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Communications consultants are responsible for preparing media releases, whether through print, video, or email. They perform varied tasks that may include working on complete projects such as media analysis and branding, creating strategies to reinforced communication among clients and employees, and providing guidance and recommendations to a company's public relations team. Communications consultants may also conduct training on best practices for other employees. Some employers prefer someone with a bachelor's degree in communications, public relations or journalism, previous work experience in a related field, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Communications Consultant Responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real communications consultant resumes representing typical tasks they are likely to perform in their roles.

  • Plan and manage and produce online marketing activities and campaigns (B2B and B2C).
  • Manage content, database selection, HTML presentation and quality assurance of all outbound email campaigns.
  • Advise and/or manage on content, navigation architecture, SEO, social media, YouTube, email campaigns.
  • Manage editorial and content for Siemens quarterly executive level do magazine with worldwide distribution.
  • Gather requirements, provide justification and value-ad capabilities for SharePoint implementation, and lead the change management team.
  • Create PowerPoint decks, organization charts, Vision/Strategy/Execution slides, updates to intranet websites and collaboration sites.
  • Spearhead major initiative to upgrade SharePoint intranet to include collaboration features, creating FBHS's only cross-company collaboration tool.
  • Execute marketing communications tactics relate to healthcare reform and government/regulatory issues across the enterprise to internal and external audiences.
  • General editing, proofreading and copywriting as needed.
  • Update the newsletter to a printable and HTML responsive PDF for fast event registration.
  • Devise and implement strategic marketing plans (for retail, B2B and B2C companies).
  • Spearhead rebranding initiative to refresh program's look and feel in preparation for a global launch.
  • Ensure content on JIEDDO and JUONS websites as current and comply with DoD security policy and guidelines.
  • Provide training for social media posting, reading metrics, twitter for business, use of hashtags, market segmentation.
  • Prioritize executive communications activities with keen focus on ROI & positioning.

Communications Consultant Skills and Personality Traits

We calculated that 10% of Communications Consultants are proficient in PowerPoint, Web Content, and Project Management. They’re also known for soft skills such as Organizational skills, Problem-solving skills, and Speaking skills.

We break down the percentage of Communications Consultants that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • PowerPoint, 10%

    Created PowerPoint decks, organization charts, Vision/Strategy/Execution slides, updates to intranet websites and collaboration sites.

  • Web Content, 9%

    Maintained a customer-service priority in leading strategic communications, Web content production, and media relations for the Public Transportation Division.

  • Project Management, 8%

    Managed internal communications and project management associated with the overall growth strategy inclusive of Alliances and Partners Business Development team.

  • Press Releases, 5%

    Developed promotional literature and messages, maintained website content, wrote press releases and created procedures manual information.

  • Strategic Communications Plan, 5%

    Specialize in strategic communications planning with particular emphasis on development communications for academic institutions and marketing communications for corporations.

  • External Communications, 4%

    Developed and managed internal and external communications, marketing and public outreach for Denver's Porter Hospital.

Some of the skills we found on communications consultant resumes included "powerpoint," "web content," and "project management." We have detailed the most important communications consultant responsibilities below.

  • Arguably the most important personality trait for a communications consultant to have happens to be organizational skills. An example from a resume said this about the skill, "public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events at the same time, requiring superior organizational skills." Additionally, other resumes have pointed out that communications consultants can use organizational skills to "developed website content and collateral material for organizational development and hr consulting companies. "
  • Another trait important for fulfilling communications consultant duties is problem-solving skills. According to a communications consultant resume, "public relations specialists sometimes must explain how a company or client is handling sensitive issues." Here's an example of how communications consultants are able to utilize problem-solving skills: "provided short-term oversight of operational performance and effectiveness solutions, driving proactive instead of reactive decision-making for content development and publication. "
  • Another skill that is quite popular among communications consultants is speaking skills. This skill is very critical to fulfilling every day responsibilities as is shown in this example from a communications consultant resume: "public relations specialists regularly speak on behalf of their organization" This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "manage press releases, pitch client stories to press outlets; identify client speaking opportunities; draft speeches/remarks/op-eds. "
  • A communications consultant responsibilities sometimes require "interpersonal skills." The responsibilities that rely on this skills are shown by this resume excerpt: "public relations specialists deal with the public and the media regularly; therefore, they must be open and friendly in order to maintain a favorable image for their organization." This resume example shows how this skill is used by communications consultants: "distinguished interpersonal wrote and edited reports, press releases, and other important documents with and customer service skills. "
  • Yet another important skill that a communications consultant must demonstrate is "writing skills." Public relations specialists must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases and speeches This is clearly demonstrated in this example from a communications consultant who stated: "exhibited excellent writing and editing ability, content development skills and superior editorial calendar development aptitude. "
  • See the full list of communications consultant skills.

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    What Public Affairs Specialists Do

    Psychology research assistants take charge of the operational and administrative tasks like mailing surveys, summarizing results, and managing correspondence. The research assistants identify the areas in need of improvement and score psychological tests. They prepare the interview questions and summarize test results. Their job involves responding to research-related emails and take part in project meetings. Also, they update the content of websites and prepare reports of their progress. The skills they need in carrying out this job include communication, critical thinking, attention to detail, and technical skills.

    In this section, we compare the average communications consultant annual salary with that of a public affairs specialist. Typically, public affairs specialists earn a $25,072 lower salary than communications consultants earn annually.

    While the salaries between these two careers can be different, they do share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both communications consultants and public affairs specialists positions are skilled in powerpoint, web content, and press releases.

    As far as similarities go, this is where it ends because a communications consultant responsibility requires skills such as "project management," "strategic communications plan," "corporate communications," and "communications materials." Whereas a public affairs specialist is skilled in "news stories," "veterans," "conduct interviews," and "news articles." So if you're looking for what truly separates the two careers, you've found it.

    Public affairs specialists receive the highest salaries in the government industry coming in with an average yearly salary of $76,898. But communications consultants are paid more in the utilities industry with an average salary of $102,010.

    Public affairs specialists tend to reach similar levels of education than communications consultants. In fact, public affairs specialists are 0.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

    What Are The Duties Of a Media Relations Specialist?

    A media relations specialist's role is to help a company maintain good public relations through various forms of media, ensuring to convey their brand's purpose and message. Their responsibilities typically revolve around developing strategies and opportunities, producing newsletters and press releases, remaining updated with the latest trends, and even managing the company's social media platforms. A media relations specialist may also delegate tasks to writers and graphic designers, arrange schedules, and ensure that all goals are met within the expected deadline and budget.

    Next up, we have the media relations specialist profession to look over. This career brings along a lower average salary when compared to a communications consultant annual salary. In fact, media relations specialists salary difference is $40,599 lower than the salary of communications consultants per year.

    While the salary may be different for these job positions, there is one similarity and that's a few of the skills needed to perform certain duties. We used info from lots of resumes to find that both communications consultants and media relations specialists are known to have skills such as "powerpoint," "press releases," and "external communications. "

    But both careers also use different skills, according to real communications consultant resumes. While communications consultant responsibilities can utilize skills like "web content," "project management," "strategic communications plan," and "external audiences," some media relations specialists use skills like "patients," "compassion," "excellent interpersonal," and "data entry."

    It's been discovered that media relations specialists earn lower salaries compared to communications consultants, but we wanted to find out where media relations specialists earned the most pay. The answer? The finance industry. The average salary in the industry is $65,925. Additionally, communications consultants earn the highest paychecks in the utilities with an average salary of $102,010.

    On the topic of education, media relations specialists earn lower levels of education than communications consultants. In general, they're 6.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    What Technology Do You Think Will Become More Important And Prevalent For Communications Specialists In The Next 3-5 Years?

    C

    Christine Carmichael Ph.D.

    Professor, Our Lady of the Lake University

    Fueled by the pandemic, telepractice using digital platforms for service delivery is likely to become a mainstay for speech pathology, or at least a woven component into evaluation and treatment plans. While clinicians cannot perform manual techniques via teletherapy, I think the mandate for this type of practice made us realize that many assessments and treatment facets can be accomplished with this technology.Show more

    How a Public Relations Compares

    Public relations is a strategic way of developing and maintaining a client's or company's public image through media coverage, appearances, and press releases by designing and developing events to raise funds or to spread awareness to the public regarding products, brands, or individuals. It involves research and evaluation of programs including financial, marketing, employee, or government relations using topics of public interest and news items. Due to our present technological innovations, public relations now use webinars, blogs, and downloadable resources under one convenient website.

    Let's now take a look at the public relations profession. On average, these workers make lower salaries than communications consultants with a $43,072 difference per year.

    Using communications consultants and public relations resumes, we found that both professions have similar skills such as "powerpoint," "web content," and "press releases," but the other skills required are very different.

    There are many key differences between these two careers as shown by resumes from each profession. Some of those differences include the skills required to complete responsibilities within each role. As an example of this, a communications consultant is likely to be skilled in "project management," "strategic communications plan," "external audiences," and "corporate communications," while a typical public relations is skilled in "photography," "public speaking," "writing press releases," and "photo shoots."

    Additionally, public relations earn a higher salary in the professional industry compared to other industries. In this industry, they receive an average salary of $56,027. Additionally, communications consultants earn an average salary of $102,010 in the utilities industry.

    Public relations typically study at lower levels compared with communications consultants. For example, they're 7.8% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

    Description Of a Public Relations Specialist

    A public relations specialist is a professional who creates and maintains a favorable public image of an organization by crafting media releases and developing social media programs. Public relations specialists must help their clients communicate effectively with the public as well as evaluate the public opinion of their clients through social media. They need to draft their press releases and contact people in the media who might want to broadcast their materials. Public relations specialists are also required to draft speeches and arrange interviews for the top executives of their organization.

    Now, we'll look at public relations specialists, who generally average a lower pay when compared to communications consultants annual salary. In fact, the difference is about $43,331 per year.

    According to resumes from both communications consultants and public relations specialists, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "powerpoint," "web content," and "project management. "

    While some skills are shared by these professions, there are some differences to note. "strategic communications plan," "communications materials," "hr," and "intranet" are skills that have shown up on communications consultants resumes. Additionally, public relations specialist uses skills like strong project management, story development, marketing campaigns, and digital marketing on their resumes.

    In general, public relations specialists make a higher salary in the finance industry with an average of $65,431. The highest communications consultant annual salary stems from the utilities industry.

    In general, public relations specialists reach lower levels of education when compared to communications consultants resumes. Public relations specialists are 5.8% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.