Looking to advance your career in advertising, public relations (PR), or communications? If the idea of helping to shape a company's image while building stakeholder relationships sounds appealing to you, a career in corporate communication just might be the next step in your professional journey.
Working in corporate communication, whether at the entry level or senior level, can be a fulfilling path for those who enjoy collaborating with others while putting their strategic thinking and creativity to work.
In crafting a corporate communication strategy, businesses often turn to communication specialists. These professionals can help businesses define their goals and objectives, pinpoint and research their target audiences, and create a consistent brand voice to build a strong reputation.
For those interested in working in strategic and corporate communication, the good news is that there are many opportunities available, from entry-level and mid-range jobs to senior and corporate-level roles.
Working in corporate communication, whether at the entry level or senior level, can be a fulfilling path for those who enjoy collaborating with others while putting their strategic thinking and creativity to work.
What Is Corporate Communications?
At its core, corporate communications encompass the ways in which a company interacts with and communicates with its own employees and external stakeholders (such as customers). In the business world, corporate communication is key to brand success because it can have a major influence on how the general public perceives a brand. Internally, strong corporate communication strategies can also help to keep employees up to date and engaged with organizational happenings.In crafting a corporate communication strategy, businesses often turn to communication specialists. These professionals can help businesses define their goals and objectives, pinpoint and research their target audiences, and create a consistent brand voice to build a strong reputation.
For those interested in working in strategic and corporate communication, the good news is that there are many opportunities available, from entry-level and mid-range jobs to senior and corporate-level roles.
Entry-Level Corporate Communications Jobs
Many professionals who start off in corporate communication following a formal degree program apply for entry-level roles that require less experience, ranging from corporate communications specialist to public relations associate. These roles tend to be focused more on execution and support — serving as critical building blocks in long-term career trajectory.Corporate Communications Coordinator
These professionals are responsible for supporting public relations (PR) efforts, including event planning, press release distribution, and social media management. Typically, these roles serve as a career entry point for recent grads with proven writing and organizational skills.Communications Specialist
Another common entry-level role in corporate communication is a communications specialist. These professionals are responsible for creating content for internal and external audiences, such as:- Internal newsletters
- Blog content
- Executive messaging
- Employee memos and other announcements
Public Relations Associate
Meanwhile, PR associates and specialists are often hired as recent graduates. These associates are responsible for creating content that will be released to the media as well as managing media lists and supporting general PR campaigns within a company. This role can be a great fit for recent graduates with an interest in media relations.Social Media and Content Associate
As social media becomes increasingly commonplace in branding and strategic communication, many brands look to hire social media and content associates. These professionals are tasked with managing all aspects of a company's social platforms, which includes monitoring engagement and ensuring that social media content maintains a consistent brand voice.Mid-Level Corporate Communication Roles
Equipped with some entry-level experience, you may be qualified to move into more strategic and managerial roles as detailed below.Corporate Communications Manager
Corporate communications managers oversee brand messaging across different communication channels, both internally and externally. These professionals might also manage junior staff while ensuring consistency with the overall branding strategy. Corporate communications managers may be in charge of executive communications, press strategy, and internal communication plans.Internal Communications Manager
These professionals are specifically focused on overseeing the internal communications and messaging that go out to employees within a company. The primary function of an internal communications manager is to ensure alignment of all internal messaging with company culture and values while supporting employee engagement, leading change initiatives, and handling leadership messaging.Public Affairs Manager
In this mid-level role, public affairs managers oversee and direct relationships with a brand's external stakeholders to create and maintain a positive image as much as possible. This may mean meeting and interacting with external stakeholders such as government agencies, business partners, and members of the community. This type of work can be ideal for those who have a background in PR, strategy, and policy.Senior and Director-Level Corporate Communication Roles
Over time (and with enough experience), mid-level corporate communication professionals may have what it takes to advance into senior and even director-level roles. These are strategic leadership roles that can shape brand reputation, crisis management, and executive visibility.Corporate Communications Director
A corporate communications director is in charge of setting a company's overall communication strategy as well as leading PR teams and internal communication teams. These senior-level professionals must also ensure that all internal and external messaging aligns with business goals and values while acting as advisors to senior leadership. Oftentimes, they will also manage agency/vendor relationships as part of the role.Head of Corporate Communications
In this C-level-adjacent role, professionals tackle the responsibility of leading the company's overall voice, reputation, and brand narrative. Working as a head of corporate communications often means handling high-stakes communication situations, such as responding to crisis situations or issuing public statements.Vice President (VP) or Chief Communications Officer (CCO)
In these top-level positions, corporate communication experts oversee communication strategy across an entire organization. COOs usually work closely with other high-level professionals and stakeholders, ranging from chief executive officers (CEOs) and board members to investors. Succeeding in this type of role requires a great deal of experience and a strategic, business-first mindset above all else.Emerging Trends in Corporate Communications Careers
As the media and business landscape continues to evolve, senior communication professionals must often assume greater strategic responsibility in their roles. This means staying on top of emerging trends shaping the future of corporate communication and creating new leadership opportunities, such as:- Growing emphasis on ESG and purpose-driven communication – Senior communicators are increasingly tasked with crafting messaging around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.
- Data-driven decision-making – Directors and VPs must use data analytics and sentiment analysis to evaluate message impact, audience reach, and brand reputation across digital platforms. Internal communication as a strategic priority – With remote and hybrid work representing the new normal, internal communication has become central to employee engagement, retention, and culture-building.
- Cross-functional leadership – Today’s top communicators sit at the table with HR, marketing, legal, and C-suite teams. They are expected to collaborate across departments to guide messaging on everything from layoffs to mergers to policy changes.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging tech in messaging – AI tools are beginning to support everything from content creation to audience targeting, and leaders need to understand their ethical and strategic implications. Tech-savvy communicators must be positioned to guide integration without losing the human voice.
- Writing and editing – Corporate communication professionals must be able to craft clear, compelling content for multiple audiences.
- Strategic thinking – Professionals need to understand the businesses they represent and align communication to their goals.
- Crisis communication – Corporate communication experts must remain calm and communicate effectively, even in high-pressure situations or organizational crises.
- Media relations – Skilled professionals build relationships with journalists and understand diverse media landscapes.
- Leadership and collaboration – Corporate communication professionals must be able to work cross-functionally and lead teams.
- Digital fluency – Experts in corporate communication need to have a solid understanding of social platforms, analytics, and modern content formats.
Skills Needed to Grow in Corporate Communication
Although the scope of corporate communication work has expanded in recent years, the skills needed to advance in this rewarding career remain mostly the same. Some of the most in-demand core competencies and technical skills in this line of work include:How a Graduate Degree Advances Your Career in Corporate Communications
Want to refine and expand your own skills in corporate communication? Pursuing a graduate-level degree in strategic communication or a related field could help you advance in your career, equipping you with the practical experience and foundational skills needed to thrive as a corporate communication professional.A strategic communication degree program can expose you to advanced study opportunities in essential topics such as corporate communications strategy, crisis communication, and analytics. In addition, this type of program may offer chances for you to gain hands-on, practical experience through real-world case studies. From there, you can sharpen your executive-level thinking while building professional credibility that may set you apart in mid- to senior-level job applications.
Explore UMN's Strategic Communication MA
The right corporate communication training and education can help you distinguish yourself amid the competitive business landscape — and having a graduate-level degree in communications or a related field is one way to build your skills while gaining valuable experience.At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to offer a Professional Master of Arts in Strategic Communication through our Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication. In this 30-credit degree program, you'll have the opportunity to build your skills in a flexible hybrid format with a career-focused curriculum that covers digital media, brand building, leadership, and more.
Get in touch to request more information about this program today. Ready to take the next step? Fill out your online application for admission!
