Mapping/(Re-mapping?) Your Career in 2025

We've all had that head-scratching moment to figure out what's next for us. We're in this together.

Let's check in: sometime this year or last, did you read a headline and wonder what that meant for your career? Trust us, you're not alone. Whether your experience lies mostly within those three little letters under attack or your job has been recently eliminated due to budget cuts, 2025 has left many of us re-evaluating the next step in our careers. But, we've got a little secret for you: the communications landscape is so robust, you're carrying a superpower in your back pocket and you didn't even know it. Don't believe us? Keep reading.

Students: Take Advantage of Interdisciplinary Studies

As a student that may be pursuing a degree in some sort of cultural study program, you might be wondering if it's still the right path for you. The great news is that many of those concentrations can be redirected into communication studies, sociology, psychology, etc. with little to no impact on graduation date at all. You can still take the classes that you find interesting as electives, but consider the marketability of your degree in today's hiring market.

Early-Career: Explore Advertising, Marketing, Digital, etc.

OK, so your role of Internal Comms Coordinator has been eliminated - now what? Instead of hitting the ground looking for another internal comms role, it may be time to explore roles that generate revenue with data to back it up. You'll use the same skills (stakeholder management, story building, content generation, etc.) but add a value stream to your offering that can't be replicated. We know that employee engagement/retention and brand loyalty are important metrics, but when those are stacked up against sales/conversions/etc., you'll find yourself better insulated with those dollars to your name.

Mid-Career: Put Those Transferable Skills to Use

So you've been working in internal culture for several years, but your company has suddenly reprioritized, which may have come along with a budget reduction, unclear communication and maybe even...the dreaded reorganization. But, hope isn't lost. Chances are that you've been managing budgets, leading a team and garnering leadership's buy-in on major projects. That means you've got transferable skills and the relationships to make a change for yourself. Both internally and at other companies, take a look at departments like analytics, operations, HR, etc. and see if you can't find a role that matches your interests and skillsets. It's not too late to reach out to introduce yourself and express interest in potentially changing careers. Those departments HAVE to continue to exist in some capacity and you'd do well to find your next home there.

Final Thoughts

Here are some skills that are commonly sought out across functions (that you've probably already been honing):

• Budget management

• Project management

• Event management

• Process improvement

• Team leadership

• Account/client management

• Strategy development

• Recruiting/hiring/onboarding

• Data collection/reporting

If you don't have these skills or want to continue to refine them, it's not a bad time to try continuing education to get more experience in these areas. Consider getting your MBA, PMP, Six Sigma Certification, etc. They do more than add letters to your name - they validate your experience and make you a valuable asset to any team.

We hope this post has reinvigorated you to launch the next phase of your career with your head held high and a sense of ownership. Make your next step matter.