What industries can you work in with a communications degree?

In today’s information age, we live in constant communication. We can communicate with anyone by any means and medium we choose. But while we are more connected than ever, excellent communication skills are still highly sought after. Not everyone can communicate in a way that gets a message across clearly, whether in writing or verbally. 

Communicating clearly and getting your point across puts you in a formidable position to work in almost any industry. Sharp communication skills are invaluable, and any company can utilize a great communicator. After all, clear messaging and customer relationship management can translate into thousands and even millions of dollars in revenue. 

A communications degree opens up a plethora of exciting opportunities. There’s no limit to where you can work as a communications expert and how much you can earn. This article will dive into the best career options in this field and explore the typical roles associated with each industry. 

But first, what is a Master of Arts in communication, and what skills will you learn in such a program? We have a lot to get through, so let’s dive in. 

What is a Master of Arts in Communication? 

Communication is gathering and distributing information, which can be written or spoken. 

In short, a Master of Arts in Communication teaches you how to express yourself clearly and effectively through various mediums. These types of programs can be found at traditional universities as well as online thanks to the growing popularity of distance learning.

A communications master’s degree online at a university such as St. Bonaventure will equip you with everything you need to know, just like an in-person university program, but this way, you can study on your own time and at your own pace. 

Here are some of the useful and exciting skills you can learn with a Master of Arts in communications.

Information analysis 

Information analysis is the invaluable ability to gather and organize raw data into smaller, bite-sized chunks that are straightforward and easy to read, so businesses and marketers can act on it. For instance, you might gather sales data and present it to a company to be interpreted, allowing them to change their strategies accordingly. 

Writing for clarity

Today, we write all the time; even if you’re not a naturally born or skilled writer, writing is at the epicenter of everything we do. Whether it be an important email, a job application or even a quick message on social media, it’s part of daily life. 

If you can learn how to write in a way that clearly expresses an opinion, conveys information or, better still, persuades a reader to take action, this is an incredibly powerful skill, and top copywriters are never out of work. You can help craft sales messaging, create content and manage social media. 

Interpersonal communication 

Have you ever thought about the science of how two people interact? Interpersonal communication refers to exchanging information and sharing ideas between two parties. An online degree in communications teaches you everything you need to do this efficiently. 

Conflict resolution and problem solving 

Do you admire those who can step between people, sort out problems and resolve conflicts? If you typically shy away from workplace conflict, studying communications equips you with the skills and ability to overcome that hurdle and become the person others go to for help in resolving their problems. 

Visual design 

Design is another integral aspect of this digital world we live in. Whether it be designing a website, creating content or even laying out an email in an easy-to-read way, good design helps share information. As a communication specialist, you can use a combination of communication and design knowledge to display information clearly and logically, assisting people in communicating and understanding new topics. 

Public speaking 

Do you want to become an incredible public speaker? Imagine if you could be someone who feels confident and assertive in front of large crowds, someone who can deliver clear or tell compelling stories in front of a large audience. A communications degree can help you toward this goal.

Decision making 

Good decision-making is an invaluable skill in 2023. The top leaders and most innovative thinkers of our time are all great decision-makers and go to great lengths to constantly improve their decision-making. But not all of them were born to do it naturally; many have spent years learning the tricks and techniques to help them streamline their decision-making. A communications master’s degree online provides a baseline of knowledge to make good decisions professionally and personally. 

Leadership 

Clear communication and leadership go hand in hand, so why not learn all the skills you need to lead teams and inspire others? An individual with outstanding leadership qualities and characteristics is always highly sought after by top companies. No matter what industry you choose, it will also need leaders to bring people together and work on exciting new projects.  

What are some common jobs for someone with a communications degree?

Now, let’s dive into some of the most common industries a communications degree can help you with as well as some of the roles you can expect. 

Human resources (HR) 

Human resources, or HR, is critical to any large company. Leading organizations worldwide have incredible HR departments that help employees improve on the job, reach their career goals and, most importantly, feel happy and valued in the workplace. So, what is HR exactly, and what would you do as a communications specialist in an HR role?  

What is human resources? 

Human resources is a specific department concerning the interest of its employees. It is designed solely to support employees, from onboarding recruits to serve as a pillar of support for team members. 

Additionally, HR departments resolve workplace conflicts, offer teaching and progression opportunities, and do what they can to maintain and improve employee well-being. HR is vital to developing strong company culture, and as a communications expert, you are in the perfect position to contribute to building it. Some typical duties for an HR communications expert include: 

• Recruitment 
• Onboarding 
• Training 
• Conflict moderation 
• Offering workplace support 
• Supporting employee health and well-being 
• Managing disciplinary action 

These are just a handful of the tasks involved with HR, and many other aspects go into a successful HR department. 

Marketing and advertising 

As a communications expert in marketing and advertising, you will help companies convey a message, develop sales campaigns and create content and ads that resonate with their audience. All industries need marketing and advertising campaigns, so why not position yourself as someone who’s an expert at it? 

Without marketing and awareness through content and advertising, companies don’t grow; they stagnate or fade into oblivion. As a marketer with a communications qualification, you will prioritize growth and ensure this doesn’t happen. So, what is marketing/advertising, and what are some typical duties involved?  

What is marketing and advertising? 

Marketing helps build brand awareness and establish authority within a specific niche. It’s a key ingredient in making a successful company. Nowadays, with so many means of promoting and growing a business, there is infinite digital and real-world marketing potential. 

As a communications specialist for advertising and marketing, you may use writing, content creation and face-to-face interactions to spread a company message, uncover new leads and maintain existing customer relationships. 

Other duties include:

• Helping build a brand 
• Creating and publishing content 
• Managing content using a content management system  
• Growing a customer base
• Collaborating with sales and marketing teams 
• Developing marketing funnels 
• Creating sales messaging 
• Working alongside PR teams 

Marketing and advertising provide almost limitless career opportunities for communications experts. If you’re interested in learning everything you need about clear messaging for marketing and advertising, enroll in a communications master’s degree online. 

Publishing 

While somewhat overshadowed by the popularity of online content and digital media, publishing is still big business. From newspapers to magazines and books, we still need great communicators to help bring beautiful stories, guides and images to physical print. As you’d expect, this requires excellent communication both within the content itself as well as in efforts to get this material out to an audience. 

What is publishing? 

Publishing is the art of bringing educational or entertainment information to physical print. For instance, newspapers, books and magazines are examples of published works. Physical pieces of content are available at your local bookshop or convenience store. 

Publishing duties vary depending on what type of publishing you’re involved in, but all of them require some form of solid communication. Here are some typical responsibilities in all publishing roles: 

• Copy editing
• Copywriting 
• Design 
• Work alongside creators and marketers
• Budget allocation 
• Managing editorial teams 

Whichever area of publishing you work in, you’ll need to communicate with teams, think clearly, make decisions and convey information clearly and directly. 

Media 

Media and communication also go hand in hand. Whether it be for educational or entertainment purposes, there are several attractive careers you can pursue with a communications degree. Have you ever dreamed of becoming a TV star? Radio show host, perhaps? Today, content creation is another prominent type of media that’s created a new career path for virtually anyone, particularly those with excellent communications skills. 

What is a career in media? 

While the lines of what constitutes a career in media nowadays have become somewhat blurred due to the rise in popularity of social media and digital media channels, media is still a prominent career and can be highly lucrative for the right talent. Post-graduates with a qualification in media typically go into TV, radio or film. 

With a communications media career, you will: 

• Present information verbally 
• Interview notable figures 
• Provide commentary 
• Combine audio and visual elements to convey an idea 
• Tell a compelling story 

Event planning 

What if you could be the foundation of a great event? As a communications expert, you can be the one who helps pull off an event that hundreds or even thousands of people could attend and enjoy. If any job requires clear, structured thinking and clear communication across various mediums, it’s event planning. 

What is event planning? 

Event planning involves every aspect of putting an event together you can think of. From ideating and proposing an event idea to putting it into place, organizing and running it, an event planner can be involved in every stage of overseeing an event. It’s a huge role, but an event planning career could be for you if you are an organized individual who loves working with others. 

As an event planner, you will tackle a variety of exciting tasks, including: 

• Conducting market research 
• Securing contracts and licenses 
• Negotiating with vendors and contractors
• Creating detailed plans/outlines/schedules 
• Working with clients to identify goals 
• Co-ordinating logistics 
• Organizing accommodation
• Sorting out catering
• Arranging transport 
• Working with event marketing teams and influencers 

Essentially, you become the glue that binds together an event and the organizer who makes things happen. As you’d expect, it comes with significant responsibility, and you’ll have to communicate through countless mediums and parties, sometimes dozens at a time! If that sounds like something you’d excel at, enroll in a communications degree today. 

Politics 

If you want to make a genuine difference that can genuinely impact people’s lives in your city and country, then a political career may be for you. While the role may come with a lot of responsibility and stress, it’s also a job where you dedicate your life to helping others, so as you’d expect, communication skills are integral.  

What is a politics career? 

A career in politics starts with studying for a degree in politics or going down the communications route. Both equip you with the skills to listen, talk with and work with a wide array of people, from other politicians to the general public. Being able to convey a specific message is paramount in politics, whether you’re running for office or launching a campaign. 

Typical politics career duties 

Politicians often tackle a wide array of issues and have countless responsibilities. This includes but isn’t limited to the following: 

• Planning legislation 
• Creating and approving/rejecting bills 
• Doing opposition research 
• Marketing and campaigning 
• Cooperating in coalitions 
• Listening to the public voice 

Sales 

One of the most lucrative industries you can work in after completing a Master of Arts in communications is sales. Sales are at the heart of all businesses, and great salespeople are highly sort after. If you can tell a convincing story, convey a specific message and work with a wide range of people, you’re in a formidable position to help just about any company on earth. 

What is a sales career? 

A career in sales means you’re dedicating your professional life to closing deals and generating revenue – all while making a handsome commission in the process. Additionally, there is seldom a shortage of need for top sales talent, and there is virtually no limit on how much you can earn with a career in sales. 

While salespeople are vital to all industries, some everyday duties are typical across all of them: 

• Creating effective sales messaging 
• Developing sales pitches 
• Communicating with clients 
• Closing deals 
• Managing client relationships 
• Analyzing client needs
• Highlighting and explaining product benefits 
• Resolving complaints 

Final words 

Undoubtedly, studying for a communications degree gives you the foundation to follow various careers. There are some inspiring career paths to choose from, and many others are not included on this list. If any of the careers interest you, or if you wish to learn the skills mentioned at the beginning of this article, take the first steps to your next chapter today and enroll in a communications master’s degree online.