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What does a communications internship do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
Quoted expert
Molly Yanity Ph.D.
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.

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Communications internship responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real communications internship resumes:

  • 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.
  • Upload stories and photos to the intranet by utilizing the CMS tool and Photoshop.
  • Research commercial insurance, Medicare and Medicaid policies to assist in prior authorizations.
  • Provide assessment, medical and behavioral health care coordination and referral services to Medicare Medicaid population.
  • Learn and master each role of ALDI in-store associates.
  • Provide concepts to promote the YouTube channel to generate more views and subscribers.
  • Operate QuickBooks to assist with bookkeeping, budget preparations, accounts, and ledgers.
  • Compile boards in Pinterest and interact actively with other boards to increase following base.
  • Amass experience in content management (SharePoint), HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript.
  • Restructure the firm's YouTube channel to eliminate outdate videos and make the channel more user-friendly.

Communications internship skills and personality traits

We calculated that 16% of Communications Interns are proficient in Patients, Customer Service, and Press Releases. They’re also known for soft skills such as Interpersonal skills, Organizational skills, and Problem-solving skills.

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

  • Patients, 16%

    Researched and responded to medication related questions for store based pharmacists and pharmacy patients.

  • Customer Service, 14%

    Learned about facility and event operations, customer service, suites/corporate sales and professional sport business functions.

  • Press Releases, 9%

    Published marketing collateral such as invitations, informational brochures, newsletter/website copy and press releases.

  • Web Content, 7%

    Collaborated with account executives and traffic coordinators to accurately update web content, ads, and scheduled programming.

  • PowerPoint, 5%

    Created several Target-branded and technically sound PowerPoint presentations for internal and external use by SeniorManagement and other team members.

  • Facebook, 5%

    Research and develop articles on targeted business topics including green initiatives and postings for company social networks including Facebook and Twitter.

Common skills that a communications internship uses to do their job include "patients," "customer service," and "press releases." You can find details on the most important communications internship responsibilities below.

Interpersonal skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a communications internship to have is interpersonal skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "public relations specialists deal with the public and the media regularly." Communications interns often use interpersonal skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "managed social media sites, interpersonal work with students and staff, assisted event coordinator by creating and marketing content"

Organizational skills. Another essential skill to perform communications internship duties is organizational skills. Communications interns responsibilities require that "public relations specialists are often in charge of managing several events or communications at the same time, which requires excellent skills in coordinating arrangements." Communications interns also use organizational skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "developed press releases related to organizational news & created marketing pamphlets. "

Problem-solving skills. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of communications interns is problem-solving skills. This skill is critical to many everyday communications internship duties, as "public relations specialists sometimes must explain how a company or client is handling sensitive issues." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "drafted policy, resolutions and press releases. "

Speaking skills. A big part of what communications interns do relies on "speaking skills." You can see how essential it is to communications internship responsibilities because "public relations specialists regularly speak on behalf of clients or their organization." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical communications internship tasks: "represented organization positively through submission of press releases and fact sheets. "

Writing skills. Another common skill required for communications internship responsibilities is "writing skills." This skill comes up in the duties of communications interns all the time, as "public relations specialists must be able to write well-organized and clear press releases, speeches, and social media posts." An excerpt from a real communications internship resume shows how this skill is central to what a communications internship does: "assist communications director with news and feature writing including press releases and member communications. "

All communications internship skills

The three companies that hire the most communications internships are:

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Compare different communications interns

Communications internship vs. Marketing and event planning internship

A marketing and event planning intern is responsible for supporting the operations of a company's marketing department, performing administrative duties under the guidance of a direct supervisor or tenured marketing staff. Marketing and event planning interns shadow all the processes of marketing operations, assisting with events management procedures, and suggesting strategic solutions to boost the company's brand image to the public. They also analyze the current market trends, identifying business opportunities to negotiate with more clients by meeting consumer demands and needs, bringing revenues, and increasing the company's profitability.

If we compare the average communications internship annual salary with that of a marketing and event planning internship, we find that marketing and event planning interns typically earn a $5,046 lower salary than communications interns make annually.While their salaries may differ, the common ground between communications interns and marketing and event planning interns are a few of the skills required in each roleacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities. In both careers, employee duties involve skills like press releases, powerpoint, and facebook.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between communications interns and marketing and event planning internship. For instance, communications internship responsibilities require skills such as "patients," "customer service," "web content," and "graphic design." Whereas a marketing and event planning internship is skilled in "event logistics," "events intern," "event coordination," and "event management." This is part of what separates the two careers.

The education levels that marketing and event planning interns earn slightly differ from communications interns. In particular, marketing and event planning interns are 2.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a communications internship. Additionally, they're 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Communications internship vs. Marketing communications specialist

A marketing communications specialist is an individual who is responsible for creating all the marketing materials that are distributed to customers to increase brand awareness for the company's products or services. To create these materials, marketing communications specialists must collaborate with graphic design teams. They are required to track their marketing performance so that they can identify ways to improve their marketing strategies. Marketing communications specialists must also set up interviews and press conferences as part of their marketing campaign.

On average, marketing communications specialists earn a $20,535 higher salary than communications interns a year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Communications interns and marketing communications specialists both require similar skills like "customer service," "press releases," and "web content" to carry out their responsibilities.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, communications internship responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "patients," "promotional videos," "adobe creative suite," and "community engagement." Meanwhile, a marketing communications specialist has duties that require skills in areas such as "digital marketing," "project management," "marketing campaigns," and "channel marketing." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Marketing communications specialists earn a higher average salary than communications interns. But marketing communications specialists earn the highest pay in the technology industry, with an average salary of $70,324. Additionally, communications interns earn the highest salaries in the professional with average pay of $38,090 annually.marketing communications specialists earn similar levels of education than communications interns in general. They're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for communications internships in the next 3-5 years?

Molly Yanity Ph.D.Molly Yanity Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor of Journalism Chair of Journalism, Quinnipiac University

I'm an educator who doesn't believe that technology dictates what we do. There are apparent exceptions to that as TV, the web, mobile, social dictates a lot. But regardless of the platform, good journalism is good journalism. Rather than focus on specific technologies, focus on your ability to be agile and flexible. Data reporting, or what we used to call computer-assisted reporting, is massive right now. But look at what the New York Times is doing with all that Covid-19 data? Could you take an enormous data set and turn it into something readable for a 25-year-old on mobile? Could you package it for quick hits on social? Could you do a deep dive on the policy? That, to me, is the best way to think of technology. If you focus too much on pivoting from one platform to the next, you'll miss the forest for the trees.

Communications internship vs. Photography internship

Photography internship is an advantage to interns who assist photographers while studying since it can develop creativity, strong networking, technical, and practical skills as they learn both lighting and photography business in a real photography studio. These interns are tasked to perform research, update social media platforms, and create images for social media posts. Such valuable hands-on experience serves as an entry-level to boost confidence, increase motivation, gain references, and qualify them for a permanent job offer.

An average photography internship eans a higher salary compared to the average salary of communications interns. The difference in salaries amounts to photography interns earning a $33,918 higher average salary than communications interns.communications interns and photography interns both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "powerpoint," "facebook," and "twitter," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a communications internship is likely to be skilled in "patients," "customer service," "press releases," and "web content," while a typical photography internship is skilled in "photo shoots," "photography intern," "adobe lightroom," and "video shoots."

Photography interns typically earn similar educational levels compared to communications interns. Specifically, they're 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Communications internship vs. Senior communications specialist

A senior communications specialist is primarily in charge of developing communication strategies in the company. Their responsibilities revolve around ensuring the smooth flow of internal and external communications, coordinating various departments, managing campaigns and event schedules, devising social media strategies, and supervising media relations. A senior communications specialist must also address issues and concerns, resolving them promptly. Furthermore, as a senior specialist, it is essential to lead and assist the junior specialists, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Senior communications specialists average a higher salary than the annual salary of communications interns. The difference is about $45,490 per year.While their salaries may vary, communications interns and senior communications specialists both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "patients," "press releases," and "web content. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "customer service," "instagram," "blog posts," and "promotional videos" are skills that commonly show up on communications internship resumes. On the other hand, senior communications specialists use skills like project management, strategic communications, corporate communications, and hr on their resumes.In general, senior communications specialists earn the most working in the technology industry, with an average salary of $85,027. The highest-paying industry for a communications internship is the professional industry.The average resume of senior communications specialists showed that they earn higher levels of education compared to communications interns. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 5.1% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 0.5%.

Types of communications internship

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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