Career Resource Hub:

Communications Hub

Are you interested in learning more about the Communications field? Review these resources and tools to help you identify your interests and potential career options related to Communications:

1. Take the short How Can We Help You? career quiz.  You will receive a list of career resources based on your career goals.
2. Review Career Planning and Development’s Career Exploration page.
3. Research careers in communications and related fields using O*Net or MyPlan.
   Tip: Use keywords such as communications, marketing, public relations, advertising, and training to search for related occupations.  
4. Review the What Can I Do with This Major? Communication Studies career guide (external) for areas of employment, types of employers, and career preparation strategies.  
5. Visit the WaldenU.edu website to learn about potential career options for your degree program.
6. Create a Career Plan to organize your career exploration activities.

Use the following job search sites to research jobs related to Communications in a variety of areas including communications, marketing, public relations, advertising, training, media, and others:

1. Popular job boards:

• Indeed
• CareerBuilder
• SimplyHired
• Glassdoor
• LinkedIn.com – Use the Jobs tab.
• Google Jobs – Search for jobs in your area.

2. Exclusive job boards for Walden University students:

• Walden Job and Internship Locator – U.S.- based jobs including postings exclusive for Walden students and graduates.  
• GoinGlobal  – Robust job search system with jobs all over the world, including in the U.S.

3. Niche job boards for Communications and related fields:

• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Job Board
• HooJobs
• National Communication Association (NCA) Job Board
• PR Council
• PR News
• PR Week
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Job Center
• Journalism Jobs
• New York Foundation for the Arts - national listings

Additional job boards for a variety of fields can be found on the Job Search by Subject page.

Tip: To find jobs and other experiential opportunities, consider using the job boards above to search for openings by 1) interest area (communications, marketing, public relations, digital/social media, advertising, training, etc.) and 2) position level depending on your level of experience and career aspirations (assistant, trainee, coordinator, specialist, manager, and others).

NOTE: Keep in mind that these job titles may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the pursuit or completion of your degree.

Build impactful application materials to communicate your academic and professional skills to employers:

1. Review these custom resume and letter samples for ideas on how to create or improve your materials (IMPORTANT: these samples are there to guide you; remember to use your own language when creating your documents):

• Communications Resume
• Communications Cover Letter

2. Use the SkillsFirst career management system to build your documents using these or other samples. Tip: Refer to the SkillsFirst Resume and Cover Letter Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to start using SkillsFirst to manage your career.
3. Explore the Resumes & More tab for additional resume-writing tips, outlines, and videos. 
4. Learn how to become a resume expert by completing the career workshop, Build a High-Impact Resume.

Prepare to enter the professional world or advance in your current role by building your professional brand and taking your communication skills to the next level:

Consider helping an organization, supporting a small business owner with a current challenge, or working on a virtual project from home.  Completing a skills-based volunteering project or optional internship can help you enhance your current skill set, add new experiences to your resume, and learn more about what you like to do; all while supporting Walden’s commitment to building healthy organizations and communities.

The following ideas can help you get started:

1. Learn more about face-to-face and virtual volunteer opportunities and internships.
    
2. Participate in the Walden Change Action Network.

Uncover new career possibilities by strengthening your online and offline networks and engaging in professional activities.

1. Gain tips to boost your online presence and expand your professional network by watching Launching with LinkedIn. 
    
2. Join a Professional Association in your field of interest to network and actively engage in your professional development.  A few professional associations to consider joining are:

• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)
• National Communication Association (NCA)  
• Western States Communication Association (WSCA)
• Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
• Eastern Communication Association (ECA)
• Southern States Communication Association (SSCA)
• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
• Association for Business Communication (ABC)
• National Speaker’s Association (NSA)
• American Marketing Association (AMA)
• Social Media Association (SMA)
• Toastmasters International

Tip: For additional organizations, visit the Networking tab and navigate to the Associations and Professional Development section (bottom right-hand side). 

Tip: Read the Walden University Career Planning and Development article, Benefits of Belonging to a Professional Association, for ideas on how to become actively involved.

3. Engage in the Walden community through Student Organizations and Facebook Groups while building professional connections and important leadership skills.

Gain confidence in your interviewing and presentation skills and connect with employers:

1. Get ready for interviews by visiting the Interviews tab, which offers tips for preparing for face-to-face and virtual interviews, handling challenging questions, negotiating salary, and following up after the interview.
    
2. Log into SkillsFirst using your Walden email and password, then use the Interviews module to practice your mock interviewing skills.
   Tip: SkillsFirst’s Interviews tool includes over 12,000 interview questions to build your confidence. Search for interviews using keywords related to your interest area (e.g., management, marketing, advertising, training, etc.). Refer to the SkillsFirst Interview Questions Guide to get started.
    
3. Read interviewing advice on the Walden University Career Planning and Development blog.
    
4. Watch the Interview Strategies webinar to build skills and confidence when responding to challenging interview questions.

Additional Professional Associations to join related to general education careers include:

• American Psychological Association
• American Sociological Association
• American Philosophical Association
• Professional Photographers of America
• American Historical Association
• Foundation List – for nonprofit work

Use CareerOneStop’s Professional Association Finder tool to search for additional associations related to your interest areas(s).

SIUS teaches a wide variety of general education and interdisciplinary courses in psychology, sociology, philosophy, photography, writing (including fiction and poetry), modern popular culture, religion, anthropology, geography, history, biology, anatomy, environmental science, and nutrition.  If you have an interest in exploring any of these fields or additional career options, visit Career Planning and Development’s Career Exploration tab for self-knowledge tools, career research sites such as O*Net or MyPlan, and specialized resources for undergraduate students.
 

Several of Walden’s General Education course offerings focus on job-hunting skills. Consider enrolling in the courses below to continue developing your career-related skills in a course-based setting:

ENGL 2110 Creative Writing: Short Fiction

• Week 5 Assignment is to write a Query Letter to a publisher or agent. Students research an appropriate publisher and/or literary agency and write a “pitch” letter.

ENGL 3110 Creative Writing: Contemporary Nonfiction and Poetry

• Week 5 Assignment is to write a Query Letter to a publisher or agent. Students research an appropriate publisher and/or literary agency and write a “pitch” letter.

COMM-2005 Digital Storytelling

• Throughout the course students create a wix.com website and plan digital content to launch their own business.