Communication Studies: Northwestern Career Advancement

Communication Studies

Industry Areas

Here are examples of industry areas students enter with this major, jobs/internships, typical employers that hire students, skills employers look for, and examples of where alumni work. To find more information make an appointment with your career counselor/advisor.

Industry Areas for Communication Studies
Industry/Employers	Job/Roles	Skills	Alumni
Business • Product and service organizations • Retail stores • Hotels • Restaurants • Manufacturers • Banks and financial institutions • Insurance companies • Hospitals and other healthcare organizations • Print and electronic media • Real estate agencies • Consulting firms • Research firms • Other business corporations	• Sales • Customer Service • Management • Insurance: Underwriting Claims Management Sales • Real Estate: Property Management Sales • Human Resources • Training and Development • Labor Relations • Writing/Editing • Corporate Communication • Office Management	• Quantitative • Analytical • Research • Detail-Oriented • Management/Organizational • Entrepreneurial • Strong Work Ethic • Presentation	• Allstate, Claims Process Expert • Apollo Group, Inc., Senior Director, Product Marketing • Google, People Operations • Google, Global Energy Policy and Strategy • Morningstar U.S.A., Vice President, Advertising Sales
Public Relations/Advertising • Private corporations • Public relations firms • Advertising agencies • Radio and television companies • Public opinion research firms • Sports and entertainment organizations • Hospitality and tourism industry • Nonprofit organizations • Government agencies • Labor unions • Educational institutions • Consulting firms • Freelance	• Public Relations • Advertising • Marketing • Corporate Public Affairs • Investor Relations • Development • Event Coordination • Media Analysis/Planning • Creative Directing • Writing/Editing • Audience Analysis • Public Opinion Research	• Adaptability and flexibility • Communication (verbal and written) • Critical thinking • Innovation and creativity • Presentation skills • Problem-solving • Teamwork and leadership • Time management and the ability to simultaneously balance several projects	• Google, Account Executive • Ogilvy & Mather, Associate • The Nielsen Company, Research Manager • Resolution Media, Advertising Supervisor • Coca-Cola USA, Account Manager • Insight Research, Market Researcher • Empower Public Relations, Senior Publicist
Media • Publishing firms including newspaper, magazine and book • Wire services and syndicates • Literary agencies • Internet sites • Television and radio stations • Film industry • Freelance	• Writing • Editing • Copywriting • Publishing • Producing • Managing/Directing • Research • Media Sales • Media Planning • Broadcasting	• advanced verbal and written communication • flexibility and versatility • ability to research and think critically • strong interpersonal skills • creativity • editing and attention to detail • teamwork • active listening and interviewing • time management •computer and technical skills (in various forms of electronic media)	• YouTube, Director, Head of Music Label Partnerships • NBCUniversal, Inc., Social Media Coordinator, Bravo • Huffington Post, Photographer • Spoon University, Cofounder, CEO • Disney ABC Television Group, Digital Sales Planner • Disney Theatrical Group, Assistant to VP Creative Development
Nonprofit • Local and national nonprofit organizations • Professional associations • Chambers of commerce • Community centers • Philanthropies • Hospitals • Foundations • Churches, synagogues, mosques • Religious organizations, e.g. camps, retreat centers, denominational boards	• Administration • Management • Grant Writing • Writing/Editing • Fundraising/Development • Public Relations • Volunteer Coordination • Program Coordination • Research • Religious Work: Pastoral and Other Religious Leadership Mission Work Religious Camp Administration Local Ministries, e.g. Youth, Adult, Education	• Creativity • Multi-tasking • Interpersonal • Time Management • Service Orientation • Writing • Social • Perceptiveness • Enthusiasm & knowledge for the cause	• GayCities, Inc & Queerty, Director of Content and Community • Teach for America, Executive Director • Teach for America, Manager, Communication • Strategy & Operations • State of Illinois, Social Worker • MAXIMUS, Director, Center for Health Literacy
Government • There are over 170 departments and agencies in the federal government. Conduct research to determine which are a good fit for you. • Local and state government • Political parties • Political action committees • Legislatures and other elected public officials • School districts • Court systems	• City or Town Management • Community Affairs • Campaigning • Legislative Assistance • Public Information • Research • Lobbying • Conflict Negotiation • Program Administration • General Services • Social Services • Foreign Service • Legislative, Executive, or Judicial Services	• Administrative • Communication • Foreign Language • Multitasking • Leadership • Prioritizing	• City of Detroit, GENERAL MANAGER -Human Resources • United States Army, Intelligence Officer • State of Hawaii, Legislative Aide • 15th Legislative District, State Senator
Law • Law firms • Federal, state, and local government • Private practice • Corporations • Special interest groups • Universities and colleges • Legal aid societies • Nonprofit and public interest organizations, e.g. ACLU, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Legal Services Corporation • Legal clinics • Other private legal services	• Prosecution • Defense • Contractual • Corporate • Nonprofit or Public Interest • Government • Mediation • Other Specialties • Law Assistance	• Administrative • Analytical Thinking • Attention to Detail • Time Management • Writing Skills • Active Learning	• Winston & Strawn LLP, Professional Development Assistant • Hogan Lovells, Associate • Kankakee County State's Attorney's Office , Supervising Attorney, Juv. Div. • Melinda Ellwanger, P.L.L.C., Freelance Litigation Attorney • Laner Muchin Dombrow Becker Levin & Tominberg, Ltd.., Immigration Paralegal
Higher Education •Four-year colleges and universities • Two-year and community colleges • Technical schools • Medical and professional schools	• Teaching • Research • Information/Library Science • Administration and Student Support Services: Admissions Financial Aid Advising Development Alumni Affairs International Education and Study Abroad Student Affairs, e.g. Residence Life, Student Activities, Orientation, Leadership, Greek Life, Multicultural Affairs, Recreational Sports	K-12: Coordination public speaking critical thinking writing social perceptiveness complex problem solving. Higher Ed: Research Writing critical thinking judgment and decision making presentations	• New York University, Office of Student Activities and Resource Center • Stanford University, Specialist, Big Data • California State University, Assistant Professor
Consulting • Retail companies • Consulting companies • Banks and financial institutions • Hospitals and healthcare organizations • Education and public service agencies • Utility companies • Not-for-profit organizations • Small businesses and start-ups (entrepreneurship) • State and federal government including armed forces	Associate Human capital Strategy & Operations Analyst Data IT Financial Marketing	• Problem-Solving Skills • Analytical Thinking Skills • Leadership & Team Based Skills • Business Judgment • Communication Skills • Project Management • Professionalism

Popular Industries (According to LinkedIn)

Education
Business Development
Media and Communication
Marketing

NORTHWESTERN CAREER ADVANCEMENT

Communication Studies

Industry Areas

Industry/Employers

Job/Roles

Skills

Alumni

Popular Industries (According to LinkedIn)

Professional Associations