Thanks to the advent of Slack messages, email chains and video conferencing, workplaces are connected like never before. However, the growing number of platforms facilitating communication has created more opportunities for misunderstandings between coworkers and their managers.
After graduating with an online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Communication from William Paterson University (WP), communication professionals will gain access to various career paths while learning valuable skills to guide them to success in any industry they enter.
Conflict Resolution and Constructive Feedback Skills
Professional communicators are often responsible for conveying a brand’s message to different audiences while facilitating effective communication within their company. The nature of the job — communicating an entire organization’s mission to the public and other stakeholders — requires flexibility and a willingness to develop relationships with people across the organization so employees feel like brand messaging reflects their voice.
Accomplishing these goals as a communicator requires developing “soft skills,” according to LinkedIn. While “hard skills” refers to the technical abilities needed to complete job tasks, such as coding or graphic design, soft skills are non-technical abilities that help professionals succeed through interpersonal relationships with colleagues and clients.
Effective conflict resolution, communication, time management and problem-solving are all examples of soft skills, according to LinkedIn. For instance, communication leaders often need to provide employees with constructive feedback that motivates them to correct course and improve performance. The ability to acknowledge a colleague’s struggles with empathy and provide specific suggestions for improvement is a crucial soft skill across industries, according to Indeed.
Active listening, which Indeed defines as focusing completely on a speaker’s words without mentally rehearsing a response, is another example of a soft skill that communication majors can develop and bring into the workplace. Companies increasingly value soft skills, with 93% of employers reporting in a 2022 ZipRecruiter study that soft skills played a critical role in their hiring decisions.
As part of WP’s online BA in Communication program, students master these concepts in courses like Interpersonal Communication, Organizational Communication and Successful Business & Professional Communication. With a focus on communication theory, research and application, graduates can bring these skills to personal, small group and corporate contexts.
Career Paths for Communication Majors
The demand for qualified communication professionals continues to rise. Employment in media and communication will rise by 14% over the next decade, outpacing the average for all other occupations, according to Axios. Communication professionals tend to thrive during unstable periods, which was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As more organizations recognize the value of effective communication strategies, communication majors can take their pick when it comes to the job market. They can explore jobs in healthcare, business, law, media and science fields, according to Indeed.
The job duties of communication professionals can include content marketing, writing to sell a product or service across digital platforms or entering the journalism field as a reporter to bring news events to the public’s attention. Professional communicators also often serve as brand strategists, overseeing social media and focus group surveys to analyze how a company can better connect with its core audience.
In 2022, media and communication workers — including writers and news reporters — made a median wage of $66,240, or about $20,000 more than the annual wage of all occupations, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Technical writers — who prepare manuals for specific industries — earned a slightly higher yearly salary, making $79,960.
Build Communication Skills With William Paterson University
Students in WP’s online BA in Communication program obtain a broad knowledge base in the communication discipline. Graduates leave the program with the skills they need to successfully navigate the workplace and rise as professionals within a variety of industries.
Learn more about William Paterson University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Communication program.
