Communication Careers

Definition

Communication is how people share ideas and manage meaning with each other, how relationships and communities of interest are created and maintained and how technology invention and adaptation alter the way people connect with each other. To study communication is to study how and why symbolic action influences self and others.

Can you prove you have the most important skills to hear “you’re hired?”

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Communication skills are the most important attribute needed to get a job. Communication majors develop and hone these skills in every class, from active listening to professional oral presentations and from writing abilities to media literacy.

PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

Critical and creative thinking have become central attributes sought by employers in the new economy because they help them resolve pressing issues. Solving problems saves organizations time and money. Courses in Communication include assignments and discussions that afford students opportunities to assess, address, and surmount challenges communication professionals will face.

COMPUTER AND TECHNICAL LITERACY

Most career jobs require basic competency in computer software, and the Communication Department requires projects in which students use digital media and adapt to its frequent updates.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

The ability to work in teams, relate to people and manage conflict is extremely important in the workplace. The Communication program provides frameworks for understanding interpersonal and group engagement, and opportunities to develop those skills in short-term and semester-long group projects.

ADAPTABILITY

Successful professionals must be nimble, adapt to new conditions and be able to multi-task. In Communication, students enhance their abilities to learn new technologies and adjust to a changing economy, culture and polity.

RESEARCH SKILLS

Hiring managers seek employees that are skilled at assessing situations, at seeking multiple perspectives and gathering in-depth information. In the Communication program, students learn the fundamentals of researching and analyzing audiences, media and technology, legal issues and collecting evidence to craft persuasive appeals.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Organizing, planning and implementing projects are all important to an employer. Many companies expect employees to carry out their own projects without much management. With project-based assignments, many Communication courses provide opportunities to practice and perfect these skills so majors can excel immediately upon entering the workforce.

STRONG WORK ETHIC

Taking initiative, being reliable, and doing the job right the first time are crucial for job success. Managers do not have time to babysit. Communication faculty empower students’ imaginations and expect a lot from them, such as with the Crux, a student-run, campus-based media outlet. Its success or failure depends on the students.

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Emotional Intelligence is sought by employers even if not something that will be listed in a job description. The foundation for social skills, social awareness and empathic management of others, emotional intelligence develops when we listen. Communication students become better listeners by being an audience to their peers in classes where faculty emphasize how to attend to messages, decipher their meanings, evaluate their importance and respond to them with constructive criticism.

Additional Sources of Information

NCA’s Data about the Discipline
PayScale
Princeton Review Advice
Idealist Not for Profit Jobs