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Communications internship vs communications consultant

The differences between communications interns and communications consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a communications internship and a communications consultant. Additionally, a communications consultant has an average salary of $91,455, which is higher than the $33,458 average annual salary of a communications internship.

The top three skills for a communications internship include patients, customer service and press releases. The most important skills for a communications consultant are powerpoint, web content, and project management.

Communications internship vs communications consultant overview

Communications InternshipCommunications Consultant
Yearly salary$33,458$91,455
Hourly rate$16.09$43.97
Growth rate8%8%
Number of jobs62,64129,942
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4242
Years of experience44

What does a communications internship do?

When it comes to a communications internship, the tasks will vary depending on the organization or industry involved. However, one of the primary responsibilities is to observe proper etiquette in dealing with people and other situations. There will also be the need to accomplish administrative tasks such as producing paperwork and other documentation forms, maintaining records in a database, designing presentations, and coordinating with other team members. Furthermore, it is also important to develop various ideas that will help in multiple projects involving public relations.

What does a communications consultant do?

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 internship vs communications consultant salary

Communications interns and communications consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Communications InternshipCommunications Consultant
Average salary$33,458$91,455
Salary rangeBetween $24,000 And $45,000Between $63,000 And $130,000
Highest paying CityParsippany-Troy Hills, NJOakland, CA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyMassachusetts
Best paying companyThe Aspen InstituteDell
Best paying industryProfessionalUtilities

Differences between communications internship and communications consultant education

There are a few differences between a communications internship and a communications consultant in terms of educational background:

Communications InternshipCommunications Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 83%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorCommunicationCommunication
Most common collegeUniversity of HoustonStanford University

Communications internship vs communications consultant demographics

Here are the differences between communications interns' and communications consultants' demographics:

Communications InternshipCommunications Consultant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 31.5% Female, 68.5%Male, 43.5% Female, 56.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 5.3% White, 67.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 5.4% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage12%12%

Differences between communications internship and communications consultant duties and responsibilities

Communications internship example responsibilities.

  • Create and present a case study template, which lead to positive improvement in ALDI operations
  • Coordinate events such as the Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA's large scale adoption showcases and donation events while managing the shelter's Instagram.
  • Manage back-end of website (CMS and technologies); update member directory; create content and news feed on website.
  • Manage e-communication of company news through company website and Intranet.
  • Improve aesthetics, effectiveness, ROI and time-to-market of marketing communications by re-designing and effectively managing the development process and procedure.
  • Update outward facing corporate profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social mediums.
  • Show more

Communications consultant example responsibilities.

  • 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.
  • Show more

Communications internship vs communications consultant skills

Common communications internship skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Customer Service, 14%
  • Press Releases, 9%
  • Web Content, 7%
  • PowerPoint, 5%
  • Facebook, 5%
Common communications consultant skills
  • PowerPoint, 10%
  • Web Content, 9%
  • Project Management, 8%
  • Press Releases, 5%
  • Strategic Communications Plan, 5%
  • External Communications, 4%

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