As a communication major, I have my fair share of Q&A sessions with people perplexed by what it is I study. I have heard plenty of comments asking “What is that?” and if my degree was too broad for me to be successful. Immediately upon entering college, I learned that the communication major had the stigma of being a major you choose when you don’t know what you want to do. Although this may be true for some, it is not always the case. If you are a communication major and still unsure of what direction you want to go in, it’s okay. I’m here to share a few career paths that you can dive into.
Firstly, for those who don’t know, communication is a social science and belongs to the college of liberal arts and sciences at the University of Connecticut. UConn defines the major as one that examines communication at multiple levels of society and in different settings, including interpersonal, nonverbal, organizational, intercultural, and international communication, while also considering the roles of media and technology in communication processes. With the rise of media usage, jobs in media and communications are expected to grow an estimated 14% over the next 10 years. There is a wide range of opportunities that come with a Bachelor’s in communication. Below I will identify and outline several job positions.
Public Relations
The Public Relations Society of America defines PR as “a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” What public relations can entail varies for each company. Mainly we can think about public relations as creating a good image for the public. I have had internships in public relations that covered different fields such as food, fashion, and a toy company. Public relations deals with the media a fair amount. Depending on the product or target audience you would use social media, television, newspapers, etc. I would recommend this field to someone who enjoys writing as curating press releases and pitches is an essential part of public relations. This field is similar to marketing and advertising, however, the goal is not to drive sales. Public relations requires establishing credibility and telling a story.
Public relations is a more budget-friendly way for a business to gain exposure and become well-liked by the public. I find this aspect fun as networking can call for collaborations/meet-ups and access to exciting social events. This summer, I worked for a public relations company that partnered with The Toy Insider, a company that highlights the hottest toys for kids. I was able to attend an event called Sweet Suite in NYC where I was an employee but could also walk around the event as a participant. In public relations, you also get the chance to work with journalists and influencers to speak highly of your brand.
- Public Relations Manager: median annual salary of $128,160, top 10%: $208,000
- Account Supervisor: median annual salary of $77,000
- Public Relations Specialist: median annual salary of $67,440/year. In cities such as San Jose and NYC, this number is higher between $80,000-100,000+
Communications Director
A communications director is a public relations professional who promotes a positive image of the company. They may deal with community outreach, a marketing team, and overseeing media. The average annual salary is about $87,000. I have seen different sources claim that the starting is over six figures but this depends on the type of company you work for.
marketing
The American Marketing Association defines marketing as an activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large. I saw in a TikTok comment once, “communication is like business but for people that can’t do math.” To be honest, course-wise this is true. Depending on the school, course requirements vary. Generally speaking, marketing majors are required to take more math classes than communication majors. At UConn, you take math-intensive, also known as Q courses, of your choosing while marketing majors have specific math classes they need to take such as accounting. Other than that aspect, communication and media studies are similar to marketing. It is very doable to attain a marketing job as a communication major. Some job applications I’ve seen even overlap the two such as marketing/communication intern or must have a degree in marketing, communications, business, or a related field.
- Marketing Manager: A marketing manager oversees their team and develops marketing plans and strategies that best suit the company. The projected growth rate from 2022 to 2023 is 6% and the median annual salary is $158,280
Human Resources
If you are interested in or have a double major in psychology or sociology with communication, human resources could be a good fit for you. Working in human resources deals with hiring/firing employees as well as listening to complaints and keeping the workplace organized and fair. This is similar to administration but also deals with serious topics the company faces.
- A human resource specialist’s median annual salary is $145,750 and the growth rate is expected to be 6%
- A human resource manager’s median annual salary is expected to be $130,000
Writer/Editor
If you have a double major in English or journalism and communication, a profession in writing would be a great fit. Some jobs cover advertisement writing or creating content for media that deals more with communication studies rather than being the author of a book if that is not what you’re interested in. Additionally, there are more opportunities for freelance work in writing such as copywriting. Copywriting is marketing but in writing. LinkedIn describes this position as a creative role, the ultimate goal is to inspire action to convert leads to sales. The best ones take readers on a journey that educates while it persuades, and must be able to write creatively while thinking strategically. You could write for commercials, blogs, ads, articles, etc. If you are interested in writing, editing can also be a job to look into. There are various types of editing you can work on such as magazines or websites. You also get to work closely with the writer and verify their content.
- Copywriter: median annual salary: $73,150
- Editor: median annual salary: $73,000
And so much more!
This was just to name a few, there are so many more occupations to choose from. You could even be a lawyer with any major. Similarly, a lobbyist deals with similar concepts to those of public relations but in government. They deal with oral or written communication to pass legislation. Or if you enjoy entertainment and media, you could be a DJ/Radio host. What I love about being a communication major is that you have different options for your career path, once you find one that suits you, you’re golden. I encourage you to find your passion in communication whatever that may be. Not to pretend that salary does not matter, click here to see 28 different communication major jobs and their potential salaries.