Career Opportunities and Work Life

Skills You'll Need

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Communication involves not only public speaking but interpersonal skills. The ability to read non-verbal cues as well as appropriately react to those cues are essential. Reading body language and picking up on unspoken messages is just as important as being able to effectively write and speak.

Careers that steam from a communication background utilize active listening, critical thinking, and knowledge of different cultures and social trends.

According to Lake Michigan College instructor Sharon Klemm, "the core of communication is in the fundamentals. Communication is learned. Most people are physically able to talk, but we all must learn to speak well and communicate proficiently."

Additional communication skills that are essential include:

• Networking skills
• Identifying behavioral patterns
• Designing and conducting research