Beyond the Job Title: Inside the World of a Modern Communications Professional
Reading Time: 6 Minutes
Behind every polished webpage, standout campaign, or perfectly timed announcement, there’s a whole world of work most people never see — the planning sessions, the creative problemsolving, and the constant juggle between clarity, design, and storytelling.
For one Communications Professional working in the university sector, the job goes far beyond writing messages or scheduling posts. It’s about making complex information meaningful, engaging students in ways that actually resonate, collaborating widely across teams, and grounding every decision in strategy — not just “making things look nice.” Her role blends communications, marketing, and design in a way that doesn’t always fit neatly under a single job title.
Her journey into the field wasn’t a straight line, either. Armed with an MSc in Strategic Public Relations and Communications Management — plus internships and parttime roles across several university environments — she stepped into the sector with both the technical knowhow and a genuine understanding of student life. That combination, she says, made all the difference: it wasn’t just about knowing communications, but knowing people.
What’s most striking about Hannah’s story is how many unexpected experiences shaped her career. Presenting at a national conference, delivering training, appearing on camera, even memories from Drama Club and student leadership — none of these seemed like obvious stepping stones at the time, but each played a part in building her confidence and skillset. They’re a reminder that the abilities we develop outside the classroom often become the ones we rely on the most.
Hannah Vuozzo
Role: Communications Manager
Sector: Communications / Higher Education
Degree: MSc Strategic Public Relations & Communcations Management
Today, Hannah’s work is fastpaced, varied, and deeply collaborative. On any given day, she might plan a campaign, create content, manage an intern, write copy, design graphics, and navigate a growing list of priorities. One highlight was leading a £12k campaign for a major university event, a project that called for creativity, problemsolving, and resilience. It’s still one of the achievements she’s proudest of.
Of course, the job comes with its challenges. Communications is a profession where demand almost always outweighs team size. For Hannah, a turning point was upskilling colleagues — helping them gain confidence in writing, design, and digital tools. Not only did this relieve pressure, but it also opened the door for others to contribute creatively and grow.
Her advice to students is refreshingly honest: stay organised, and don’t fear mistakes — they’re part of the learning curve. And with AI transforming the field, she believes the future will favour those who pair digital skills with critical thinking, strategic understanding, and the ability to tell real, human stories.
If she could clear up one misconception, it would be the belief that communications, PR, and marketing are “all the same.” They overlap, yes, but each has its own purpose — and each welcomes people from all kinds of backgrounds. At its heart, she says, communications is about being a connector: someone who listens, translates, and brings stories to life.
A Day in the Life
A Typical Day: Could you walk us through a typical day in your job?
Communications is really dynamic, so no two days are the same.
Wednesdays are usually quite busy as it’s our ‘anchor day’ when everyone is in the office.
First, I catch up on emails and review my diary. If our intern has a shift, I’ll prepare some project/task briefs and check in with her.
Then, I finish editing a LinkedIn article. I publish it and add an excerpt to our weekly e-newsletter which I send to all of our students.
Around 10:00, I either have a staff meeting or catch-up with a colleague to discuss key projects and updates.
I block out a couple hours before lunch for campaign planning, content creation and copyediting. For instance, this week, I’m writing web and social media copy for an upcoming event campaign. I then fire up Canva to develop some accompanying assets, constantly tweaking the elements and checking adherence to the University’s brand guidelines.
In the afternoon, I share updates at our team meeting and then action outcomes from the discussion. These might be editing a webpage or updating a communications plan.
Job Title vs Reality: What is the biggest difference between what people think your job is and what it is actually like?
Communications is a vague term that means different things to different people. There’s even a lot of flex within the industry itself.
My job is a mix of communications, marketing and design. I do everything from developing communications strategies and campaign planning to graphic design and digital and social media management.
The Best Part: What is the most exciting or rewarding part of your job?
I love delivering end-to-end campaigns, especially when I get to try new things. Last year, I was granted £12k to deliver a campaign for a large-scale event. It was massively successful and particularly rewarding after navigating lots of challenges.
The Biggest Challenge: What is the most challenging aspect of your role?
Managing such a high volume of communications tasks and projects as one person is tough. I’ve been able to upskill some of my colleagues in communications. Their support has made it possible to do more and give them an opportunity to tap into their creative side.
The Skills & Journey
Essential Skills: Beyond technical knowledge, what soft skill is crucial for success?
Organisation is absolutely key, including time management. I highly recommend learning how to manage and share files effectively and time-block. I’ve got regularly slots in my diary for admin, specific campaigns and projects, etc.
The Unexpected Skill: What’s a skill from another context that you now use professionally?
Presenting and public speaking are important for any job and especially communications. I’ve delivered impactful training sessions, spoken at a national conference and been on camera (a lot). I’d gotten experience with these through student government, Drama Club and personal content creation.
From University to Now: What was your degree, and how did you end up here?
I got my MSc in Strategic Public Relations & Communications Management at Stirling. I’d done various internships and part-time jobs at universities, so I understood how they worked and how to effectively support students. I had technical comms knowledge, but my understanding of and passion for the sector set me apart from other candidates.
The One Thing: If you could give your student self-one piece of advice, what would it be?
It’s okay to make mistakes. I hold myself to really high standards which is good, but failure is important for growth.
The Fun & the Future
Fun Fact: What is a surprising fact about your industry?
PR and communications have been around for millennia. There were even “smear campaigns” in Ancient Egypt.
Tools of the Trade: What tool or app could you not do your job without?
In 2026, a laptop is pretty standard equipment for a communications professional, and I use Microsoft Excel and Word as well as Canva on a daily basis.
Future of the Job: How do you see your industry changing?
AI is pretty pervasive and will continue to transform communications, making digital literacy more vital, including specific knowledge of AI and how to apply it to communications. But AI has and will have its limits, so critical, strategic and creative thinking will be key to your success. Being able to identify and tell stories grounded in the real world will remain important for a long time.
MythBusting: What’s a common misconception about your industry?
PR and communications aren’t the same as marketing. There can be overlap, but ultimately, the former is about perception and relationships whereas the latter is about revenue and sales. This industry also welcomes people of all backgrounds. It’s about being a conduit for information and storyteller.
What Skills are you Developing
Hannah’s experience highlights how careers in communications are built on creativity, organisation, and the ability to connect with people through clear and engaging storytelling.
These aren’t skills limited to communications—you’re likely developing them already through your studies, work, or wider experiences.
Reflect on your Experience
- When have you communicated an idea or message in a clear and engaging way?
- How have you balanced multiple tasks or deadlines at the same time?
- What experiences (e.g. student roles, part-time work, creative projects) have helped you build confidence in presenting or storytelling?
- When have you used creativity or problem-solving to overcome a challenge?
- Which of these skills do you feel most confident in—and which would you like to develop further?