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Communications specialist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted experts
Jamie Bowen Ph.D.,
Jamie Bowen Ph.D.
Communications specialist example skills

One of the most important hard skills a communication specialist can possess is experience managing and overseeing a company website, because web content and other web assets are some of the most important facets of marketing for many companies. It's also important for communication specialists to have the hard skill of customer relationship management (CRM).


When it comes to soft skills, communication specialists should have strong communication skills above all else. Communication specialists need to manage social media profiles on sites like twitter and instagram, so social media literacy skills are also crucial.

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical communications specialist skills. We ranked the top skills for communications specialists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 9.3% of communications specialist resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a communications specialist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 communications specialist skills for your resume and career

1. 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 specialists use customer service:
  • Created weekly newsletters that captured critical sales information, customer service suggestions and significant company changes such as channel negotiations.
  • Maintain relations with current clients, ensuring a high-level of customer service and providing education opportunities around new technology options.

2. PowerPoint

Here's how communications specialists use powerpoint:
  • Produced PowerPoint Presentations used at corporate level including an HES presentation that combined presentations from 21 contributors.
  • Developed Self-Paced training using PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat as well as various company proprietary software applications.

3. Patients

Here's how communications specialists use patients:
  • Conducted internal and external calls with patients concerning qualification for medical clinical research studies; Set appointments for qualifying patients.
  • Participated in the development and execution of strategic communication plans of key products to patients and physicians.

4. Web Content

Here's how communications specialists use web content:
  • Managed retail marketing collateral including retail packaging, in-store point of sale brochures/catalogs, direct/digital marketing campaigns and web content.
  • Work also involved updating and maintaining Web content and creating and contributing to public relations and marketing initiatives.

5. Project Management

Here's how communications specialists use project management:
  • Job Responsibilities: Client outreach, acquisition and project management Establishes Project direction and carries design and communication efforts through implementation.
  • Project Management: Assisted in planning, developing, and executing marketing communication projects that support new customer prospecting and retention.

6. Press Releases

Here's how communications specialists use press releases:
  • Disseminated command information to international, national, and industry media by way of press releases and secure telephone communication.
  • Generated and distributed press releases, media messaging, published articles and website content for internal and external industry communication.

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7. Graphic Design

Graphic design is the art of making visual content to communicate messages. Designers apply different page layout methods and visual hierarchy by using letters and pictures to meet the need of end-users. Most companies use graphic design to sell their product or services and to convey complicated information by using infographics.

Here's how communications specialists use graphic design:
  • Managed graphic designers to direct the strategic design and production process for periodicals/publications, promotional/marketing materials, and annual reports.
  • Provided support for graphic design, editing and related functions in the preparation of publications and other production-related activities.

8. Photoshop

Here's how communications specialists use photoshop:
  • Created in-house brochures, newsletters and other communications for co-op members using PageMaker and Photoshop.
  • Improved quality of amateur photography using Advanced Photoshop skills and contributed to photo library.

9. SharePoint

Here's how communications specialists use sharepoint:
  • Managed SharePoint and DiscoveryManaged small to medium projects and diverse administrative functions supporting products and services delivered by Mortgage Sales teams.
  • Reorganized and restructured department SharePoint site, cultivated internal communications resources, planned and executed events and meetings, and ensured.

10. Facebook

Here's how communications specialists use facebook:
  • Utilized social media such as Twitter and Facebook to communicate events to local university.
  • Managed and updated written communications on organization's Facebook page and other social media outlets

11. Communication Strategies

Communication strategies refers to the practice of effectively planning how communication can be used to complete certain objectives. This includes who to speak with, how to communicate (whether by phone, targeted marketing, or social media), and the language used in the message. Communication strategies also focus on the general goals of the communication, whether that is to sell a good or service or promote an idea.

Here's how communications specialists use communication strategies:
  • Team with Communications Director to develop internal/external communications plan and conduct market research and needs assessments to fuel government communication strategies.
  • Charged with creating, developing, and implementing communication strategies to generate awareness and interest in corporate and site-wide business proposals.

12. External Communications

External communications refer to the exchange of information between the organization one is working with and another organization.

Here's how communications specialists use external communications:
  • Accomplished Communications Specialist tasked with the responsibility of assisting with the implementation of both internal and external communications programs and projects.
  • Position involved creating a communications program from the ground up and growing a consistent company image through internal and external communications.

13. Twitter

Here's how communications specialists use twitter:
  • Managed Twitter feed and introduced live-tweeting for events.
  • Managed organizations Twitter account with 16,000+ followers.

14. Intranet

An intranet is an enterprise's private network, purposely meant to help staff members work together and communicate to perform their roles effectively.

Here's how communications specialists use intranet:
  • Created internal branding/marketing communications materials and utilized intranet communication to promote organizational-wide initiatives.
  • Developed WordPress-based company intranet and actively published content on external company website, including: blog, product and service updates.

15. 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 specialists use ems:
  • Developed and delivered presentations to qualified EMS providers.
  • Collaborate with User Advocacy staff, senior management, and Board members to facilitate the active engagement of the EMS community.
top-skills

What skills help Communications Specialists find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on communications specialist resumes?

Jamie Bowen Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Austin Peay State University

Various skills are important for a Communication Specialist. You want them to have clear writing skills and the ability to communicate in both large and small groups. In this day and age, if someone has intercultural communication training, that can stand out because the client pool and the workplace is becoming more diverse in their nature. I would also say any technical skills really stand out, such as experience in Adobe Suite and video/photography skills.

What soft skills should all communications specialists possess?

Jamie Bowen Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Austin Peay State University

It is important to have a diverse resume, so having experience working with or in the media is important. Additionally, having public relations abilities or experience can help land that person the job of their dreams.

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

Jamie Bowen Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Austin Peay State University

Any experience working with the Adobe Suite can go leaps and bounds in landing someone a job as a Communication Specialist. However, knowing how to use a camera to take pictures and video and then edit the footage can set them apart from the rest of the pack.

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

Annemarie FranczykAnnemarie Franczyk LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Buffalo State College

No one location is better than the rest. The wider the graduates cast their nets, the luckier they will be in landing a job.

What type of skills will young communications specialists need?

Gheni Platenburg Ph.D.Gheni Platenburg Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor, Auburn University

To prepare for tomorrow's jobs, students need a solid background in fundamental journalism techniques and the technical skills of today. This is a multimedia journalism industry, meaning journalists need to possess the ability to tell stories across multiple platforms. There is no longer such a thing as a journalist who only broadcasts work or writes stories for print. It's OK to have specialty areas, but all new graduates need to have writing, video, audio, and graphics skills.

Additionally, mobile journalism skills will also be essential. Before and after the coronavirus pandemic's start, the ability to produce quality work from outside of the newsroom remains a coveted job skill. I foresee the industry moving more into this direction as we advance. Therefore, students should take the opportunities now to perfect those skills.

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

Michael Goude

Senior Lecturer of Mass Communication, University of North Carolina at Asheville

Most mass media outlets expect employees to be able to do it all, writing, editing, photography, video production. Having a broad spectrum of skills is a requirement. Few firms have the luxury to hire someone for just on specialty.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about communications specialist

List of communications specialist skills to add to your resume

Communications specialist skills

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

  • Customer Service
  • PowerPoint
  • Patients
  • Web Content
  • Project Management
  • Press Releases
  • Graphic Design
  • Photoshop
  • SharePoint
  • Facebook
  • Communication Strategies
  • External Communications
  • Twitter
  • Intranet
  • EMS
  • HR
  • Subject Matter Experts
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
  • Event Planning
  • External Audiences
  • Fact Sheets
  • Computer Aided Dispatch
  • HTML
  • Non-Emergency Calls
  • Communication Materials
  • Law Enforcement
  • CPR
  • Communications Support
  • CAD
  • Emergency Situations
  • Windows
  • Blog Posts
  • Promotional Materials
  • SEO
  • Media Management
  • Training Materials
  • Communications Equipment
  • NCIC
  • Computer System
  • CMS
  • Troubleshoot
  • YouTube
  • Technical Assistance
  • Medicaid
  • Community Events
  • Medicare
  • Copywriting

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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