Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Communications Professionals
Clementine, a Director of Communications and Outreach, advises undergraduate students interested in communications to prioritize skill development—"writing, social media management, technical skills"—over specific entry-level job titles like "social media management" or "communications associate," because the ability to "sell yourself" and highlight transferable skills is a valuable communication skill in itself.
Communication, Job Search, Entry-Level, Career Development, Skills Transferability
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Clementine Ellis
Director of Communications and Outreach
Lumina Alliance
Agnes Scott College
University of Florida, MA, Sociology
Anthropology, Sociology
Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Communication and Marketing
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Many entry-level communications positions exist, such as social media management, communications associate, writer, or copy editor roles.
2. Focus on skill development (writing, social media, technical skills) rather than specific job titles, as these skills are transferable and can be highlighted during interviews.
3. The ability to connect seemingly unrelated experiences to the target job through communication skills is itself a valuable skill
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in this field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
The cool thing about communications is that communication skills are useful in a wide variety of roles. Even working in retail or the service industry will teach you communication skills, and those are transferable to other positions.
Many communications positions are entry-level. Think social media management, communications associates, writers, or copy editors.
For someone in an undergraduate program right now who wants to move into a communications role, I recommend focusing on the skills you're developing. This includes writing, social media management, and technical skills.
Focus on those more than the job title itself. You can always explain in an interview how that role was relevant to the one you're applying for because you built those communication skills.
The ability to look at one job and sell yourself to hiring managers based on that experience is a communication skill in itself. So, my advice is to look at the skills a job will teach you, not necessarily the job title.