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A good Masters in Communication is a prerequisite to laying the foundations for a career in the media and the communication industry, but how do you assess the options and find the right course for you?
Begoña González-Cuesta, Dean of IE University's School of Communication, shares some insights on what to look for.
Recognizing a good Masters in Communication
One of the main prerequisites and an important aspect of a good Masters in Communication, González-Cuesta believes, is a holistic approach to the field of communication. Students need to gain the knowledge and the skills to think and act strategically.
“More and more, working in the field of communication involves a wide range tasks. New professionals must be able to work in this new environment and be knowledgeable about the new developments in communication. For example, someone working as the communications director of a company is not just in charge of media relations, he is in a position where he has to be aware of the entire digital ecosystem,” says González-Cuesta.
On completing a Masters in Communication, she adds, candidates should have an education that is a balanced and integrated mixture of conceptual, creative and managerial skills – these three aspects are the keys to success in today’s communication sector.
“Students need to be creative, knowledgeable and able to understand the managerial side of the profession – how to manage projects, people and businesses.”
A focus on business communication
Communication professionals should also have a strong understanding of how to build and maintain the reputation of a company. Being able to communicate well in both internal and external business environments is also essential. A good communication program will train students in both.
Indeed, González-Cuesta argues thatcommunication must not be an aspect that kicks in only towards the end of a project, but one that should be taken into consideration as an integral part of any business project, right from the start.
“Communication has to be an integral part of the business processes from the very beginning. At IE Business School for example, we believe in teaching our students how to identify the main stakeholders in a business and how to be able to engage them in conversation and dialogue. It’s not just about communication in one direction, it’s about being in a relationship with the stakeholders to build and maintain the business reputation,” she says.
“There is a growing need of professionals in the field of visual and digital communication capable of working both in the creative and the managerial sides of a communication project,” says González-Cuesta, adding that there is a need to bridge the gap between the “suits”, those who are in more business-oriented parts of the industry and the “creatives”, those who are involved in more artistic, aesthetic and content-production roles.
“The market needs people who can integrate these two approaches to creativity and visual communication. This is important for business communication and for the development of students, and any good Masters in Communication will recognize this fact,” she says.
Finding a career in communications
An important stepping stone to finding your dream career in communications is a well-rounded education. Pursuing a master's program where professors stay up to date with the latest developments in the field, both as academics and professionals will help to achieve that goal.
González-Cuesta says it’s important that professors are equipped to support students in getting to know themselves and exploring their own interests, ambitions and skills so that they can identify and develop their own career paths.
“When students get some guidance and discover the kind of person they are likely to be after graduation, we can help them discover their interests and passions and then build on that. At IE School of Communication, we match their talents with their aspirations, both on the professional and personal levels, so they can find their career in communications and be ready to live it,” she concludes, adding as a final piece of advice that team-work is also essential for a successful career in communications.
This article is sponsored by IE University.