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Career Opportunities for Communication Majors

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Annual Career Night with a Panel of Alumni

In April each year, the Department's committees for Community, Diversity and Social Justice, and Alumni and Outreach host career nights for Communication undergraduate students.This year's Career Night is scheduled to take place in the Memorial Hall, Wed, April 15, 2009, 6pm - 8pm.

You are cordially invited to meet, network and learn from a panel of UMass Amherst Department of Communication alumni. Panelists will speak about their experiences in the field, what to expect upon graduation and what you can do now to better prepare for "the world out there." At the conclusion of the program, students will have the opportunity to meet informally with the alumni over refreshments.

Career Night is co-sponsored by:
The Department of Communication
UMass Amherst Alumni Association

Panelists include:
- Mr. James Daddona '82, freelance sports producer/director (ESPN, NHL, NCAA, NBC, NESN)

- Mr. Erik Ewers '91, editor with Florentine Films

- Ms. Nadia Guessous '96, Five College fellow in the department of women's and gender studies at Amherst College

- Ms. Erin Martin Kane '91, principal with EMK Public Relations

- Mr. Adam Martignetti '01, chief of staff, Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security

- Ms. Lori Osborne '96, customer business planning manager with CPG Sales at ConAgra Foods

FREE FOOD - FREE REFRESHMENTS

Seating is limited. RSVP today!

REGISTER ONLINE FOR THIS PROGRAM or call 800.456.UMASS.

Program booklet is available at here.

 

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The Communication major at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a liberal arts major, rather than an applied or technical degree. It prepares students for any career that calls for higher literacy skills and critical thinking about communication processes and contexts.

The Communication major can help prepare students for work as communication specialists in industry; local, state, and federal government agencies; educational institutions; research organizations; political organizations, and religious groups. Specific positions in such organizations can include: production, sales, and programming positions for radio and television stations; media and communication advisors for political campaigns, intercultural organizations, labor unions, and government agencies; and communication consultants for personnel management, advertising, and sales organizations.

More information on study and careers in the Communication field can be found in the National Communication Association booklet “Pathways to Careers in Communication.”

Links to a variety of career-related websites and professional organizations can be found further down this page. For career advising in the Communication field, contact Mr. Tommie Joyner of Career Services, in 512B Goodell; tel: (413) 577-0417; email: tjoyner@acad.umass.edu.

Recent surveys of UMass Communication alumni indicate that they do well in finding employment. About 30% of our graduates work in print, film and broadcast communication industries, about 45% work in government, non-profit or business-related occupations, such as advertising, public relations, sales, financial or social services, and administration, and about 20% go on to graduate study, professional schools, or teaching.

 

Communication Career Resources at UMass

UMass Career Services

The office offers the following services:

  • Self-assessment tests
  • Internships and co-ops
  • Job listings
  • Job databases
  • Professional associations
  • Local, national, international career events
  • Company research tools
  • Job blogs
  • Discussion groups
  • Labor outlook and summary information
  • Online journals and newspaper
  • Resources on jobs overseas

For students: to schedule an appointment, call and leave a message with possible times when you could come and speak with Tommie Joyner, Assistant Director for Career Planning, at 512B Goodell; tel. (413) 577-0417; email: tjoyner@acad.umass.edu.

For faculty: Tommie does resume-writing and interview workshops and other workshops and presentations related to careers and career services. To inquire about or to schedule a workshop, call and leave a message on Tommie Joyner’s voicemail.

Online Networks of Students, Employer, Universities

 

Online Sources

Extensive Free Communication-related Jobs Database

  • JournalismJobs.com
    • Job categories: Newspapers/wire services • Television/radio • Magazines/publishing • Online media • Trade publications/newsletters • PR/media relations/communications • Nonprofit/academia/government • Financial/technology news jobs • Sales/marketing/circulation jobs
    • Additional recourses: Freelance jobs • Internships • Fellowships • Awards/contests • Media training • Career articles • Media salaries • Media ethics • Research tools general links • Journalism schools • Newspapers • Alt-newspapers • Magazines • TV stations • Radio stations
    • Search engine

Broadcasts & Films

Newspapers and Magazines

Advertising

Professional Organizations

Other Internet Sites with Information on Communication Careers