Landing Your First Comms Job: What No One Tells You (But Should)
At 21 years old, fresh off graduation from a small liberal arts college in Iowa, I became the Communications Coordinator for a New York State Assembly Member. I was simultaneously overjoyed, relieved, scared, and experiencing an extreme case of impostor syndrome.
Despite the plethora of advice I received on how to land a job, I knew shockingly little about the lessons that would await me once I was hired.
Here are a few of the countless lessons I quickly learned:
- It will take time to capture the correct voice.
In communications, you need to do more than know about your client; you must also predict, understand, and coherently articulate their opinions. During the first few months, it took spending a lot of time with the Assembly Member and going through many drafts to learn about his thought process. It will take time to adapt to capturing a new voice.
- This won’t be like your internships.
You must take initiative, not assignments. As the only communications professional in my office, I quickly discovered that I couldn’t wait to be assigned tasks; I had to anticipate what would be needed. This contrasted dramatically with all my experiences as an intern.
- You may have to ask for the tools you need to succeed.
When I stepped into my role, I had to ask for tools to help me succeed. We needed to purchase wireless mics to improve audio quality and Canva Premium to produce our flyers and social media posts. Although it may feel uncomfortable in the moment, if it helps you do your job better, it is in everyone’s best interest to get the resources you need.
- You will make mistakes.
While minimizing errors is very important, they will inevitably occur. Everyone is human, and it doesn’t mean you’re bad at your job if there’s a typo or broken hyperlink. Mistakes are an opportunity to learn and grow.
- Be comfortable sharing your opinion.
It goes against conventional wisdom to engage in open disagreement with your boss. However, as a communications professional, you’re an important advisor to your client. It is your job to share your opinions respectfully during internal meetings. Depending on your client, they may even want to debate it with you at some length. Although this may be uncomfortable, it is essential.
- The big moments will surprise you.
Political communications is far from a predictable field. Sometimes, you work hard on a campaign with little reward, and other times, a random post on Instagram will take on a life of its own. I couldn’t have predicted the Assembly Member being spoofed on Saturday Night Live last fall. In just one night, the skit garnered millions of views, and our socials were flooded with new engagement.
- Every day is different, and you’ll never stop learning.
The conventional wisdom of “after a year you’ll know what you’re doing” isn’t true in the communications world. Every day, you have to navigate new challenges and adapt. Every piece of content you produce, whether it’s talking points for a speech or a social media post, involves judgment decisions and must be responsive to ever-changing circumstances.
Your first communications job will challenge you and allow you to grow in ways you never expected. As you head into a new role, it is integral to remember that you wouldn’t have the opportunity if you weren’t prepared. NYWICI is a resource to support your journey, and there is a community of women behind you, excited to watch you succeed.
