many communications programs offer at least one course on the subject. But even for those who haven't, transitioning into this career will feel like a natural next step.
Advertising Manager
An advertising manager is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing advertising campaigns to promote products, services, or brands.
12. Barista
At first glance, this job may seem out of synch with the others in the list, but, for many communications majors, it's a perfect fit. A highly social profession, barista work offers them a unique opportunity to put many of the skills they mastered during their degree to work. People in this job tend to be outgoing, conscientious, and personable, with a love of talking with others about whatever interests them most. Communications graduates possess a nuanced understanding of language and the many ways it can be used to connect with different kinds of people. As baristas, they excel at making each of their customers feel acknowledged, accepted, and cared for.
Barista
A barista specializes in the art of preparing and serving coffee-based beverages.