18 early career jobs that map well to communications majors

Career mapping is the process of creating a strategic plan for your professional growth by identifying potential career paths, the skills you’ll need, and the steps to reach your goals. For communications majors, career mapping is especially important because this field is incredibly versatile, with opportunities spanning industries like media, public relations, marketing, corporate communications, and beyond. Without a clear plan, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.

With a communications degree, you might start in roles like public relations specialist, social media manager, marketing coordinator, or content writer. If you’re interested in media, careers in journalism, broadcasting, or digital media production could be a great fit. For those drawn to corporate environments, roles in internal communications, brand management, or event planning are strong options. Career mapping helps you figure out which path aligns with your interests and strengths, what additional skills—like graphic design, data analytics, or project management—you might need, and how to position yourself for long-term growth. It’s not just about landing a job; it’s about building a career that keeps you engaged and inspired.

We recently reached out to 18 career experts to ask them to share some career ideas that map well to communications degrees:

• Create and Manage Social Media Content
• Become a Brand Voice Consultant
• Manage Social Media as a Student
• Start in Internal Communications
• Work as a Community Engagement Coordinator
• Pursue a Career as a Brand Strategist
• Find a Paid On-Campus Internship
• Intern in Digital Marketing
• Assist as a Media Buyer
• Produce Podcasts for Hands-On Experience
• Prepare for Emerging Communication Jobs
• Engage Audiences as a Specialist
• Consider a Sales Representative Role
• Assist in Speechwriting for Leaders
• Work as a Photography Assistant
• Coordinate Social Media for Organizations
• Enter Sports Media Relations
• Assist in Public Relations

Create and Manage Social Media Content

I’ve worked closely with content creators who thrive in environments that require clear, authentic communication. A Communications major could do well in a job that involves creating and managing content for social media, blogs, or brand campaigns. It’s a perfect fit for someone who can think creatively while staying focused on what the audience needs. A simple caption, an engaging post, or an honest review can all make a huge impact. 

For a college student, starting out with freelance content creation or internships in digital marketing would be great. It helps build a portfolio, sharpen writing skills, and learn how to engage people through different channels. It’s a great way to start building credibility, especially if you want to work in marketing later on.

Natalia Lavrenenko, UGC Manager / Marketing Manager, Rathly

Become a Brand Voice Consultant

Working as a brand voice consultant is an unexpected but perfect job for a Communications major. Every company, big or small, needs a distinct way of speaking to customers. Some businesses sound too formal, others try too hard to be trendy, and many struggle to find a balance. That is where a student with strong communication skills can step in. 

Helping businesses refine their tone, rewrite website copy, or craft better social media captions is real, paid work that builds a strong portfolio. Most students don’t realize they are already qualified for this. They analyze messaging in class, study persuasion techniques, and understand how words shape perception. Applying that knowledge to a brand gives them hands-on experience in marketing, public relations, and content strategy. A few freelance projects can turn into steady work, and the best part is that it can be done remotely.

Benjamin Tom, Digital Marketing Expert and Utility Specialist, Electricity Monster

Manage Social Media as a Student

One job that is particularly well-suited for a college or university student majoring in Communications is a Social Media Manager or Social Media Assistant.

Why It’s a Great Fit:

• Utilizes Communication Skills: Social media management involves crafting clear, engaging messages, responding to customers, and creating content that aligns with the brand’s voice—all core skills for a Communications major.

• Flexibility and Creativity: Students can use their creative abilities to design engaging posts, create video content, and strategize campaigns. It also allows them to manage multiple platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), adapting content for different audiences.

• Real-World Experience: This role provides hands-on experience in the digital marketing field, which is highly relevant for Communications majors who want to learn about content creation, audience engagement, and brand management. It’s a great way to build a portfolio that can be used for future career opportunities.

• Growth Potential: Starting as an assistant or intern, students can eventually move up to more senior roles, such as managing campaigns, analyzing performance data, or coordinating influencer partnerships—offering a potential career path in both public relations and marketing.

Example Tasks:

• Developing social media posts and stories
• Analyzing engagement data to refine strategies
• Responding to direct messages and comments to maintain brand presence

This role helps students build communication, strategic thinking, and digital skills while gaining valuable experience in a rapidly growing industry.

Prabhu Raghavan, Advertising & Marketing Consultant, EDS FZE

Start in Internal Communications

Entry level Internal Comms roles are a great place to get experience and put skills into practice. Depending on the size of the company, the stakes can sometimes be lower than a public-facing Comms/PR role (not always!). So there is often room to be a bit more experimental and creative with your work. It also allows you to hone your writing and craft on an ongoing basis.

An internal comms role (even junior ones) can give you access to senior decision-makers, which can be invaluable learning opportunities. Additionally, given that the role is usually very cross-functional, it can provide a glimpse of how other communications functions operate at the company.

The internal comms and external comms worlds draw on different skills and I personally found that the internal role suited me better, as I felt I could have more impact. Plus, there was less appeal for me to work with the media, and instead focus on the employee experience by establishing great foundations through internal comms. After all, comms is the cornerstone of culture.

But the only way to find out is by lived experience. If you were to join a company in internal comms and they sit within a broader communications team, you will be able to witness the external responsibilities up close. In fact, if it is a small enough team, you might even be able to take on some of those responsibilities (increasingly the line is being blurred between internal and external anyway).

Through that experience, you might just find that it lines up better with your own skills, interests, and ambitions. You then have an opportunity to make a sideways move within the company, and you are positioned more effectively due to your deep knowledge of the internal workings of the company and its accompanying culture.

For all of those reasons, I think an internal comms role is a great first role, as it allows you to leverage your skills and education, while also refining your craft. With the added bonus of seeing other paths within the world of communications from inside the company.

Kalle Ryan, Founder, Poetic

Work as a Community Engagement Coordinator

One job that’s perfect for a Communications student is working as a Community Engagement Coordinator for a local business or government program. These positions allow students to connect with community members while promoting initiatives like public health programs, local events, or educational campaigns. It’s a great way to practice communication strategies with diverse audiences and develop skills in outreach, marketing, and relationship-building.

More importantly, it offers real-world experience in crafting messages that resonate and inspire action. Engaging with the community provides a sense of purpose and makes a tangible impact, all while helping students grow professionally. You’ll gain valuable experience in a field that values strong communication skills while making meaningful contributions.

Reyansh Mestry, Head of Marketing, TopSource Worldwide

Pursue a Career as a Brand Strategist

A student majoring in communications can bag lucrative jobs and be directly involved in a company’s marketing efforts, communications, and client relationships. As an SEO agency owner, I would make a career suggestion based on what I’m currently seeing in the market. And that is every business’s continuous effort toward building a brand.

Whenever a company strives to build a memorable brand, it needs a brand strategist who can position the company and its values in a way where the brand’s popularity increases and they start growing a cult following. Positioning a brand effectively requires you to write better copy, strategize attention-grabbing campaigns, and overall draw more eyeballs to their offerings.

A student majoring in communications will have deep knowledge about using powerful language to persuade the audience and sell the brand’s products through a systematic approach. Brand strategists are normally paid $80,000 to $100,000 per year. And this figure only increases with added experience and expertise.

Since brands are competing on a massive scale to stand apart from their competitors, if your role is directly involved with higher sales and revenues for a brand, you’ll be a valuable asset who is paid handsomely.

Matthew Woodward, Founder & SEO, Digital Marketing Expert, Search Logistics

Find a Paid On-Campus Internship

If we are talking about their years in college before they’ve received their degree, finding a paid on-campus internship is the way to go. The main perk of an on-campus job, even though in some cases they draw a smaller salary, is that most of them are extremely flexible and willing to work out a way that your class schedule isn’t impacted. Read, it is not your typical 9 to 5. 

While internships are mostly reserved for those students in their 3 and 4 years of university, if you’re lucky you can snag a student-worker position. These generally start out around minimum wage, but the schedules are also plenty flexible to accommodate your class and study schedule.

Even more important than getting the internship is getting it in the right department. If you are assigned to the Communications department, it will look great on your resume and you’ll get a lot of hands-on experience like I did. 

Putting myself through university, I had a weekend job as well as an on-campus work-study job. Both of these taught me a lot about how to be in the working world without me ever having stepped foot in the full-time employment arena.

Ryan Mcclellan, Marketing Manager, Character Counter

Intern in Digital Marketing

I believe a digital marketing intern is an excellent job for a college or university student majoring in Communications. This role offers a chance to apply key communication skills in the digital world, which is more essential than ever as brands increasingly rely on online platforms. As a communications student, you’re likely skilled in storytelling, content creation, and audience engagement, skills that are highly transferable to digital marketing.

The intern role often involves creating content for social media, email campaigns, and blogs, all of which require clear, engaging writing and the ability to connect with different audiences. You’ll also get hands-on experience with tools like Google Analytics, social media platforms, and email marketing software, which are all valuable assets in today’s digital landscape.

Digital marketing is all about reaching the right people with the right message at the right time, and as a Communications major, you’ll naturally have a knack for crafting messages that resonate with your target audience. Furthermore, working in this field will give you insights into how data-driven decisions are made, adding an analytical component to your creative skillset.

For students looking to build a strong professional foundation, this role allows them to get practical experience while strengthening their portfolio. It’s a great entry point into a variety of marketing careers and offers the chance to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Maris Laatre, Chief Marketing Officer, Bully Max

Assist as a Media Buyer

Being a media buyer assistant is, in my opinion, one of the best job options for a college or university student majoring in Communications. This role directly applies the principles of communication through understanding and negotiating media placements across various channels like TV, radio, print, and digital platforms. You’ll learn to analyze audience data, manage budgets, and negotiate deals, which are all fundamental skills in communications and marketing. 

This job allows you to practice your negotiation and analytical skills and gives you a deep dive into how media campaigns are constructed and managed, providing you with a comprehensive view of the media landscape that’s invaluable for your future career in communications.

Gerti Mema, Marketing Manager, Equipment Finance Canada

Produce Podcasts for Hands-On Experience

The best job for a college or university student majoring in Communications is a podcast producer. This role is perfect because it lets you dive into the creative and technical sides of storytelling, which is at the heart of what communications is all about. As a podcast producer, you’d be planning episodes, coordinating with guests, recording audio, and editing content to make sure everything flows smoothly. It’s a hands-on way to build skills in content creation, project management, and even a bit of marketing, since you’ll need to think about how to engage listeners and grow an audience. 

On top of that, podcasts are such a growing medium right now, so you’d be working in a space that’s both relevant and exciting. It’s a role that lets you flex your creativity while also learning how to manage the logistics of producing something people actually want to listen to. And honestly, it’s just fun because you get to work with interesting people and ideas while building a portfolio that shows off your ability to bring stories to life.

Barbara Robinson, Marketing Manager, Weather Solve

Prepare for Emerging Communication Jobs

The job that doesn’t exist yet! Communications majors are naturally nimble, so leverage this adaptability to prepare for emerging jobs that promise to be in high demand. Today’s job market appears built for integrated marketing and communications majors or those who pursued minors, certifications, and courses to equip themselves with similar skills. From my vantage point, those who stand out in today’s job market, excel in AI prompt engineering, online marketing, multimedia and creative content development, and strategies for engaging and tracking audiences on relevant platforms. Of course, they need to communicate well, too!

Denise Berkhalter, National Director of Communications, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship

Engage Audiences as a Specialist

One job well-suited for a college or university student majoring in communications is that of an Audience Engagement Specialist.

This role will enable students to apply their messaging and interpersonal communication coursework to real-world scenarios. It also involves moderating discussions, responding to audience inquiries, and fostering a sense of community around a brand or organization.

Additionally, the role will give them hands-on experience analyzing audience behavior, tailoring communication strategies, and using tools like customer relationship management systems.

An audience engagement role provides valuable practical experience while strengthening core competencies such as collaboration, adaptability, and effective communication, making it an excellent fit for communications majors.

Peter Bryla, Senior Community Manager, Resume-Now

Consider a Sales Representative Role

Communication graduates aren’t limited to traditional roles like public relations, journalism, or media. A Sales Representative position is a great alternative, offering a rewarding starting point.

The position provides a hands-on way to develop key communication skills such as negotiation, persuasion, active listening, and conflict resolution. If, in addition to being an extrovert (which I assume you are, given your choice of studies), you are self-motivated, hardworking, and open to task-oriented work with a strong focus on targets, this role might be worth considering.

The job involves negotiating contracts, building client relationships, presenting products, handling objections, and collaborating with marketing teams—all of which align well with a communication background. Additionally, sales reps are responsible for meeting sales goals, closing deals, analyzing market trends, and researching competitors to refine sales strategies.

Another advantage is accessibility—many companies consistently expand their sales teams, making it relatively easy to secure a position. In addition to a solid average salary (around $76,773 per year), sales reps often receive performance-based bonuses, making it both a financially and professionally rewarding opportunity.

Nina Paczka, Career Expert & Community Manager, ResumeNow

Assist in Speechwriting for Leaders

A Communications major should consider working as a speechwriting assistant for an executive, politician, or public figure. Writing for someone else teaches you how to craft messages that sound natural, engaging, and persuasive. A lot of leaders struggle with making their speeches flow in a way that connects with their audience. That is where a speechwriting assistant comes in. You would help shape their words, refine their tone, and make sure their message sticks. It is not just about writing well. It is about understanding how people listen, what grabs their attention, and how to simplify big ideas without losing meaning.

This kind of job pushes you to think beyond writing and into how words affect people. A great speech does not just inform. It moves people to action. You would learn how to make a message feel personal, how to anticipate reactions, and how to adjust based on the setting. Whether it is a formal keynote or a quick press statement, every word matters. You would get a front-row seat to high-level decision-making, which is rare for someone just starting out. If you can master the art of speechwriting, you will have a skill set that applies to everything from public relations to corporate leadership.

Shaun Bettman, Chief Executive Officer, Eden Emerald Mortgages

Work as a Photography Assistant

For a student majoring in Communications, becoming a photography assistant is an excellent path. In this job, you capture and edit images for events or publications, which lets you tell stories through visual media. This position is ideal because it directly applies your communication skills in a creative, visual context. You learn how to convey messages and emotions through images, which is a powerful tool in today’s digital age where visual content dominates.

Working as a photography assistant, you get to understand the nuances of storytelling, from selecting the right angle to post-production editing, enhancing your ability to communicate effectively without words. Moreover, you’ll interact with various stakeholders, from event organizers to magazine editors, sharpening your interpersonal and project management skills, which are vital in the broad field of communications.

Sean Clancy, Managing Director, SEO Gold Coast

Coordinate Social Media for Organizations

Hands down, one of the best jobs for a Communications major is working as a social media coordinator. I always recommend this to students because it’s a great way to flex their creative muscles while building real-world experience in writing messages and connecting with audiences.

I’ve seen so many students absolutely thrive in this role—whether managing a small business’s Instagram or helping a non-profit grow its TikTok presence. It’s hands-on, fun, and gives them a chance to understand audience engagement, brand voice, and content strategy, all of which are critical skills for communication professionals.

My advice? Look for internships or part-time roles with companies or organizations whose mission excites you. Social media work is a goldmine for building your portfolio, and it helps you learn how to adapt messaging to fit different platforms, which is an incredible asset for future careers in PR, marketing, or corporate communication.

And bonus—it’s flexible! Perfect for balancing with classes, because, let’s face it, no one wants to choose between a paycheck and passing their finals.

Mary Southern, Founder, Resume Assassin

Enter Sports Media Relations

A great job for a Communications major is working in sports media relations and athlete branding. Athletes are public figures who need to manage their image, connect with fans, and maintain relationships with sponsors. A student in this role might help write press releases, coordinate interviews, or create content that highlights an athlete’s personality and achievements. This is more than just handling media requests. It’s about shaping a narrative that keeps an athlete relevant and marketable.

We have worked with golf professionals and influencers who need strong storytelling to build their presence. A student in this role might draft player bios, write engaging social media posts, or edit highlight reels that capture their best moments. There’s always a need for someone who understands how to present an athlete in a way that attracts sponsors and keeps fans engaged. This could mean tracking media coverage, researching sponsorship deals, or managing behind-the-scenes content at tournaments.

This kind of experience leads to careers in sports journalism, broadcasting, or talent management. Teams, brands, and agencies all invest in athlete-driven content, and professionals who understand how to tell those stories are always in demand. A student who gets hands-on experience in media relations and branding could eventually work for a major sports agency, a professional team, or even directly with an athlete to manage their career.

Katie Breaker, Sales Director, BirdieBall

Assist in Public Relations

As a Project Specialist, I believe a public relations assistant role is well-suited for a college student majoring in Communications.

This position provides hands-on experience in crafting press releases, coordinating media outreach, and assisting with event planning.

It helps students develop strong writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills while gaining exposure to brand messaging and reputation management.

Working in PR also allows them to build valuable industry connections and understand how strategic communication influences public perception, all while balancing their academic commitments.

Arum Karunianti, Project Specialist, Voissee