Careers in Communications

By

Looking for an entry level job or internship in communications? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

You might have caught Volkswagen’s 2011 Super Bowl commercial. It featured a young boy imitating Darth Vader, which won the heart of America and went viral. This year Volkswagen built on the success of that ad and kept its communications consistent by staying with the Star Wars theme. However, they did introduce a new protagonist: a dog. Volkswagen is clearly executing a communications strategy designed to promote their products. The person behind this is a Communications Specialist.

Communications Careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user LivingOS

Communications Career Guide Overview

  1. What a Communications Specialist Does
  2. A Typical Day for a Communications Specialist
  3. Salary and Career Progression for a Communications Specialist
  4. Best Locations for Communications Specialists
  5. Pros and Cons of Being a Communications Specialist
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Communications
  7. Communications Resources
  8. Careers Related to Communications
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Communications

What a Communications Specialist Does

A Communications Specialist develops communications programs that effectively describe and promote an organization and its products. To do this they research and create content for publication of products. This content might be graphics, brochures, company or product fact sheets, logos, media kits, or other promotional products. The job can also involve preparing presentations or speeches as well as communicating across teams to ensure the program’s success.

A Typical Day for a Communications Specialist

A typical day for Marketing Communications Specialist can vary a lot but may involve any of these tasks:

  • Manage and recommend marketing communications budget, including monthly tracking and reporting for assigned product lines’ marketing communications programs
  • Manage global marketing communications programs from idea to launch
  • Communicate with product and commercial management teams to ensure alignment with goals
  • Manage in-house resources as needed, as well as outside agencies and vendors (design firms, public relations firms, photographers, videographers, printers, etc.) on campaign development and execution
  • Write and proofread creative briefs, product branding, newsletters, literature, promotional, web and external business communications
  • Report on metrics for campaign effectiveness and key learnings

Salary and Career Progression for a Communications Specialist

On average a Communications Specialist makes $62,000 per year. From there you could go on to become a Corporate Communications Specialist ($65,000) or a Marketing Manager ($86,000 per year on average).

Best Locations for Communications Specialists

Here are some hot spots for communications specialists:

  • Washington, DC
  • Chicago, IL
  • Minneapolis and St Paul, MN
  • Boston, MA
  • New York, NY
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Los Angeles, CA
  • Houston, TX
  • Milwaukee, WI

Pros and Cons of Being a Communications Specialist

Pros
  • You get to be artistic and creative
  • Option for freelance
  • Lots of job opportunities as companies need help with this
Cons
  • Due to emergence of social media, it can be a lot to keep up with
  • Need to juggle multiple priorities
  • Lots of time communicating across teams

What You Need to Know for a Career in Communications

You’ll need a college degree in the marketing or PR field, as well as some experience. Beyond that, you will need to know the principle behind Integrated Marketing Communications–the same “look and feel” that strengthens the marketing effectiveness of a company’s products and services. The skills that you need in order to succeed in this field are persuasive writing skills, great communication skills, graphics design and layout, commercial arts, and photography.

Communications Resources

If a career in communications sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

Careers Related to Communications

Displaying 1-10 of 590 results.
Returning Public Engagement & Communications Specialist I - Great Lakes Division (For Current/Former HNTB Interns Only)
HNTB Corporation Columbus, OH
View
Communications and Events Specialist
The Ohio State University Columbus, OH
View
Data Entry Clerk Work From Home - Part-Time Focus Group Participants ($750/Week)
Apex Focus Group Columbus, OH
View
Paid Media Specialist (100% Remote)
US Foods Columbus, OH
View
Corporate Communications Specialist: In Office - OH, MI, MN, IL, NC, CO, IN, WV, TX
Huntington Bank Columbus, OH
View
Public Relations and Communications Assistant - Entry Level
Smart Solutions Columbus, OH
View
Patient Service Representative - Care Coordinator
quantum-health Dublin, OH
View
Membership Relations & Communications Manager
Troon Golf, L.L.C. Columbus, OH
View
Part-Time Remote Call Center Representative/Customer Service
NexRep Columbus, OH
View
Communication Management Specialist
ICONMA Dublin, OH
View

Search more jobs


Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in Communications

Juvenile Law Center Logo

Juvenile Law Center - Juvenile Law Center is a Philly based org that “plays a leadership role in shaping and using the law on behalf of children in the child welfare and justice systems."

See the complete Juvenile Law Center profile


Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition Logo

Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition - Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition is a San Jose, CA based non-profit that is working to “to create a healthy community, environment, and economy through bicycling."

See the complete Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition profile


Vayable Logo

Vayable - Vayable is based in SF/NYC and offers “a home for anyone looking to experience honest, local culture through experiences created and hosted by passionate local Insiders.”

See the complete Vayable profile


GuideSpark Logo

GuideSpark - GuideSpark is a Menlo Park, CA based company that offers a “robust employee communications platform” to make HR's job easier.

See the complete GuideSpark profile


Spatial Logo

Spatial - Spatial is a Broomfield, CO based company that is “the leading provider of 3D components for technical application development across a broad range of industries.”

See the complete Spatial profile


Team Detroit Logo

Team Detroit - Team Detroit is an ad agency that in 2006 brought together parts of five legendary agencies that were under the same ownership and already working with Ford.

See the complete Team Detroit profile


RelayRides Logo

RelayRides - RelayRides is a San Francisco, CA based company that connects “vehicle owners whose cars would otherwise be idle with people who need a car.”

See the complete RelayRides profile


Small Business Majority Logo

Small Business Majority - Small Business Majority is a San Francisco, CA based “national small business organization" that focuses "on solving the biggest problems facing small businesses today.”

See the complete Small Business Majority profile


HDMZ Logo

HDMZ - HDMZ is a Chicago, IL and San Francisco, CA based healthcare and life science marketing agency that was founded in 1936.

See the complete HDMZ profile


Local Initiatives Support Corporation Logo

Local Initiatives Support Corporation - LISC is an NYC based non-profit that connects "local organizations and community leaders with resources to revitalize neighborhoods and improve quality of life.”

See the complete Local Initiatives Support Corporation profile


Room to Grow Logo

Room to Grow - Room to Grow is a New York, NY based non-profit that aims “to enrich the lives of babies born into poverty throughout their critical first three years of development.”

See the complete Room to Grow profile


Triggit Logo

Triggit - Triggit is a San Fran based company that “enables advertisers and agencies to build, run, measure, and optimize retargeting-driven display campaigns from a single platform.”

See the complete Triggit profile


Emmi Solutions Logo

Emmi Solutions - Emmi Solutions is a Chicago based healthcare communications company that has developed “interactive solutions to achieve meaningful business and clinical outcomes.”

See the complete Emmi Solutions profile


Liferay Logo

Liferay - Liferay is a Diamond Bar, CA based company that helps clients “build modern websites and portals to engage customers, partners, and employees.”

See the complete Liferay profile


Amazon Watch Logo

Amazon Watch - Amazon Watch is a San Francisco based non-profit that "campaigns for human rights, corporate accountability and the preservation of the Amazon’s ecological systems.”

See the complete Amazon Watch profile


Global Financial Integrity Logo

Global Financial Integrity - Global Financial Integrity is a Washington, D.C. based non-profit that is focused on "curtailing the cross-border flow of illegal money.”

See the complete Global Financial Integrity profile


Groundspeak Logo

Groundspeak - Groundspeak is a Seattle, WA based company that aims “to make everyone an explorer and to put an adventure in every location.”

See the complete Groundspeak profile


RocksBox Logo

RocksBox - RocksBox is a San Francisco, CA based company that lets you “experiment with different looks, discover the latest designers, and only buy the jewelry that you truly love.”

See the complete RocksBox profile


Digital Promise Logo

Digital Promise - Digital Promise is a Washington, DC based organization that “supports comprehensive research and development to benefit lifelong learners."

See the complete Digital Promise profile


Kellen Company Logo

Kellen Company - Kellen Company is a "professional services company serving associations, companies and foundations” with offices in Atlanta, New York, Denver, Chicago, and D.C.

See the complete Kellen Company profile


Tri-State Transportation Campaign Logo

Tri-State Transportation Campaign - The Tri-State Transportation Campaign is a New York, NY based “non-profit advocacy organization dedicated to reducing car dependency in NY, NJ, and CT.”

See the complete Tri-State Transportation Campaign profile


GoPro Logo

GoPro - GoPro is a San Mateo, CA based company that has built a huge business by offering “the world’s most versatile camera.”

See the complete GoPro profile


Vitamix Logo

Vitamix - Vitamix is an Olmsted, OH company that is “improving the vitality of people’s lives and liberating the world from conventional food and beverage preparation boundaries.”

See the complete Vitamix profile


Friends of the Forest Preserves Logo

Friends of the Forest Preserves - Friends of the Forest Preserves is a Chicago, IL based non-profit that "exists because the Cook County forest preserves need help."

See the complete Friends of the Forest Preserves profile


PROVAIL Logo

PROVAIL - PROVAIL is a Seattle, WA based non-profit that “supports people with disabilities to fulfill their life choices.”

See the complete PROVAIL profile


ShopHQ Logo

ShopHQ - ShopHQ, based in Eden Prairie, MN, creates “the ultimate interactive shopping experience by uniting live TV, online and mobile shopping opportunities with social media engagement."

See the complete ShopHQ profile


The San Francisco Foundation Logo

The San Francisco Foundation - The San Francisco Foundation is a non-profit founded in 1948 “to pull the community together to create pride and unity and improve quality of life” in the Bay Area.

See the complete The San Francisco Foundation profile


Museum Hack Logo

Museum Hack - Museum Hack is a New York, NY based upstart that developed a “tour to turn one of New York’s most spectacular cultural institutions into a totally unique experience.”

See the complete Museum Hack profile


Food52 Logo

Food52 - Food52 is a New York, NY based online community that brings “cooks together from all over to exchange recipes and ideas and to support each other in the kitchen.”

See the complete Food52 profile


The National Center on Time & Learning Logo

The National Center on Time & Learning - The National Center on Time & Learning is a Boston, MA non-profit that “is dedicated to expanding learning time to improve student achievement."

See the complete The National Center on Time & Learning profile


AcroSports Logo

AcroSports - AcroSports is a San Francisco, CA based “non-profit organization whose mission is to teach and develop the physical, performing, and circus arts.”

See the complete AcroSports profile


Ducks Unlimited Logo

Ducks Unlimited - Ducks Unlimited is a Memphis, TN based non-profit has become “the world’s leader in wetlands and waterfowl conservation.”

See the complete Ducks Unlimited profile


Chemical Education Foundation Logo

Chemical Education Foundation - The Chemical Education Foundation is an Arlington, VA based non-profit that “is committed to enhancing science education among every generation."

See the complete Chemical Education Foundation profile


Sterling-Rice Group Logo

Sterling-Rice Group - Sterling-Rice Group is a Boulder, CO based, food-focused “strategy, innovation, and communications firm that grows businesses and builds brands in considerable ways.”

See the complete Sterling-Rice Group profile


Panthera Logo

Panthera - Panthera is a New York, NY based non-profit that “is the world’s leading conservation organization devoted exclusively to the protection of wild cats.”

See the complete Panthera profile


HL Group Logo

HL Group - HL Group is an NYC based agency that offers services ranging “from media relations and corporate communications strategies to flawless event execution.”

See the complete HL Group profile


Yoga Alliance Logo

Yoga Alliance - Yoga Alliance is an Arlington, VA non-profit trade association that exists “to sustain and support the field of yoga.”

See the complete Yoga Alliance profile


Center for Clean Air Policy Logo

Center for Clean Air Policy - The Center for Clean Air Policy is a Washington, DC based non-profit that is “a recognized world leader in climate and air quality policy."

See the complete Center for Clean Air Policy profile


Art House Co-op Logo

Art House Co-op - Art House Co-op is a Brooklyn, NY based company that is democratizing art by organizing “global, collaborative art projects.”

See the complete Art House Co-op profile


Brandwatch Logo

Brandwatch - Brandwatch is a New York, NY based company that is “all about monitoring what people say about your brand, products, competitors, industry or any related topics.”

See the complete Brandwatch profile


Levitt Pavillions Logo

Levitt Pavilions - Levitt Pavilions is a Los Angeles, CA based non-profit that “partners with cities to build and transform outdoor music venues into community treasures.”

See the complete Levitt Pavilions profile


National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition

National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition - National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition is an Alexandria, VA based non-profit started in response to the US Surgeon General’s conference on infant mortality.

See the complete National Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition profile


The Trust for Public Land Logo

The Trust for Public Land - The Trust for Public Land is a San Francisco, CA based org that was “founded in 1972 with goals of protecting land in and around cities and pioneering."

See the complete The Trust for Public Land profile


G2 Logo

G2 - G2 is a marketing communications agency that helps its clients sell more. They have offices in NYC, San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

See the complete G2 profile


Lumi Logo

Lumi - Lumi is a Los Angeles, CA based company that has developed “a revolutionary photographic print process for textiles and natural materials.”

See the complete Lumi profile


Attention Logo

Attention - Attention is based in New York, NY and Los Angeles, CA that “drives measurable business results by integrating social behavior across the customer journey.”

See the complete Attention profile


Industry Weapon Logo

Industry Weapon - Industry Weapon is a Pittsburgh, PA based company that offers a platform makes controlling digital media simple by centralizing and organizing it.

See the complete Industry Weapon profile


American Student Assistance Logo

American Student Assistance - American Student Assistance is a Boston, MA based non-profit that empowers "students and alumni to successfully manage and repay their college loan debt.”

See the complete American Student Assistance profile


Everlane Logo

Everlane - Everlane is a LA and SF based “luxury clothing design and manufacturing company” that “aims to provide low-cost, high-quality goods by cutting out middlemen.”

See the complete Everlane profile


Grouper Logo

Grouper - Grouper is a New York, NY based dating startup/social club “that sets up drinks between 2 groups of friends.”

See the complete Grouper profile


Check out the latest job and internship postings in communications.

Copyright © 2007-2015 One Day, One Job. All rights reserved.