What Can You Do With a Degree in Communication?
A bachelor’s degree in Communication provides an excellent liberal arts foundation for employment or additional graduate education in business, education, social sciences, and health sciences. Graduates from our department have been employed most often in education (teaching and administration), management, sales, media, social services, health care, public relations/customer service and finance. With further academic study students also often have careers in law, higher education, counseling and the ministry.

What skills do communication students acquire?
The National Communication Association (NCA) notes that The U.S. Department of Labor lists a number of qualities required for top job performance. We study at least ten of these in Communication: "Listening, speaking, creative thinking, decision making, problem solving, reasoning, self-esteem, sociability, self-management and integrity/honesty." This publication also remark upon our teaching the particular skills of "interviewing, listening, planning and conducting meetings, resolving conflicts, and public speaking" (Pathways to Careers in Communication, 1995, p. 1).

Which Line of Work is For You
Probably the best way to figure out the "right fit" in a job is to clarify what interests you the most. Do your research. Think about the kinds of work you are interested in, and learn everything you can about your top two or three areas of interest. What inspires you most? Also think about your own natural strengths and abilities, as well as your values. How do you see yourself, and where do you see yourself working? How do you really want to spend your time? What specific goals do you wish to achieve? What type of company or organization would you like to work with? What kinds of people do you wish to work with?

Look through the resources listed in this web site, and use all the resources available to you at Western’s Career Services Center. The Center is the best resource for assistance with career planning, assessments, internships, job market information, job search services, and alumni services. The Career Center offers individual counseling as well as a wide variety of workshops.

Job Search Strategies
Use the resources available to you through Western’s Career Services Center, Old Main 280.

As early as your junior year, attend job search workshops. Learn how to research companies, promote your skills and experience, and identify the hidden job market. The Career Services Center offers several workshops throughout each quarter to help students with every topic you can think of:

• Job Search Strategies
• Resume writing
• Cover letter writing
• Interviewing techniques
• Developing an internship
• Getting into graduate school

Attend career fairs and other events. Several career fairs and other events are offered throughout the year to help students and alumni research employers and job opportunities. Check the special events schedule to see what events are scheduled for this quarter.

During you senior year, register with the Career Services Center to take full advantage of job search services, including on-campus interviews and the candidate referral program.

Also, participate in on-campus recruiting. Businesses, industry and government organizations recruit during fall, winter, and spring quarters.

Here are several other Job Search Strategies

• Contact agencies, companies or organizations you would like to work for and see if they’re hiring
• Check with state employment opportunity office
• Talk with parents and other about job possibilities in their companies
• Check local newspaper classified ads — especially on Sunday
• Consider volunteer or internship positions (these sometimes lead to paid positions)
• Call employment/temporary placement agencies
• Check the Internet for job posting web sites