So You Think You Want to Work in Internal Communication
When you think back to your childhood fantasies about what you’d become when you grew up, did you think about a career in internal communication (IC)?
I certainly did.
OK, you caught me. That isn’t true at all. I’m pretty sure my childhood career fantasies were around becoming a doctor and later a fashion designer. Ideally, my future career would have been writing plays and stories for my dolls but my parents (rightly) informed me that wouldn’t be too lucrative. Like many professionals, I found my way to IC in a roundabout fashion.
After taking a journalism class in high school, I was hooked. It combined my curious nature with my love of learning, writing, and storytelling. After earning a degree in journalism and spending a few years in publishing, I wanted to try something new that would leverage my existing skillset and push me further. Enter: a career in corporate communications.
I started as a copywriter, moved into a communication specialist position, and eventually led IC functions. Discovering my passion for IC was a gradual process—I dipped my toe in, then submerged fully. For those new to or considering the field, here are my thoughts on the pros and cons of working in IC.
Pros
Gives you a bird’s-eye view into many (if not all) aspects of the organization.
Positions you as a strategic partner, executive counselor, and storyteller in one when done effectively.
Aligns you closely with elevating employee experiences, which can also elevate client/customer experiences.
Opens doors for significant cross-functional collaboration.
Encourages creativity and innovation.
Requires both a strategic and tactical mindset.
Is a powerhouse in elevating employee satisfaction, engagement, productivity, efficiency, and more.
Offers access and visibility to all levels of roles within the organization, from the C-suite to individual contributors.
Cons
Often a limited budget and limited resources (i.e., you and your salary alone).
The function can be perceived as a “post box” or “copy-paste-send factory.”
Can be difficult to manage the myths and misperceptions of what IC is and isn’t (More on that identity crisis here).
Often a small team or team of one (although there are some pros to this, as I describe in this post).
May report to supervisors outside of the communication function, who may have a limited understanding of the role.
Complacency can be seen as success in this field, making it challenging for disruptors to find their place.
As you can see, my list of pros is longer than my list of cons—and yes, I might be a little biased. IC is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling field. However, like any profession, there will be moments when you find yourself questioning, “Why did I ever choose this role?” The workplace environment and your supervisor can significantly impact whether you thrive or simply survive in IC. If you're curious about the field or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’d be happy to share more!
