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Communications officer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted experts

Hans Schmidt Ph.D.,

Hans Schmidt Ph.D.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical communications officer skills. We ranked the top skills for communications officers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.1% of communications officer resumes contained affordable housing as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a communications officer needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 communications officer skills for your resume and career

1. Affordable Housing

Here's how communications officers use affordable housing:

Develop relationships with affordable housing non-profits and developers.
Managed Affordable Housing Programs (AHP) offered by RBC Mortgage Maintained Home Counselor Online Program through Fannie Mae

2. Non-Emergency Telephone Calls

Here's how communications officers use non-emergency telephone calls:

Received emergency and non-emergency telephone calls; asked questions to solicit information regarding the nature and location of the emergency.
Receive all emergency 911 and non-emergency telephone calls and transmits to appropriate public safety or emergency response personnel.

3. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how communications officers use customer service:

Prioritized customer service and helped improve relationships between security department and school administrations and staff.
Demonstrated great customer service to individuals needing assistance during routine and emergency situations.

4. Computer Aided Dispatch

Here's how communications officers use computer aided dispatch:

Operated law enforcement telecommunications system to interface with state and national databases, computer aided dispatch, and local records management systems
Operate Computer Aided Dispatch System, maintaining communication and monitoring status of emergency personnel and their equipment.

5. Public Safety Agencies

Here's how communications officers use public safety agencies:

Perform general functions of public safety agencies communications and staffing efforts.
Answer emergency calls and dispatch appropriate public safety agencies accordingly.

6. CAD

Here's how communications officers use cad:

Utilized computer-aided dispatch (CAD) to ensure officer safety by maintaining officer location information and public contact information.
Radio Communication, CAD System, Research for Deputies/Investigators, Phone Communication with Public * Given training responsibilities for new employee.

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7. EMS

Emergency Medical Services, also known as EMS, is an emergency medical response system that provides stabilization and urgent preclinical and on-site treatment for serious illness and injury, as well as the transportation of patients who are unable to transport themselves to a definite health care center. The main objective of EMS is to provide emergency medical treatment to those who need urgent medical attention and to properly treat the patient's condition and transport them to a suitable health center or medical facility.

Here's how communications officers use ems:

Monitor and analyze video surveillance of Medical Center grounds to immediately assess evolving conditions and determining required police and/or EMS response.
Utilize telecommunications equipment to dispatch officers, firefighters and EMS personnel to calls by prioritizing each call by severity.

8. Emergency Situations

Here's how communications officers use emergency situations:

Responded to calls regarding emergency and non-emergency situations requiring police and/or fire assistance and dispatched appropriate public safety units as needed.
Provided emergency medical dispatching assistance to callers with medical emergencies; planned flight landing for emergency situations.

9. Press Releases

Here's how communications officers use press releases:

Developed briefing presentations for regional elected officials and supervised weekly press releases.
Drafted bilingual press releases to maximize company media exposure.

10. Law Enforcement Agencies

Here's how communications officers use law enforcement agencies:

Obtain necessary information in an effective and timely manner so that necessary medical and/or law enforcement agencies could be appropriately dispatched.
Headed a Communications Employee Retention Project which researched and compared employment requirements along with training processes of law enforcement agencies nationwide.

11. Criminal History

Criminal history is a list of misconducts for which the accused has already been convicted before. The criminal record and its existence may vary between jurisdictions within the same country and different nations.

Here's how communications officers use criminal history:

Assisted police personnel in the field by quickly and accurately researching and relaying criminal history information and other requested data.
Assist law enforcement by quickly and accurately researching and relaying criminal history information and other requested data.

12. Computer System

Here's how communications officers use computer system:

Instituted many computer system upgrades to the existing network while supervising the deployment of additional network servers and managed network analysts.
Supervised numerous communications units in planning, installing and operating digital telephone, radio, teletype, satellite and computer systems.

13. Dispatch System

Dispatch systems are organized systems for transport, distribution, and dispatch of products via coordinated logistics.

Here's how communications officers use dispatch system:

Applied solid communication skills toward liaising between diverse professionals and operating a computer-aided dispatch system.
Operated computer-aided dispatch system and also assisted in training new dispatchers.

14. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how communications officers use cpr:

Supported DSS, DOT, FBI, SBI & maintained Emergency Medical Dispatch, DCI, and CPR certifications.
Maintain certifications and current training requirements for Emergency Medical Dispatch, CPR, and Indiana Data and Communications System.

15. Facebook

Here's how communications officers use facebook:

Implement effective search engine optimization tactics and execute Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and social media marketing campaigns
Advise and guide activities related social media outlets such as the CHPPD website, Facebook, LinkedIn and other special projects.

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What skills help Communications Officers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on communications officer resumes?

Hans Schmidt Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Communications, Coordinator, Schreyer and Cooper Honors Programs, Penn State University, Brandywine

It is important to have a wide range of communication skills -from effectively participating in and leading meetings to write in style appropriate for the setting to media productions skills. When people move into the "manager" role, of course, this entails having developed a broad awareness of the culture at that particular organization and the skills needed to lead a group of people. So, really, skills related to communication touch on a wide range of job functions and responsibilities.

What soft skills should all communications officers possess?

Hans Schmidt Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Communications, Coordinator, Schreyer and Cooper Honors Programs, Penn State University, Brandywine

I know that "soft skills" is commonly used, but I'm not a fan of the term. I think it implies that some of these skills are "soft" or "easy" or "unimportant." They aren't. In many ways, so-called "soft skills" - things like interpersonal communication skills - can be among the most important skills for any worker. This is especially the case in communication-related fields, where there is an expectation that human interaction - both in-person and mediated - is important. This is true with leadership skills and presentation/speaking skills.

What hard/technical skills are most important for communications officers?

Hans Schmidt Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Communications, Coordinator, Schreyer and Cooper Honors Programs, Penn State University, Brandywine

Having the ability to write well is important in most knowledge-based fields today. It is especially critical in any communication-related field of job specialization. Otherwise, the specific technical skills are important variations between the particular company and/or job expectations. Some fields use proprietary software that one typically learns about once one starts the job. Some fields require media production competencies - related to basic video production, audio production, imaging or photography, or even web design/management. The important thing is to develop a general competency with technology - and to learn how to learn. That allows you to pivot to develop new skills in different situations and roles.

What communications officer skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Clarke Caywood

Professor (founder group of IMC and PR in Medill) Joint Doctorate in Business and Journalism - Univ. Wis. Madison, Northwestern University

Rapid and changing from competitors who offer advanced textual intelligence systems to track brands, employees, competitors, public figures, customers, and more.

What type of skills will young communications officers need?

Melinda Booze

Assistant Professor, Evangel University

Today's communication graduates will need adaptive storytelling skills. In a communication environment that is noisy and insistent, the graduates that will stand out are those who can demonstrate to employers and clients that they can identify an audience's needs, wants and values and craft messages that connects with and engages that audience. This involves all the requisite hard and soft skills, such as technological proficiency, writing, speaking, a love of learning, flexibility, creativity and more. The skill that is perhaps less emphasized or practiced is careful listening. The outcome of careful listening is valid research that informs meaningful stories that communicate. -Melinda Booze, assistant professor of communication, Evangel University.

What technical skills for a communications officer stand out to employers?

M. Thomas Inge Ph.D.

Blackwell Professor of Humanities, Randolph-Macon College

We learn from the textbooks of life and practice. What employers look for are students who not only reflect current knowledge but move it beyond to new frontiers.

Do you want to know more?

List of communications officer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a communications officer resume and required skills for a communications officer to have include:

Affordable Housing
Non-Emergency Telephone Calls
Customer Service
Computer Aided Dispatch
Public Safety Agencies
CAD
EMS
Emergency Situations
Press Releases
Law Enforcement Agencies
Criminal History
Computer System
Dispatch System
CPR
Facebook
Twitter

External Communications
Communications Equipment
Stressful Situations
Radio Traffic
Background Checks
Radio Systems
Radio Communications
Dispatch Police
Medical Services
EMD
Non-Emergency Phone Calls
CCTV
Two Way Radios
Community Supervision
Radio Transmissions
Ambulances

Blogging
Computer Equipment
Radio Consoles
Medical Calls
Officer Safety
Vehicle Registration
Data Systems
Emergency Ambulance Service
Violation Reports
Administrative Calls
Relative Priorities
Non-Emergency Police
COMSEC
Fire Service
Phone Lines

Updated January 8, 2025

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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