Tips for New Communications Professionals
Breaking into the communications field can feel overwhelming. There's so much to learn beyond what any textbook or classroom can teach you. The real secrets of successful communications work are often discovered through building genuine relationships, staying endlessly curious, and embracing the diverse opportunities this field offers. Seasoned communications professionals who've navigated everything from corporate communications to government messaging have insights that can help newcomers understand how to build meaningful networks, develop versatile skills, and find their unique place in this dynamic industry.
Whether you're building your professional network, developing diverse skills across different areas of communications, or trying to find your niche in this varied field, these insider tips from industry veterans will help you build confidence, credibility, and the kind of strategic thinking that sets great communicators apart.
What the Pros Say
“People WANT to help students. Network hard, make business cards, go to events, have coffee with anyone you find even remotely interesting. It will continue to set you up for success years down the line. But remember, everyone knows everyone! Comms is a small world.
Keep an open mind and don’t try to pigeon hole yourself into one field or type of comms. You’ll learn more in industries you know nothing about or didn’t expect and some of the best communicators are those in “unsexy” fields.”
“Whether you’re a practicum student or recent grad, being new is a great excuse to get your foot inside a lot of doors. Ask to shadow a senior colleague on a big project, sit in on a big meeting or take the first shot of the draft of an important product.”
“Build and cultivate your network. Stay curious and collaborative. Don’t take feedback or edits personally—it’s just comms.”
“Focus on genuine relationships. Don’t make connections just to get a job; build them around shared interests and curiosity. Good opportunities come from trusted relationships—keep all doors open!”
“Communicators are often telling a story that hasn’t been told yet. One thing you’ll learn quickly in the working world is that you can’t Google everything. The facts and insights you need might not be online.
You have to meet people. Ask questions. Take detailed notes. Pay attention to what your boss, colleagues and clients are saying—even if it doesn’t seem relevant in the moment. It might become useful later. It might shape a story, spark a new idea, or help you understand your audience.
Good communicators know how to listen and connect the dots. That’s how compelling stories are built.”
“Build your network and relationships in our profession. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone and ask them to meet for a casual coffee to gain insight about their career, their organization, or their current position.”
“Find your niche and craft your personal story. We have a lot of the same skills, but very different lives and perspectives. Crafting your personal brand and being able to communicate what sets you apart is the first step to nailing an interview, networking, starting a business, or making an impact in your community.”
The Bottom Line
As you start your communications career, remember this: the communications field is extremely diverse, which means your skills need to be too. While school creates a great foundation, you need to be curious and constantly learning more. You'll have instructors tell you that 'You'll never have to do graphics. That's what graphic designers are for' or 'Don't worry about managing budgets. You won't have to do that for years.' It's simply not true. You will have to know a little bit about a lot of things. Be open to learning skills you didn't expect to need to know, and remember that if it touches on communications, someone will ask you about it.
Thank you to our Contributors
We’d like to extend our thanks and appreciation to everyone who took the time to provide advice and tips to our newest communications colleagues:
Gwendoline Hunka (Instagram, LinkedIn)
Lindsay Gunderson
Luis Carlos Flores Aguilar (LinkedIn)
Crystal Wood, APR
Kessia Kopecky (LinkedIn)
Tara Joyce (Instagram)
Tammy Vineberg, APR (Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn)
Sheri Doyle (Instagram)
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Start strong in your communications career
We're passionate about helping new grads build the connections and confidence you need to succeed.
