What Can You Do With A Communications Degree In A Post-Covid19 Work-Space?
Updated: June 19, 2024
Published: August 18, 2021
In every aspect of life, from a personal standpoint to a business perspective, communication is the key. Knowing this, you may have an interest in the study, theory, and practice of communications, which will lead to an important question: What can you do with a communications degree?
The truth is that there are many career paths that you can pursue as a graduate of a communications program. Additionally, most of the positions you can obtain with a communications degree can be performed from anywhere in the world given the technological advancements that allow people to always be connected.
Since the pandemic has shifted the world of work in many ways, communications majors have many opportunities to work remotely or in a hybrid setting. Here, we’re answering what you can do with a communications degree, as well as sharing why it’s such a useful degree in a pandemic/post-pandemic world.
Let’s take a look at what you should know about a communications degree.
What is a Communications Degree?
A communications degree focuses on methods of communication and the ways by which people can share information to persuade, affect change, and achieve business goals. Across industries, employers rate good verbal communication to be the most important quality when hiring applicants.
By enrolling in a bachelor’s degree in communication, students can expect to learn, understand, respond, and analyze different forms of communication. From business communication to persuasion, students generally also take liberal arts classes, learn theories, and analyze media messages.
Skills Communications Majors Develop
Communications majors develop many important qualities during their studies. These skills are increasingly useful in a pandemic and post-pandemic world where businesses must remain agile and transparent to continue running their operations, even when hurdles arise.
Some of these skills include:
- Planning
- Organization
- Execution
- Creativity
- Written and verbal communication
Skills Required to Navigate the Post-COVID World
Given the shifts in workplaces due to the pandemic, many businesses are relying on remote workforces to continue getting business as usual done. This requires communication, naturally, but it also means that employees gain more free agency in fulfilling their roles. As such, leadership and critical thinking skills have become paramount.
Additionally, there’s an added level of creativity necessary to work in settings and connect with customers in new ways.
Top Careers for Communications Majors
Communications majors have what it takes to work in many different fields and positions.
Here’s a look at some of the most common job opportunities for those with a communications degree:
Public Relations Specialist
A public relations specialist is responsible for maintaining and improving the public’s opinion about organizations. PR professionals write press releases, share company news, communicate with media publications, and organize press conferences and events to keep businesses in the public eye. In the event of a mishap or issue, PR specialists are responsible for communicating plans of action and reversing any negative sentiments that the public may have about a company.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, PR specialists earned a median pay of $62,810 per year in 2020. The field is expected to grow faster than average at 7% between 2019-2029.
Meeting and Event Planner
Meeting and event planners are in charge of planning and executing events for people and companies. Communications majors tend to make great event planners because they have a knack for organization, communicating the value of the event to potential attendees, and can successfully create agendas for the meeting/events. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for this position is $51,560 and is also growing much faster than average at 8% between 2019-2029.
Human Resources Specialist
Human resource professionals work within organizations to recruit staff, onboard new employees, create training programs, and resolve workplace issues. They utilize their speaking and presentation skills to develop employee manuals, website content, and relevant recruiting documentation.
BLS data shows the average salary for this position to be $63,490 per year with an expected growth rate of 7%.
Business Reporter
Business reporters use journalistic writing skills to publish articles and pieces about certain businesses, industries, and economies. They work for newspapers, magazines, television stations, and websites. This job can be done in-house for a publication or alternatively, it’s possible to become a freelance business reporter. This is a great option for anyone looking to continue working remotely.
The average salary for reporters, correspondents, and broadcast news analysts is $49,300.
Brand Manager
Brand managers work with the goal of keeping a product or service at the top of consumer’s minds. They do so by analyzing consumer reactions to products and services, working with the marketing department to develop campaigns, and evaluating opportunities to boost brand awareness.
As per Glassdoor.com, brand managers earn an average of $102,552 per year.
Technical Writer
Technical writers, or technical communicators, create support documentations, how-to guides, instruction manuals and materials that provide technical information to readers. Most employers hire communications, journalism, or English majors for this valuable position.
Payscale reports that the average salary for a technical writer is $61,211.
Journalist
Journalists write stories based on various interests. Their goal is to remain objective in their reporting and uphold journalistic standards in the ways by which they convey information. Journalists must have strong communication abilities, an ability to work collaboratively, and be able to meet deadlines.
Based on Payscale’s data, journalists can expect to earn an average of $41,616 per year.
Final Thoughts
Pandemic or not, there are many answers to the question, “What can you do with a communications degree?”
As you can see, the positions listed above are doable whether or not you are working within an office setting or at home. These communications-based careers are also possible to perform as a freelancer, if you so desire.
Communications degrees provide a space for students to hone in on their verbal and written communication abilities, as well as to study theories of communication, learn how to analyze audience reactions, and develop plans to persuade target audiences. In every industry, communications majors prove to be an asset.