The way a business, nonprofit or governmental agency communicates reflects its brand identity. This brand identity, along with all organizational communications, is carefully curated by corporate communications professionals, including the corporate communications director. But what is corporate communications and how can you pursue a career in this field?

Corporate communications encompasses all the communications sent to internal and external stakeholders by a company or other organization. Internal stakeholders include all employees. External stakeholders include customers, vendor partners, members of the media and the general public.

There are many different formats and types of corporate communications, including the following:

• Public relations (PR) – PR refers to the process of curating a public image by conveying messages to the media and the general public. For example, a PR specialist may craft press releases and coordinate press conferences.
• Customer communications – The most common way companies communicate with their customers is through marketing materials. These may include website content and social media posts.
• Crisis communications – If an unexpected event that involves a public issue or company emergency occurs, the company’s communications staff is responsible for developing a comprehensive strategy to manage the problem. For example, they may arrange media interviews and press conferences and prepare interviewees to handle anticipated questions effectively. 
• Internal communications – Companies need to advise their employees of various organizational activities. These communications often take the form of emailed memos, company newsletters and employee handbooks.

A communications professional needs a diverse skill set to do their job effectively. Communication skills are among the most essential.^{(See disclaimer 1)} As you work toward a career in this field, consider working to develop the following corporate communications skills:

Public Speaking and Presentation Skills

Many communications professionals may be called upon to give presentations in front of various audiences, which may include both internal and external stakeholders. They may be responsible for planning and developing the presentation, as well as delivering it. It’s essential to engage the audience through confident body language and visual representations of the material, as well as to use professional public speaking skills.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Collaborative Mindset

Most communications professionals work with colleagues across various departments. These professionals need a strong commitment to open-minded collaboration in order to achieve goals.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Many types of business professionals, including communications professionals, need strong negotiation skills to achieve mutually agreeable solutions when working with other business professionals. Conflict resolution skills can also be helpful, as these professionals may need to work through various challenges and make compromises amidst high-tension situations.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn’t track statistics for the specific job titles of corporate communications director, manager or specialist. However, it does offer employment statistics for the closely related and overlapping professions of public relations managers and specialists.

According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, the job growth rate for public relations managers and fundraising managers is expected to grow by an estimated 7% from 2023 to 2033, faster than average.^{(See disclaimer 2 )}According to the BLS, these professionals had a median annual wage of $130,480 as of May 2023.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

A corporate communications director (or manager) is responsible for developing, curating, promoting and maintaining the organization’s brand voice and image. At larger organizations, the director may typically oversee one or more teams of communications professionals who will do the day-to-day work of creating content. At smaller organizations, the director will likely get to work on creating at least some of the content themselves, with or without the help of a team.

Some of the specific tasks a corporate communications director is responsible for may include the following:

• Develop and implement the communications strategy
• Oversee all internal and external corporate communications across all platforms
• Ensure that communications team members have all the information needed to create messaging
• Nurture professional relationships with members of the media
• Support the executive leadership team, such as by writing speeches and developing presentations
• Give interviews and press conferences as needed to convey the organization’s messages

The director may also hire and train other communications staff members, conduct performance reviews and develop the departmental budget.

If the idea of becoming a corporate communications director appeals to you and you’re still in high school, talk to your school counselor about adjusting your schedule to suit your career ambitions. You may be able to take more communications-related courses. It’s also a good idea to join the debate team and any other extracurricular activities that are designed to develop communication skills.

After high school, you’ll want to earn an undergraduate degree in communications with a relevant emphasis such as marketing. Keep in mind that a communications director is not an entry-level position. You’ll need to start with a similar job in the field, such as a communications assistant, marketing coordinator or public relations specialist. From there, you can gain the skills and experience needed to position yourself to become a communications director.

Earn an Undergraduate Degree in Corporate Communications

While other humanities degrees may also offer adequate career preparation, you may wish to consider looking for a communications degree.^{(See disclaimer 4)} Some colleges offer concentrations or specializations for communications students, but you could also opt to earn a general communications degree. 

At the undergraduate level, you’ll likely examine a broad range of topics in the communications field. These will typically include interpersonal, small-group and organizational communications. You may also explore best practices in intercultural communications, conflict and negotiation, advocacy and communication ethics.

It can be helpful to complete an internship or job shadowing opportunities during your time in school.^{(See disclaimer 4,5 )}You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at communications professionals in action, and you’ll begin adding contacts to your professional network. Some internships may even lead to a job offer following graduation — or at least a letter of recommendation — so give your best effort every day.

Acquire a Few Years of Work Experience in the Field

After you graduate with your corporate communications degree, you may be ready to pursue early career positions in communications. These jobs serve as essential starting points in a career and can vary greatly between companies, encompassing a range of responsibilities. While often seen as mere stepping stones, these positions can offer valuable experience, meaningful work and the foundation for future growth. Embracing an entry-level role can lead to networking opportunities and a deeper understanding of the industry, setting the stage for potential future career advancement.

Look for early-career opportunities, often seen in the following positions:^{(See disclaimer 6)}

• Marketing coordinator
• Public relations assistant
• Social media coordinator
• Communications coordinator
• Content writer
• Web content specialist

After you’ve gained a few years of full-time work experience, you may decide that you’re ready to begin working toward your master’s degree.

Earn a Master’s Degree in Corporate Communications

Although a bachelor’s degree in communications may enable you to pursue work in the field, you might benefit from having a graduate degree to pursue a high-level position such as that of a corporate communications director or manager.^{(See disclaimer 4 )}A master's degree in communications can often be completed online allowing greater flexibility for working professionals to maintain a healthy work/life balance. 

You can expect to take a deep dive into communications theories, practices and strategies. Beyond having opportunities to expand your knowledge base, however, a master’s degree is beneficial for nurturing your leadership skills and strengthening your critical thinking abilities.

The specific topics you’ll explore depend on the program you choose, but in general, they may include any of the following:

• Professional interpersonal communication skills, including leadership, conflict negotiation and emotional intelligence competencies
• Understanding concepts and theories in strategies to develop ethical messages for stakeholders
• Media literacy skills, encompassing theories, methodologies and the effects of media consumption
• Knowledge of internal and external organizational communication theories and methodologies

After earning your master’s degree, you may feel ready to position yourself to potentially pursue a senior-level role such as that of corporate communications director. Having a graduate degree may help your application stand apart from the rest.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

You can turn your passion for communications into purpose when you apply for enrollment at Grand Canyon University. In addition to the Bachelor of Arts in Communications, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to offer the Master of Arts in Communication with an Emphasis in Education. This degree may be an option for those looking to position themselves for possible career advancement, as well as potential teaching opportunities at the college level. Explore your passion for corporate communication at GCU today.