5 Career Options for Communication Majors

Graduating soon with a Communications Degree? Or currently hold a Bachelors in Communications. If so, here are 5 career options available to you. 


Sports Broadcaster-

ESPN Sports Broadcasters, Bram Weinstein & Steve Weissman on Air

A sports broadcaster works as analyst or play-by-play announcers for sports networks or specific teams. To be a broadcaster, a person would have to posses a minimum of a Bachelors degree in Communication, Journalism or Broadcasting according to education-portal. Some key skills to become a broadcaster is having strong communication and speaking skills, due to the industries competitive nature. Also, experience playing collegiate or recreational sports is beneficial to have. Lastly, a sports broadcaster can make from $45K to $47K a year. Some broadcasters begin as a reporters, equipment operators, or production assistant. Once achieving broadcasting status a person can advance to having his or hers television or radio show.

Public Relations Practitioner-

Public Relations by definition in PR News “ Is the management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or an organization with the public interest, and plans and executes a program of action to earn public understanding and patience’s”(Cameron, Wilcox, Reber & Shin, 2008). Some key skills to becoming a PR representative is having strong writing, planning, research, business competence and problem solving skills. The median salaries for a person with 1-2 years in the field is 42K a year, those with 21years plus of experience can earn up to 158K a year Cameron, Wilcox, Reber & Shin, 2008). A person looking to advance in the field has many options of advancement, some careers include but not limited to, Public Relations Manager, Senior Vice President or Vice President of a company, and Managing director.

Technical Writers-

Technical Writers translate complex, technical information into clean and simple langue. They create a variety of documents, such as how to install a microwave, or install furniture from IKEA. Those materials are training manuals, assembly instructions, online customer service guides and technical reports. Technical writers can earn from 65K to 82K in a yearly salary. To become a technical writer one must hold a bachelors degree in English, Journalism, Communications or a technical related field. Technical writers most be skilled in online publishing software and programs. A writer must have a sharp eye for detail, research, and the ability to work under strict deadlines.

Journalist-

What a journalist does is collect news and valuable information to provide to the Mass public. Journalists report their information through the Radio, Television, News Papers, Magazine, and the Internet. To be part of this career one must have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Communication and or Journalism. Important skills a journalist must posses are writing, communication, visual communication, social perceptiveness, and problem solving according to education-portal.com. Also, Journalist have a potential to earn anywhere from 45K to 75K annually. One can also be an Editor, Copy editor and photojournalist.

Announcers-

Announcers present music, news and sports and may provide commentary or interview guest about certain topics or important events according to the United States Department of Labor. The median pay as an announcer is about 27K per year. Radio announcers need to have a neat and pleasing appearance, strong computer skills, people skills, research skills, speaking skills as well as writing skills. Because there is commonly short staff advancement in the field is low however, to advance the best one can do is go to a large network.

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Cameron, Wilcox, Reber & Shin (2008). Public Relations Today. Managing Competition and Conflict 1^st edition. Pearsons Educations, Inc.

Education Portal (2012). Hot to Become a Sports Broadcaster. Retrieved on October

30, 2012 from http://education-portal.com/how_to_become_a_sports_broadcaster.html

United States Department of Labor (2012). How to become and announcer. Retrieved on October 30, 2012 from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/media-and-communication/announcers.htm#tab-4

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