Community relations representative skills for your resume and career

Problem Solving; Organization of Information into Story packets; creative design in Social Media.

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

When it comes to gathering information, the old school values are still fundamental: Get to the facts, verify the things people say (anyone can say anything--find ways to prove/disprove statements), be curious about the world and the community around you, and don't be afraid to hold our leaders accountable. Our mission is to inform the audience and get to the truth--no matter what party or ideology. Once a journalist has that information, clear communication skills are a must. Can you write and speak clearly? These are the old school values that are still very important for the field. But looking at current audience trends, today's journalists must be flexible in terms of presentation and platforms. The best journalists are dependable writers both in print and digital media, able to speak clearly to accommodate podcasts and radio, and comfortable speaking in front of a camera for social media and broadcast outlets. Audiences are all over, and journalists need to be ready to connect to audiences where they are. If we want to inform the public, we need to make sure the message is getting to the public. And the news/information/media industries are always changing.

As far as being a good employee, it's relatively simple:
- Show up on time
- Dress like a responsible journalist
- Do the job you're paid to do
- Play nice with coworkers
- Be ethical
- Build trust with your supervisors
- Have ideas for what stories you want to pursue

If something about the workflow isn't functioning well, don't be shy about proposing a solution instead of complaining about it to others. These seem like little things, but you will be valued as an employee when you're reliable and responsible. And if you're in a dysfunctional news operation where these qualities are not respected, you'll want to find a place where they are. Also, if you leave a job, don't burn bridges. Everyone in this industry talks to everyone else.

Communication skills and the ability to adapt (specifically the ability to pivot and respond to changing needs) are crucial right now. They are also seeking innovators-people who are willing to think differently and creativity to solve the "wicked" problems we are facing in education.

A recent National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook Survey found that employers identified the ability to verbally communicate with others inside and outside the organization and the ability to create and/or edit written documents as among the top ten skills they seek when hiring new college graduates. Graduates who majored in Communication bring these critical skills to the workplace. They demonstrate strong verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills and have considerable expertise in speaking well in front of small and large audiences (National Communication Association Website).

Organizations seek employees who can communicate across a limitless and evolving range of platforms in today's highly connected world. With a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Governors State University students gain the knowledge and skills to communicate with a variety of audiences through advertising, media, public relations, and one-on-one communication, which drives organizational success, human relations, and improves conflict management.