What is a communications internship and how to become one

Q: How long does it take to become a Communications Internship?

It takes one year or less to become a communications internship. That is the time it takes to learn specific communications internship skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 4 to 6 years years to become a communications internship.

Q: Do interns get paid well?

Yes, interns can get paid well depending on the company and their status as part-time or full-time workers. Also, as most jobs go, other factors like location and experience can determine your exact salary.

Q: How much do communications interns make?

Communications interns make around $37,390 yearly or about $17.98 hourly. As most jobs go, factors like location, company, and experience can determine your salary. On the lower end of the salary range, you may be paid only about $24,000. On the higher end, you can earn around $56,000. Also, most interns have a bachelor's degree in communication or a related field like public relations and journalism, which can boost your prospects.

Q: What do you do as a communications intern?

As a communications intern, you typically have duties regarding public relations, online content, and administration. In general, it'll depend on the organization and the industry you're a part of, but you usually are part of the creative team that handles the organization's brand and image while reporting to a supervisor.

Q: What does a marketing and communications intern do?

A marketing and communications intern does work regarding public relations, online content, and administration. In general, it'll depend on the organization and the industry you're a part of, but you usually are part of the creative team that handles the organization's brand and image while reporting to a supervisor.

Q: What qualifications do you need to work in communications?

The minimum qualifications to work in communications is a bachelor's degree in communications or a related field. They must also have a lot of experience in conveying messages using different mediums while also being able to deal with urgent and crisis situations.

Q: Which field is best for a communications internship?

The best field for a communications internship is social and digital media. As most jobs go, factors like company and your worker status as full-time or part-time can determine your salary, but you could make around the $40-50,000 range on average.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Carolyn Dekker

A communications internship is for students or recent graduates to gain hands-on experience in the field of communications. Interns work under the guidance of experienced professionals in various industries such as public relations, advertising, journalism, or marketing. They assist with tasks such as drafting press releases, creating social media content, conducting research, and organizing events. A communications internship is to provide practical skills and knowledge that can be applied to future careers in communications.

What general advice would you give to a communications internship?

Carolyn Dekker

Assistant Professor, English, Finlandia University

The Coronavirus pandemic is changing workplaces and job searches. Since many workplaces continue to operate remotely, students who wish to work in writing and communication roles while remaining in this small, rural community may find unique opportunities, thanks to the unhinging of work from geography.

Many of our recent English graduates want to become teachers. As school re-opening plans reveal themselves to be unsafe (mainly for teachers in at-risk age and health demographics), schools are anticipating a wave of teacher retirements and an elevated need for substitute teachers. Recent graduates may want to sit for teaching certification exams. Many states, including Michigan, have an alternate-route teaching certificate path that will issue a temporary certificate so that you can work as a teacher while pursuing a Master's in Education part-time.

ScoreCommunications InternshipUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,458

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.6

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.59%

Asian 5.29%

Black or African American 10.01%

Hispanic or Latino 11.91%

Unknown 5.08%

White 67.12%

Gender

female 68.53%

male 31.47%

Age - 40

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40

Stress level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.8

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a communications internship?

Pros

Exposure to various aspects of communications, including media relations, social media, and event planning
Chance to build a network of contacts in the industry
Possibility of receiving a job offer from the company after the internship
Develop professional skills such as writing, editing, and research
Opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in the field
Gain insight into the workings of a company or organization

Cons

May require performing menial tasks such as photocopying or running errands
High competition for internships at top companies or organizations
May require working with difficult or demanding clients or colleagues
Little job security beyond the duration of the internship
May not provide a comprehensive view of the field of communications

Key steps to become a communications internship

Explore communications internship education requirements

Most common communications internship degrees

Bachelor's

82.8 %

Master's

6.6 %

Associate

6.4 %

Start to develop specific communications internship skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	15.72%
Customer Service	14.05%
Press Releases	9.39%
Web Content	7.44%
PowerPoint	4.75%

Complete relevant communications internship training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New communications interns learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a communications internship based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real communications internship resumes.

Research communications internship duties and 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.

Prepare your communications internship resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your communications internship resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a communications internship resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable communications internship resume templates

Build a professional communications internship resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your communications internship resume.