What is corporate communications?

Corporate communications refer to the strategies organizations deploy to share key messaging with its stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, media and the wider public. It encompasses internal and external communication aimed at promoting the company’s brand, reputation and objectives.

What does a corporate communications team do?

Managing communication within an organization includes a range of activities, such as:

1. Internal communication: The communication within an organization that’s crucial for maintaining a positive workplace culture  and employee engagement. Internal communication can take various forms, such as staff meetings, newsletters and intranet portals.
2. External communication: The communication between a company, the general public and stakeholders outside the organization. Often referred to as public relations (PR), external communication may include media relations, press releases, press conferences, corporate websites, annual reports and advertising.
3. Brand communication: The promotion of a company’s brand and products to potential customers, which typically includes marketing campaigns, product launches, social media marketing, advertising and promotion, and sponsorships.
4. Reputation management: The process of building and maintaining a company's positive public image. Reputation management usually involves monitoring and controlling the company’s online and offline presence and addressing negative publicity in a timely and effective manner.
5. Crisis communication: The strategy a company adopts in response to an emergency. It is essential for any communication team to develop a proactive and well-prepared crisis plan to minimize potential damage to the company’s reputation and ensure the right message is expressed to relevant stakeholders.

To function, corporations must avoid breakdowns in communication. For this reason, many have a team that streamlines communication between internal and external audiences.

Corporate communication careers

The first step is earning a degree. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in business to better understand the communications needs of organizations.

A business degree can be specialized by earning certificates or taking courses in communication, marketing or writing. These experiences help lay a strong foundation in such skills as critical thinking, messaging and creativity.

Professional experience shows future employers that ccandidates have the skills necessary to succeed in the workplace. Many students and new communication professionals gain work experience through internships, part-time jobs, contract work or entry-level, full-time employment for smaller companies.

Once a candidate has demonstrated strong communication skills, they can leverage this experience to apply for employment in a larger corporate environment if that’s part of their career goals.. 

For those who already have a degree but want to shift  professional focus into corporate communications, learning specific skills used in the industry often can help show future employers that they hold the specialized knowledge needed in this field.

Some communications skills that would be helpful are:

• Social media management: This teaches students how to manage a company’s social media account, understand analytics and create a social media strategy.
• Digital marketing: Learning about digital marketing may cover information about social media marketing, but it will also delve into how all aspects of the internet can be used to market a company.
• Copywriting: This teaches students how to write materials for public consumption. This can include blog posts, web copy, email marketing and social media posts.

These specific tools can help grow a skill set and potentially stand out in the hiring process.

After earning a degree and beginning to gain relevant work experience, candidates can begin looking for a job. It's a good idea showcase writing abilities in a well-crafted cover letter . Also be sure to highlight education, including degrees and certificates, on a resumé.

Candidates may also want to put together a portfolio of their written work, including social media captions, emails, press releases and marketing materials. This can show potential employers what kinds of projects they have handled and the caliber of their work.

communication professional right for you?

Becoming a corporate communication professional is a rewarding career path for many people, but it’s not for everybody. The job requires writing and speaking with other people on a regular basis. Corporate communication professionals need to be clear and confident communicators.

As you explore your career options , consider whether your passions and skills are in line with what is required of a corporate communication professional. If so, you can begin down this path for a rewarding, long-term career.

Becoming a corporate communication professional can be a rewarding career path for many people, but it’s not for everybody. The job requires writing and speaking with other people on a regular basis. Corporate communication professionals need to be clear and confident communicators.

While exploring career options , a candidate should consider whether passions and skills are in line with what is required for this field.