Twenty years ago this week I entered the world of work as a trainee Journalist on my local newspaper. It was 1999, I was 18-years-old and excited about turning my dreams of being Lois Lane into reality.

I’d never heard of internal communication. It would be another three years until I stumbled across the phrase while searching for a new job online.

Fast forward 20 years, I’m a week away from the last birthday of my 30s and can’t imagine a better profession to be part of.

Internal communication is not presented as a career option in schools. I have conversations with cabbies each week who have no idea what internal communication is. (They’re crystal clear by the time we arrive!).

So what can be done?

Today I’m here with news of a brand new career guide which aims to stop people falling into comms and encourage them to fall for comms.

It was produced in partnership by FutureNet, the network for newcomers to internal communication and the Institute of Internal Communication. FutureNet is the first and only network of its kind dedicated to supporting new and upcoming internal communication professionals as they strive to become tomorrow’s IC leaders.

I’m impressed by the careers guide and know you’ll find it useful. You can download your own copy online.

Introducing the next generation
“We hope this guide is going to be a vital step on that journey to encourage people to fall for comms, introducing this interesting, nuanced, far-reaching, creative and utterly important profession to the next generation”, says FutureNet committee member and co-author of the IC Career Guide, Rebecca Leonard @BeckyTLeonard.

Seeing your work in print never gets old 😍 Thrilled to launch the @IoICNews IC Career Guide with my co-author @Rachel_Bowyer1 Our mission: get these to schools, colleges & unis so we never again shall we hear new IC pros say: “I just *fell into* comms” #FallForComms #MyICCareer pic.twitter.com/5x8TlD1JLq

— Rebecca Leonard (@BeckyTLeonard) September 12, 2019

The committee say not only was the guide produced to entice potential IC professionals, but to support university or college lecturers, teachers and careers advisers to encourage their students and young people to consider seeking out a role in this important profession. Sounds good to me!

Co-author and FutureNet committee member, Rachel Bowyer @Rachel_Bowyer1, says: “Until you enter the world of work, you just aren’t aware of all the varied jobs that exist, let alone able to make a deliberate decision to apply for them when leaving education. The guide was written to help raise awareness for both students and career counsellors of the different opportunities out there.”

Want to see it?  Download your free copy. If you’re working with young people who are starting to make decisions about their career path, why not request an IC ambassador to come and speak to them about the fascinating world of internal communication.

Well done FutureNet and IoIC, I welcome this guide and thank you for all your hard work in creating this information to help current and future generations discover the profession for themselves.

Further reading via All Things IC

• How to start working in internal communication
• What is internal communication?
• How to learn about internal communication
• Eight internal communication myths
• Do you have the right skills to work in IC?
• Mind the comms skills gaps.
• How to make internal communication add up
• How to become a Chartered PR Practitioner
• How to be a Communication Consultant – where to work
• A look back at 70 years of internal comms
• 31 books to help you learn about communication, PR and social media
• How to plan your internal comms budget.

 

Learn more about internal communication

• Check out The IC Space
• The Institute of Internal Communication
• Follow The IC Crowd
• CIPR Inside
• The Internal Comms Podcast by AB.
• Measurement and ROI (return on investment) for Internal Communication.

Learn with Rachel

Are you new to internal communication? If so, my How to be an internal communicator Online Masterclass is for you.

Perhaps you’re fairly new in role or have found yourself responsible for IC. Or maybe you’ve never studied comms before and would like to learn more. This is the course for you.

 

You’ll leave with practical skills and confidence to:

• Understand the role of internal communication
• Know what the different communication channels are and how to choose
• Combine theory with practice
• Know the latest trends
• Understand planning, strategy and stakeholders
• Know what’s working and how to make the most of what you have (measurement).

What’s it like to attend a Masterclass with me? Read blogs by Advita Patel and Jenni Kampf

I signed an office space yesterday, which I’m excited about. It will be a new home for All Things IC’s Masterclasses and I will be switching over to that site from January 2020.

Musing: I made a difficult decision recently and walked away from the office space I’ve had my heart & head set on for five months. I’ve now found the right place to be the new home for All Things IC. I’m on site with my interior designer Nikki Rees today. Trust your instinct! pic.twitter.com/HqMdtO8gRT

— Rachel Miller, All Things IC (@AllthingsIC) September 12, 2019

Thank you for stopping by, have a superb weekend,

Rachel

Post author: Rachel Miller

First published on the All Things IC blog 13 September 2019.