Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Communications Managers
Communications Managers review all communications for an organization, including internal memos and external press releases. They may also write original communications.
Table of contents
Communications Managers are essentially in-house Public Relations (PR) Specialists. However, along with managing external communications to the public, Communications Managers also manage internal communications.
Working as a Communications Manager is an interesting career choice, as your decisions directly impact the reputation of your employer.
The Communications Manager, or Communications Director, is responsible for ensuring that all external and internal memos and reports align with the values and needs of the organization. They may prepare press releases, media reports, and marketing materials. They may also review and edit internal company letters to employees.
What they do
Communications Managers review all communications for an organization, including internal memos and external press releases. They may also write original communications.
Write Press Releases and Media Reports
The Communications Manager is typically responsible for writing or reviewing all press releases and media reports. They need to ensure that the content of the press releases follows company policies and matches the image that the company wants to promote.
Along with aligning with the company’s vision, the press releases often need to provide specific information. The Communications Manager may need to summarize the information that the company wants to share with the public.
Oversee the Development of Marketing Material
Marketing materials are a type of external communication, which is the responsibility of the Communications Manager. As a Communications Manager, you may oversee the development of marketing material, ensuring that the overall message of the material aligns with the company’s brand and values.
Along with the development of marketing material, Communications Managers may help develop customer loyalty programs.
Provide Talking Points for Employees
Before talking to the press, employees may need to receive a briefing from the Communications Manager. For example, you may need to explain to employees what they can and cannot discuss. You may also provide employees with specific talking points or messages to communicate with the press.
Review and Edit Internal Company Memos
Communications Managers need to monitor internal communications, including company memos and letters to employees. The goal of the Communications Manager is to ensure that internal communications follow all company policies and legal requirements.
Manage the Public Relations and Marketing Staff
The Communications Manager is often the top-level employee within the marketing department of a company. They oversee the work of marketing and public relations (PR) staff.
The marketing and PR staff may write original press releases, company memos, and other communications. The Communications Manager then reviews the material before it is released.
Prepare Media Activity Reports for Executives
The Communications Manager may need to prepare reports for executives. For example, you may need to generate a report showcasing the impact of a recent press release or marketing campaign. The reports provide executives with a summary of the results of your efforts.
What is the job like
When you work in Public Relations in the games industry, there’s rarely a typical day. You’ll likely do any on the following:
- Pitch journalists features on your clients
- Media train executives and developers for interviews
- Advise on assets including trailers, stills, and more
- Attend – at the moment virtual – events
- Read a LOT of news coverage
- Train on new software to help clients and attend seminars
- Attend meetings with executives and developers (this is the only constant)
- And of course – play the games you’re working on 🙂
Pros
The pros are pretty straight forward. Aside from working in gaming, which is a dream job if you’re a gamer, PR offers a unique way to do that. You are touching one aspect of the industry, you kind of touch all of them. And if you work at an agency, you get to work with multiple companies, including devs and publishers at varying levels from AAA to indie.
Cons
IF there’s a con, it’s that it’s a LOT of work. 50 hour work weeks aren’t uncommon. Still, if you get to count playing games as part of your work week, it’s not a bad trade off.
Advice for students looking to get into Public Relations and Communications in the gaming industry
In terms of advice:
- A degree in communications or journalism is great, but don’t stress if your background is more generalized. As the space continues to shift and we lean more into influencers and utilization of social media, it’s more important to understand the gaming landscape and the channels companies are using to connect with fans. TLDR – an expert level grasp of AP style, might not make you as appealing a candidate as knowing the up and coming gaming influencers on Tik Tok.
- Read. Watch. Engage with content creators. Know who in the media and content creator space are talking about gaming. Start building relationships with them. Having “friendlies” is the key to success. NOT everything you work on will be Call of Duty, so having those relationships will come in handy when you’re pitching the 12th update to a free-to-play mobile title.
- Prepare to be a jack of all trades. You have to be willing to roll up your sleeves and also willing to learn new things. If there’s a new social platform or one you aren’t familiar with, get to know it. LinkedIn, PR Newswire, Cision, and many more offer training and certification in new tools and channels all the time – including AP style if it’s not in your toolkit already.
- Bring a passion for gaming to the table. Authenticity is key with consumer audiences, media, and the companies you’ll work for. If you don’t love games, working in games publicity is not for you!
Pros
You Get to Help Boost the Profile of Your Employer
An effective Communications Manager helps improve brand awareness and recognition, which is a rewarding experience.
You Get to Interact with a Wide Range of Individuals
Communications Managers work with a diverse group of people and meet individuals in a variety of fields.
You May Gain National Exposure
The Communications Director may occasionally handle interviews with the press, providing national exposure.
Work Is Rarely Boring
When working for a large company, Communications Managers deal with all types of communications, which keeps the job interesting.
Cons
Communications Managers Must Deal with Pressure
Working as a Communications Manager is a demanding job with a lot of pressure, as the company’s image is heavily influenced by your decisions.
You May Work Long Hours
Communications Managers often work full work weeks and may work long hours during the day. It is not uncommon to put in a 12- to 14-hour workday, especially when the company is dealing with a PR issue.
Where they work
Communications Managers are employed in almost every industry. They often work for large corporations that need to maintain a positive public image, such as manufacturers, retail stores, and businesses that provide services to the public. Other common employers include government organizations and agencies. Communications Managers may also lead public relations firms.
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How to become one
Step 1: Study English and Marketing in High School
Communications Managers require strong reading and writing skills, which high school students can develop through English classes. Marketing classes may also provide useful skills, if available at your school.
Step 2: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Most Communications Managers have Bachelor’s degrees. The most common majors include Communications, Public Relations, English, Marketing, and Journalism.
Step 3: Consider Earning a Master’s Degree
A Master’s degree is not typically required for this career, but some employers may prefer a graduate degree when multiple candidates apply for a position. Public Relations and Communications are suitable majors.
Step 4: Obtain an Entry-Level Job
Communications Managers often have years of experience before achieving their final position. You may need to start with entry-level jobs in the marketing department or working for a public relations firm.
Step 5: Earn Voluntary Certifications
Earning voluntary certifications may help you climb from entry-level positions to the role of a Communications Manager. Certification through the Public Relations Society of America is a common choice.
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
Communications Managers require superb communications skills, due to the need to communicate information in a positive light. This job also requires strong leadership skills, as Communications Managers typically manage other staff. You may also need good organizational skills to ensure that communications follow your employer’s policies.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
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