Media/Communication Studies

Degrees in media/communications studies cover a broad range of subjects from the highly practical to the theoretical. You can develop a variety of skills that are extremely useful in many employment areas.  You should consider these skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

Working as a PR and Marketing Assistant

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Prospects

Media/communications graduates work in a wide range of professions, and success often depends on the motivation and determination of the graduate. If you choose to follow a media/communications career, be mindful that every career path is different. What works for one person, may not work for someone else.

Statistics for media graduates demonstrate that this degree can be used to enter a broad range of occupational areas in various sectors. The skills obtained by graduates in media/communication studies are particularly well suited to work with TV production studios, radio outlets, newspapers, PR firms and advertising agencies.

A 2010 HESA survey of 2009 graduates indicates that six months after graduation, 65% of media/communications studies graduates were in full or part-time employment. Of these, 30% found jobs as retail, catering, waiting and bar staff, 15% were in arts, design, culture and sports professions, about 13% had gone into other clerical and secretarial occupations, and 7% were in marketing, sales, and advertising professions.

Where are the jobs?

Media/communications studies graduates are employed by a wide range of employers in many sectors. Employers include:

• PR consultancies and communications agencies;
• marketing organisations;
• media companies;
• local government;
• the civil service;
• further and higher education institutions such as colleges and universities.

Jobs directly related to your degree

• Public relations officer
• Media planner
• Multimedia specialist
• Television/film/video producer

Jobs where your degree would be useful

• Advertising account executive
• Broadcast presenter
• Broadcast journalist
• Information officer
• Magazine journalist
• Market researcher
• Web designer
• Newspaper journalist
• Advertising copywriter
• Writer

The relevance of some of these jobs may depend upon the type of modules or course you have studied. Research each job carefully to find out how it matches with your skills and experience. Many of the practical/technical skills required can be acquired through work experience during your degree or after graduation.

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

You can find more about the skills you develop during your course, the jobs listed above, plus case studies and where to find these jobs at Prospects.

Included with the permission of AGCAS. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk