5 tips for communications students and graduates

Communications requires a wide skill set. Within the same day, a professional might be asked to pitch a reporter, write a story, edit a social media calendar, respond to a crisis and prepare a company executive for an interview.

Communications offers many exciting opportunities for people who like building and fostering relationships with consumers, company reps and other audiences, but those tasks can seem daunting to newbies.

Here are five tips to help PR and marketing students enter the communications field:

1. Gain as much experience as you can.

It’s never too early to start internships. Many PR and marketing firms want job candidates to have experience on their resumes.

Unless you already know which company or industry you’d like to work in, internships are a great way to test your options, helping you decide which types of positions you thrive in—and what positions you loathe.

Many university programs give students the opportunity to work with real clients as well, which provides valuable learning experiences.

No matter the opportunity, save work such as press releases, graphics and other campaign materials to show off in your portfolio. This will help future employers see what you’re capable of.

2. Hone your writing skills.