Corporate Communications Courses Open Doors to Many Industries

As an entry-level communications specialist who has attended a Corporate Communications and Public Relations program complete with communication skills training, you may land jobs that involve: media relations, employee communications and web-based communications. More specifically, you may find a career with: public relations agencies, hospitals and health care providers, government ministries and agencies, trade associations, not-for-profit organizations, financial institutions and entertainment companies. Additionally, if you attend Centennial College’s Corporate Communications courses, you may be hired by reputable companies such as: Alliance Films, CTV, Apex Public Relations, Government of Canada, Enridge, Ontario Government, St. John's Rehab Hospital and more. As 2010 graduate Adrian Seely, who is the founder of trillPR points out, "The support I received at Centennial helped lead me to my first job and gave me the resources to start my own company. Thank you to the instructors at Centennial!"

Geared towards mature students, the communication skills training obtained through the Corporate Communications and Public Relations program is among some of the most highly regarded in Ontario. To apply, students are required to possess a college diploma or university degree in any discipline. The School will, however, consider applicants with partial post-secondary education (minimum of two years) and relevant work experience. In addition, applicants must attend a mandatory program admission session where they will: complete writing and editing exercises as well as submit a portfolio of writing and possibly a resume.

To ensure that they are employable upon graduation, students who attend this Corporate Communications course master: research, writing, planning, editing, as well as designing and implementing everything from strategic communications plans and employee newsletters to gala dinners for hundreds of people. Students also learn why it is important to create communications strategies that influence employee attitudes, shift stockholders’ opinions and tell an organization’s story to the media. Specific Corporate Communications courses include: Business for Corporate Communicators, Professional Practice, Project Management, Online Public Relations & Social Media (this program leads the way in social media and PR content), Presentation Skills, Design and Layout, and more.

Prior to graduation, students get to apply what they have learned in their Corporate Communication courses in two ways. The first is a course called Client Project, which sees students complete work outside the classroom, usually independently, with off-campus clients. The work is often for not-for-profits clients and can involve: strategic communications planning including the production of written and graphics pieces such as brochures, media kits or newsletters. Students are assigned a faculty advisor for the course and, typically, find their own clients. There is also an eight-week field placement that sees those in Corporate Communications courses work full time for eight weeks (or longer) at a public relations agency, a not-for-profit, a government ministry or department, a corporation or an association to gain practical experience and knowledge. Many field placements are unpaid positions. Others offer an honorarium.

Exclusive post-graduate Corporate Communications and Public Relations program by Centennial

A day in the life of a corporate communications specialist means you’ll be generating positive publicity and maintaining valuable reputations on a daily basis. Pursuing this career will keep you busy writing press releases, cultivating positive relationships with journalists and keeping the lines of communication open. It’s a dynamic career that doesn’t see the same day twice and is perfect if you thrive on a fast-paced workday.

The top professionals in this industry usually have broad knowledge and the ability to communicate smoothly in print, by phone or in person. If you’re ready to break into the industry, Centennial College offers a post-graduate Corporate Communications Course and Public Relations Program to get you ahead. This Toronto-based program is unique because it also offers an eight-week field placement at the end of your studies. During this placement, you’ll be working directly with a top employer and gaining the skills to keep you on top of the industry.

Whether you choose to work for the entertainment industry, financial institutions, not-for-profits or the government, public relations skills are transferrable so you will be employable in several industries.

Choosing to pursue a post-graduate program like this one is the best way to jump into the industry. It’s designed for people who hold degrees or college diplomas, so everyone begins at a high academic standard. They supply specialized knowledge that allows you to create a niche market for yourself. This is a one-year program, so it’s intensive from day one. As you study Project Management, Copy Editing and Business for Corporate communication skill training your writing and presentation skills will be strengthened, so you can deliver any message with confidence. You’ll learn how to broadcast your message through all social media outlets to broaden your outreach, and you’ll have a chance to work on a client project to strengthen your skills before you showcase them during your placement.

This particular program lets you learn in one of the more creative campuses in Ontario. The Centre for Creative communications training Campus is located right in downtown Toronto and around the corner from some of the Canada’s largest PR firms. This campus stands out because it only holds arts, media and design programs so you’ll always be surrounded by creative individuals. With program start dates in the fall and winter, you can watch your career unfold when you’re ready. 

Want to learn more about launching your career on the fast track? Find out more about this program here.

Communications Training at Centennial College Includes Social Media

“What we try to do is hone your skills so we can get you connected to the world of public relations/ corporate communications in the Toronto market, which is a highly competitive market,” says Christine Smith, the program coordinator for Centennial College’s public relations/ Communication Skill Training. “Like most college programs, we do have an eight-week field placement. One of the neat things about our field placement is that it is in the final eight weeks of their two-semester program. Our program is probably one of the leading-edge PR programs that’s incorporating social media. When they leave, they’ll have a portfolio that shows everything from a news release to their own blog to producing an event with a team. More importantly, they can go to their employers and say, ‘I can advise you on social media.’”

Let’s take a closer look at the Centennial College public relations program (officially known as Corporate Communications and Public Relations) based on Christine’s description. The one-year program is geared towards graduate students. Therefore, applicants are required to possess an official transcript demonstrating proof of successful completion of a post-secondary diploma or degree program. Applicants will also be required to attend an information session that includes writing and editing exercises and will have to submit a portfolio of writing and a resume. Those who can present a combination of partial post-secondary education (two year minimum) and relevant work experience may also be considered for Centennial College’s Communications Training.

Once in the undertaking, students learn to research, write, plan, edit, design and implement everything from strategic communications plans and employee newsletters to gala dinners for hundreds of people. They also learn to create communications strategies that influence employee attitudes, shift stockholders’ opinions and tell an organization’s story to the media. Specific corporate communications courses covered in the program include: Public Relations Writing (in a writing lab using computers, students practice writing news and feature stories typically found in internal corporate publications, news releases for the media, fact sheets, backgrounders, and reports); Media Relations (developing familiarity with media directories, creating targeted media lists, pitching stories to the media, monitoring media coverage, framing answers to questions from the media and designing special events to attract media attention are examined and practiced); Design and Layout (students develop visual sensibilities based on the fundamentals of effective design); and more.

In addition to the in-school corporate communications courses, students in communications training participate in an eight-week field placement. This placement offers them the opportunity to apply the knowledge they learned within the program and to get a glimpse at the field they will enter upon graduating from the public relations program.

According to an April 2009 survey on PayScale.com, the median salary for a PR manger is $65,959.