If you’re new to the communication profession, you’ll find it can be a competitive place! With teams getting smaller, but the workload getting bigger, fewer teams have the time to take on and mentor those with little experience.

But if you can demonstrate you have the practical skills to hit the ground running, you’ll have a head start on most other candidates. Here are the five practical skills new communication graduates, or those making the transition to communications, should have.

1. Write great copy with purpose

   Despite AI tools like ChatGPT coming online and causing a lot of hype, being able to write really great copy is still a core skill of all communicators. Your ability to write snappy prose that’s on-brand, and tailored for different audiences and channels, is key to getting your messages to resonate. It’s time to ditch the flowery, academic-style of writing and show you can write with purpose!
   
   
   

2. Write a comms strategy and plan

   When you’re new to communications, we don’t expect you to be able to deliver the quality of plan we would expect of a senior consultant. But, we do expect you to know how to structure a strategy and plan, and develop at least a good first draft that’s headed in the right direction. So find some opportunities to practise writing a strategy and plan, even if it’s on a volunteer basis.
   
   
   

3. Create and manage a content plan

   Content is king. With so many different channels to feed, and content driving visibility and engagement, it’s the cornerstone of work for most communication teams. So being able to develop a content plan that ‘feeds the beast’ regularly, every week, and that aligns with core strategic and brand pillars, is a key skill every communications pro will need.
   
   
   

4. Know how to use digital channels (including social media)

   We live in a digital world, and social media is central to business development, whether we love it or hate it! So knowing how to manage digital channels like websites, intranets, and podcasts, along with social media like LinkedIn and Instagram, is imperative. You may not know all the ins and outs of the algorithms, but having a good understanding of how these channels work for both paid and organic content will be highly valued.
   
   
   

5. Take a great comms brief

   Knowing the right questions to ask before you start any work will save everyone a lot of time. Being able to take a great comms brief means you’ll not only ask the right questions, but ensure you get clarity on what you need to achieve. It also gives you an opportunity to build relationships with others, and relationships are central to everything in communications!
   
   
   

So if you are considering a career in communication, or you’re fresh to the profession, explore how you can build these skills now to make you undeniable later!

Want to be undeniable to future employers?

Enrol in our new Communication Career Fundamentals online course! This six-module, online course will give you all the practical skills and knowledge you need to improve your chances of scoring that dream role! Find out more about this course here.