The information on this page is designed to help you explore possible careers. Use the links below to navigate to different areas of the page. We recommend working with a career counselor to help you identify careers based on your skills, interests, and values.
Resources with Ideas for Careers and/or Places of Employment
List of Employers and Job Titles Posted in PSU Handshake for Communication Majors
The following list of employers and job titles was derived from the University Career Center's jobs database where the employer specifically requested communication majors. This list does not reflect all potential places of employment or kinds of jobs for communication majors. This list does not reflect current openings.
- American Heart Association — Coordinator
- American Red Cross — Communications Director, Online Communications Specialist
- APCON — Public Relations Manager
- Asian Pacific American Consortium on Substance Abuse (APACSA) — Community Coordinator
- Basic Rights Oregon — Communications Coordinator
- Battle Ground School District — Director of Communications
- Benton County — Public Information Officer
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) — Marketing Assistant
- Bravo! Publications — Production Assistant
- Business Education Compact (BEC) — Technical Writer
- C-Tech Industries — Marketing Communications Manager
- Camp Fire USA, Portland Metro Council — Youth Advocate
- Cascadia Community College — Program Assistant
- CBS Radio — Weekend Announcer, Air Talent, Morning Show Producer, Marketing/Promotions Assistant
- CH2M — Junior Editor
- City of Beaverton — Program Coordinator-Mediation Services, Program Manager
- City of Hillsboro — Public Affairs Manager, Parks & Recreation Community Resources Manager
- City of Portland — Community Service Aide II
- City of Salem — Neighborhood Services Specialist - Community Services Counselor
- City of Vancouver — Marketing Specialist, Public Information Officer, Community Relations Specialist, Program and Events Coordinator
- Clackamas Community College — Student Services Coordinator, Customized Training Project Coordinator
- Clear Channel Communications — Promotions Director, Z100 Morning Show Host, News Reporter
- Con-Way, Inc. — Project Coordinator
- Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission — Public Information Specialist
- Columbia Sportswear Company — Promotions Manager, Public Relations Manager
- CompView, Inc. — Marketing Coordinator
- Cube Management — Internet Marketing Analyst
- Dr. Martens AirWair USA — Internal Account Coordinator, Retail Marketing Manager
- Educational Service District 105 — Public Information Manager
- EFG Companies — Business Manager/Sales Representative
- Enterprise Rent-A-Car — Sales/Management Trainee
- ESPN — Editor -Web
- Fastenal Company — Assistant General Sales Manager
- Food Alliance — Communications and Development Associate
- GlaxoSmithKline — Marketing Consultant
- Grande Ronde Hospital — Community Relations Manager
- Group Mackenzie — Marketing Specialist
- Intel Corporation — Planning eBusiness Communications Analyst
- IRCO - Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization — Donor Relations Associate, Workforce Development Specialist
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) — Internal Revenue Officer
- International Radio & Television Society Foundation, Inc. (IRTS) — Summer Fellowship Program
- J&L Marketing — Promotion Coordinator
- KATU Channel 2 Portland — News Reporter, Microwave/Satellite Operator
- KINK FM 102 — Weekend Announcer, Account Executive
- KOIN-TV — News Producer
- KPTV Fox 12/KPDX UPN 49 — Jr. Promotion Producer
- LaCie Limited — PR Specialist
- Leupold & Stevens — Training and Development Specialist
- Lower Columbia College — Executive Director of Foundation and College Development
- Metro/MERC — Senior Public Relations Coordinator
- Montana State University - Billings — Development and Marketing Coordinator
- Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) — KMHD Development Coordinator
- Multnomah County — Community Information Specialist, Community Organizer
- Multnomah Education Service District — Development Specialist
- Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) — Regional Public Affairs Coordinator
- Natural Resource Group — Public Relations Strategist
- NW32.com — Marketing Coordinator
- Northwest Food Processors Association — Communications Specialist
- Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) — Director of Development and Communications, Editor/Writer Associate
- Northwestern Mutual Financial Network — Financial Representative
- Oregon Department of Administrative Services — Communication Director (Principal Contributor 3)
- Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) — Public Information Representative 1-Vehicle Inspection Program Coordinator, Public Affairs Specialist 2
- Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) — Media Relations, Associate Director of Government Relations
- Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) — Recruiter, Museum Educator
- Oregon State Bar — Marketing Specialist
- Oregon State University (OSU) — Program Coordinator for Community and Diversity, Marketing Writer
- Oregon Student Association — Communications Director
- Port of Portland — Environmental Outreach Manager, Customer Service Manager
- Portland Art Museum — Public Relations and Marketing Assistant
- Portland Business Alliance — Membership Coordinator
- Portland Community College (PCC) — Grants Writer, Career Placement Specialist - Steps to Success, Employment Specialist - Dislocated Workers Program, Career Specialist, Replication Training Coordinator
- Portland Development Commission (PDC) — Senior Public Participation Coordinator, Communications Project Manager, Community Relations Coordinator, Administrative Assistant to the Director, Public Affairs Manager
- Portland Impact — Community Coordinator III
- Qualis, Inc. — Technical Writer
- Raphael House of Portland — Project Coordinator
- SAIF Corporation — Publications Editor, Communications Coordinator, Corporate Communications Writer
- Salem Area Mass Transit District — Travel Trainer
- SOLV — Program Coordinator, Director of Outreach and Member Services
- St. Mary's Academy — Special Events & Development Associate
- Stand for the Children — Communications & Membership Assistant
- Standard, The — Communications Specialist I
- Statesman Journal — Custom Projects Editor, Sports Reporter
- TriMet — Facilities Services Program Coordinator, Community Relations Specialist, Senior Promotions Representative, Event Representative, Organization Development Coordinator, Station Manager
- TriVium Systems, Inc. — Marketing Communications Associate
- University of Oregon (UO) — Deputy Director of Alumni Communications, Assistant Director of Student Membership, Program Manager - Regional Volunteer Programs
- US Agencies Credit Union (USACU) — Business Development/Marketing Coordinator
- US Bureau of Land Management — Public Affairs Specialist
- US District Court - Oregon — Audio-visual, Data & Telecommunications Project Manager
- Vancouver Housing Authority — VISTA Program Development Specialist
- Vital Technical Marketing, Inc. (VTM) — Public Relations Account Manager
- Wah Chang — Marketing Specialist
- Washington State Department of Transportation — Communications Consultant 4
- WebMD - Marketing Communications Specialist
- Westside Economic Alliance (WEA) — Communication Manager
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Careers Reported by Communication Majors (Recent Graduates) on College/University Surveys
This is a list of jobs communication majors reported having at (or shortly after) graduation. This list was built from survey data published by colleges and universities across the United States. The University Career Center provides this list as a tool for generating ideas for further exploration.
- Account Executive for a public relations firm
- Editorial Assistant for a university
- Admissions Advisor for a university
- Assistant Account Executive for a media company
- Assistant Director for a local nonprofit promoting film and video production
- Assistant Language Teacher for a cultural exchange program
- Assistant Manager for a city/regional magazine
- Assistant to Editorial Director for a trade association magazine
- Assistant Volunteer Manager for coalition of charitable organizations through AmeriCorps
- Audio/Visual Specialist for a hospital
- Business Analyst for a management and technology consulting services
- Case Manager for a social services nonprofit
- Communications Associate for an environmental consulting firm
- Communications Coordinator for a nonprofit
- Communications Coordinator for a public relations firms specializing in foundations and nonprofits
- Community Organizer for a nonprofit
- Convention Associate for an association management company
- Counselor for a college-level academic support program
- Elementary Teacher for Teach for America
- Events Coordinator for a college
- Executive Assistant/Public Education Coordinator for an organization advocating for civil rights
- Government Affairs Assistant for a real estate trade association
- Graphic Design and Communication Coordinator for an engineering consulting firm
- Human Resource Specialist for a payroll and human resource company
- Juvenile Probation Officer for a state agency
- Leadership Development Consultant for an international fraternity for women
- Marketing Coordinator for a performing arts center
- Marketing Coordinator for an art museum
- Member Communications Coordinator for a nonprofit environmental organization
- Production Assistant for a local news affiliate
- Project Coordinator for a consulting firm
- Public Relations and Marketing Specialist for a university
- Public Relations Assistant for a hospital
- Public Relations Associate for a county agency
- Public Relations Specialist for a convention and visitor’s bureau
- Recruiter for a network of charities
- Research Assistant for a not-for-profit research institute
- Sales Representative for a pharmaceutical company
- Software Tester for a video game publishing company
- Special Event Coordinator for a health-related nonprofit
- Strategic Communications Consultant for a private consulting firm
- Technical Recruiter for a technical staffing firm
- Technical Writer for an electronics company
- Video Editor for a school district
- Visual Manager for a fashion retailer
- Volunteer Coordinator for a state political party
- Web Manager/Communications and Marketing for a performing arts center
- Writer for a television station
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Careers Reported by Communication Majors on the American Community Survey
The following list of job titles was generated from American Community Survey data. Every year, the federal government surveys over 3,000,000 people. This list shows some of the most-often reported careers for people who majored in Communication. Please be aware that additional education, internships, or career-related experience may be a prerequisite to some of the careers on this list. The University Career Center provides this list as a tool for generating ideas for exploration. To find a brief description of the following occupations, go the the Standard Occupational Classification system.
- Elementary and Middle School Teachers
- Marketing and Sales Managers
- Postsecondary Teachers
- Human Resources Workers
- Lawyers and Judges
- Education Administrators
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
- Chief Executives and Legislators
- Producers and Directors
- Counselors
- Management Analysts
- Financial Managers
- Public Relations Specialists
- Accountants and Auditors
- Writers and Authors
- Designers
- Secondary School Teachers
- Registered Nurses
- Social Workers
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software
- Fundraisers
- Public Relations and Fundraising Managers
- Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Web Developers
- Photographers
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Medical and Health Services Managers
- News Analysts, Reporters and Correspondents
- Human Resources Managers
- Computer Support Specialists
- Advertising and Promotions Managers
- Compliance Officers
- Training and Development Specialists
- Physicians and Surgeons
- Artists and Related Workers
- Purchasing Managers
- Agents and Business Managers Of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
- Librarians
- Special Education Teachers
- Technical Writers
- Musicians, Singers, and Related Workers
- Computer Programmers
- Industrial Production Managers
- Training and Development Managers
- Operations Research Analysts
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Logisticians
- Insurance Underwriters
- Psychologists
- Directors, Religious Activities and Education
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Government Classification Specifications
Classification Specifications are generic descriptions of jobs in government agencies. Generally, they provide an overview of the job and describe essential duties and responsibilities as well as requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) and educational requirements. Classification specifications can be useful in identifying organizations that hire people with an academic background in communication. Please be aware that internships or other career-related experience may be a prerequisite to finding professional-level employment. Career Services provides this list as a tool for generating ideas for exploration.
Multnomah County: Program Communications Coordinator, Program Communications Specialist, Communications Advisor, Public Affairs Coordinator, Public Relations Coordinator, Multimedia/Video Production Specialist
Washington County: Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Department Communications Coordinator, District Attorney Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator, Program Communication and Education Specialist-Senior
Clackamas County: Public Relations Specialist, Community Relations Specialist 1, Marketing Program Specialist
City of Hillsboro: Communications and Marketing Manager, Public Relations and Information Officer, Public Affairs Manager
METRO: Marketing and Promotions Coordinator 1, Marketing and Promotions Coordinator 2, Public Affairs Specialist-Associate, Public Affairs Specialist-Assistant, Public Affairs Specialist-Senior, Public Affairs Specialist-Principal
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Vocational Biographies
Vocational Biographies describes the career success stories of 1001 real people. Search by career title, keyword, topic, and career cluster. Username: portlandsu and password: 3W9N
- Special Events Coordinator
- Public Relations Director
- Scriptwriter
- Airborne Traffic Reporter
- Communications Director
- Magazine Publisher
- Radio Talk Show Producer
- University Media Relations Director
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Professional Associations
- American Communication Association (ACA) — ACA " is a not-for-profit organization, created to enhance and promote the academic and professional study, research, knowledge, criticism, teaching, exchange, and application of the basic principles of human communication."
- Western States Communication Association
- The Association for Women in Communications (AWC) — Professional association representing a variety of communications-related disciplines including: print and broadcast journalism, television and radio production, film, advertising, public relations, marketing, graphic design, multi-media design, and photography.
- National Communication Association — NCA "is a not-for-profit organization with a mission to promote study, criticism, research, teaching, and application of the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication."
- Association for Business Communication — ABC "is an international organization committed to fostering excellence in business communication scholarship, research, education, and practice."
- Society for Technical Communication
- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
- Public Relations Society of America Portland Metro Chapter
- National Association of Broadcasters
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