Corporate communicators require a love of news and solid writing skills.
Corporate communication professionals represent an organization to its publics: both internal, such as employees, and external such as the media and stakeholders. Effective corporate communication campaigns blend communication, research, strategy and leadership. Since corporate communications is practiced across a range of industries, two professionals can share a skill set and educational background and yet have very different career paths.
Education and Experience Required
Entry-level jobs require an undergraduate degree in public relations, communication, journalism, marketing or other related field, and usually at least one or more internships. Those seeking management positions may have an advantage with an advanced degree, but experience is also critical for landing a top corporate communication job. Solid writing skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, a love of news and a commitment to meeting deadlines are fundamentals for success in corporate communication.
Job Functions
Job functions vary with the size and resources of the department, but task categories include content development, communication research, crisis communication, media relations and social media. Some of the more recognizable tasks include writing press releases, pitching news ideas and responding to reporter requests and managing the company's website. Large corporate communication departments may have a team for each function, while smaller shops may throw all tasks at one or two individuals.
Salary
The average U.S. salary in 2011 for corporate communication professionals is $66,000, according to the website Simply Hired. However, salary is dependent on experience, the organization, education level and geographic location. For example, the average U.S. salary for a corporate communication specialist is $40,277, according to the website Salary List. However, the average U.S. base salary for a senior vice president of corporate communication is $164,000, according to the Public Relations Society of America.
Challenges
Social media is both a trend and challenge for the corporate communication industry. Tools such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube now play a staring role in many corporate communication campaigns. However, measuring social media's impact, assigning ownership of its functions and perfecting messages for its use continues to be controversial. Corporate communication professionals must also grapple with a declining public trust in organizations mixed with increased public expectations for speed and transparency in organizational communication.
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