Area
Employer
Information/Strategies
Business
- Sales
- Customer Service
- Management
- Insurance:
- Underwriting
- Claims Management
- Sales
- Real Estate:
- Property Management
- Sales
- Human Resources
- Training and Development
- Labor Relations
- Writing/Editing
- Corporate Communication
- Office Management
- Product and service organizations
- Retail stores
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Manufacturers
- Banks and financial institutions
- Insurance companies
- Hospitals and other healthcare organizations
- Print and electronic media
- Real estate agencies
- Consulting firms
- Research firms
- Other business corporations
- Earn a minor in business or take business classes.
- Develop strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills.
- Learn to work well on a team.
- Seek leadership roles in other campus organizations.
- Gain experience through internships, part-time, or summer jobs.
- Develop computer skills in areas such as spread sheets, databases, and presentation software.
- Join related professional associations.
- Conduct informational interviews to learn about jobs of interest and to build a network of contacts.
- Be prepared to start in entry-level positions such as management trainee programs.
- Look for companies that have an interest in hiring “any major.”
Public Relations / Advertising
- Public Relations
- Advertising
- Marketing
- Corporate Public Affairs
- Investor Relations
- Development
- Event Coordination
- Media Analysis/Planning
- Creative Directing
- Writing/Editing
- Audience Analysis
- Public Opinion Research
- Private corporations
- Public relations firms
- Advertising agencies
- Radio and television companies
- Public opinion research firms
- Sports and entertainment organizations
- Hospitality and tourism industry
- Nonprofit organizations
- Government agencies
- Labor unions
- Educational institutions
- Consulting firms
- Freelance
- Take courses in marketing, advertising, public relations, or other area of interest.
- Gain experience through internships, even if unpaid.
- Develop excellent writing and public speaking skills.
- Serve as public relations officer of an organization.
- Develop a portfolio of writing samples, ad campaigns, and other relevant work.
- Join related professional associations.
- Find a mentor in a related field to provide career guidance.
- Consider moving to cities with larger numbers of job opportunities.
- Be prepared to start at the bottom and work into positions with greater responsibility.
Media
- Writing
- Editing
- Copywriting
- Publishing
- Producing
- Managing/Directing
- Research
- Media Sales
- Media Planning
- Broadcasting
- Publishing firms including newspaper, magazine and book
- Wire services and syndicates
- Literary agencies
- Internet sites
- Television and radio stations
- Film industry
- Freelance
- Take elective courses in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, and advertising.
- Develop excellent interpersonal, presentation, and research skills.
- Work for campus or local newspaper, radio station, or television station.
- Get related experience through internships, even if unpaid.
- Learn webpage design and software packages relevant to publishing and media.
- Develop a portfolio or audition tape depending on the industry.
- Be willing to take any job in the field to get a foot in the door.
Non-Profit
- Administration
- Management
- Grant Writing
- Writing/Editing
- Fundraising/Development
- Public Relations
- Volunteer Coordination
- Program Coordination
- Research
- Religious Work:
- Pastoral and Other Religious Leadership
- Mission Work
- Religious Camp Administration
- Local Ministries, e.g. Youth, Adult, Education
- Local and national nonprofit organizations
- Professional associations
- Chambers of commerce
- Community centers
- Philanthropies
- Hospitals
- Foundations
- Churches, synagogues, mosques
- Religious organizations, e.g. camps, retreat centers, denominational boards
- Take courses in psychology, sociology, or social work to broaden perspective.
- Develop a wide array of skills including writing, speaking, budgeting, and grant writing.
- Obtain leadership roles in relevant campus, church, or community groups.
- Complete one or more internship(s) with nonprofit organizations.
- Learn to work well with different types of people.
- Demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specialty area, e.g. public health, environment, urban issues.
- Research organizations’ values to find a good fit with yours. It is critical that you are knowledgeable about and and care about the organizations’ missions.
- Consider earning a master’s degree in public administration or non-profit administration.
- For religious work, research requirements to enter leadership in the faith you want to pursue. For example, Master of Divinity and denominational ordination are required for most clergy positions.
Government
- City or Town Management
- Community Affairs
- Campaigning
- Legislative Assistance
- Public Information
- Research
- Lobbying
- Conflict Negotiation
- Program Administration
- General Services
- Social Services
- Foreign Service
- Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Services
- There are over 170 departments and agencies in the federal government. Conduct research to determine which are a good fit for you.
- Local and state government
- Political parties
- Political action committees
- Legislatures and other elected public officials
- School districts
- Court systems
- Minor in an applicable interest area such as business, political science, or public administration.
- Take courses in conflict management and develop negotiation skills.
- Volunteer to work on a local or national political campaigns.
- Join related student organizations and earn leadership roles. Get involved with student government and campus campaigns.
- Complete an internship with a government agency to get a foot in the door.
- Maintain a strong grade point average as many government programs are very competitive.
- Learn local, state, and federal government job application procedures. Visit the campus career center for assistance.
- Develop a network of contacts through informational interviews and referrals.
Law
See also What Can I Do With This Major in Law?
- Prosecution
- Defense
- Contractual
- Corporate
- Nonprofit or Public Interest
- Government
- Mediation
- Other Specialties
- Law Assistance
- Law firms
- Federal, state, and local government
- Private practice
- Corporations
- Special interest groups
- Universities and colleges
- Legal aid societies
- Nonprofit and public interest organizations, e.g. ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Legal Services Corporation
- Legal clinics
- Other private legal services
- Develop strong research skills and attention to detail.
- Participate in debate or forensic team to hone communication skills.
- Choose courses or a minor to specialize in a particular area of law, e.g. a minor in business for a career in corporate law.
- Find part-time or summer work in a law firm.
- Shadow an attorney to learn more about the field and various specialties.
- Get involved in pre-law organizations.
- Plan to attend law school and earn a law degree. Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations. Prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test).
- Obtain specialized certification for paralegal positions.
Higher Education
- Teaching
- Research
- Information/Library Science
- Administration and Student Support Services:
- Admissions
- Financial Aid
- Advising
- Development
- Alumni Affairs
- International Education and Study Abroad
- Student Affairs, e.g. Residence Life, Student Activities, Orientation, Leadership, Greek Life, Multicultural Affairs, Recreational Sports
- Four-year colleges and universities
- Two-year and community colleges
- Technical schools
- Medical and professional schools
- Ph.D. required for teaching and research in colleges and universities. Maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations. Assist a faculty member with research.
- Earn a master’s degree in information science for librarianships or college student personnel/higher education administration for other positions.
- Develop strong interpersonal communication and public speaking skills.
- Get involved in campus leadership roles in residence halls, student unions/activities, programming boards, orientation, admissions, etc.
- Learn to work well with a variety of people.
General Information and Strategies
- Communication Studies is a broad degree that can lead to job opportunities in many different fields. Skills and experiences gained through co-curricular activities, internships, part-time jobs, and volunteering are critical in shaping a career path. Develop a career goal and seek the right background to become a strong candidate.
- Communication Studies is good preparation for graduate school in many disciplines including communication, law, education, business, public administration. Maintain a strong grade point average to increase opportunities for admission into graduate programs.
- Explore specializations within major and professional field. Select electives to enhance knowledge in area(s) of interest or find a minor that will add value.
- Develop strong written and verbal communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills. Gain experience with public speaking by joining Toastmasters.
- Get involved in campus activities and professional organizations. Learn to work well on a team and develop leadership skills.
- Build a network of contacts. Once in a position, find an experienced mentor.
