Students who major in communications often seek to gain early advantages in the job market by participating in internships, and good internships for communications majors vary widely because the discipline is so broad. Communications degrees (please see: Top 10 Best Online Communications Degree Programs) encompass all types of written and verbal communications practices and specializations from print journalism to television broadcast production. Changes in the global economy have forced employers to tighten their hiring practices, and it is rare that they find compelling reasons to hire people who have absolutely no relevant work experience. Subsequently, working in paid or unpaid internships is almost a requirement for communications majors who want to eventually gain entry-level, full-time positions with good firms after graduation. Here are some examples of internships for communications students that can pique their personal interests and further their professional aspirations.
Public Relations Internships
Public relations is a popular specialization within most communications degree programs, and students who want full-time jobs in this field must network and gain targeted internships. Public relations internships can encompass managing a brand’s social media presence, crafting appropriate communications for government agencies or coordinating community outreach events. These internships can be found through independent search firms or through university sponsored programs. Some public relations companies that are known to provide outstanding internships for communications majors are Victory Public Relations, Cashman and Associates and DeVries Global.
Non-Profit Organization Internships
Non-profit organizations utilize communications specialists in a variety of ways that include marketing as well as public relations. Since many of these organizations frequently rely on donations from interested patrons, they must advertise their worthy causes to attract interest. This involves hiring full-time communications specialists or bright interns who have academic backgrounds in communications to highlight their contributions to local communities and society at large. Some organizations that are known to hire communications majors as interns include Habitat for Humanity and the American Diabetes Association.
Sports Agency Internships
Many communications majors desire to eventually find employment in the sports and entertainment industries, but competition is extremely high for these positions. Gaining the right internship means more than just acquiring job experience; it also means getting access to invaluable industry contacts. Besides building portfolios of successful work samples, developing solid networks is the way to gain full-time, entry-level positions with sports agencies in events management, merchandise marketing, speech writing and speaking engagements. Oriole Park, the Philadelphia 76er’s and the Madison Square Garden company are some of the organizations that hire communications majors as interns.
Radio and Television Internships
One of the most popular specializations within most university communications degree programs is broadcast journalism. Communications majors who choose this type of specialization usually aspire to be television or radio news anchors. Besides these high profile news anchor positions, behind the scenes jobs in television and radio production are also popular for communications majors who seek intern positions within television and radio organizations. Some television and radio entities that have hired communications interns in the past include NBC Universal, Clear Channel and Sirius XM Radio.
The skills that communications majors acquire during their academic studies are valued across all industries. For example, many workplace issues are not technical problems, but they stem from poor or inadequate communication among workers and management. Good internships for communications majors allow them to demonstrate their interpersonal skills in real workplace environments as well as their more technical talents relating to the various communications specializations.