A communications consultant gives advice and suggests strategic communications and marketing solutions tailored to customers' requirements and needs.

This communications professional works in a company's back office in the communications department and plays a fundamental role in drawing up the organisation's strategic communication plan. To carry out their functions they carefully monitor the company's internal communication synergies, external ones with customers and its surrounding business environment (sector companies, potential customers, opportunities, risks, etc.) and put forward solutions that seek to exploit the company's image to the full and further the organisation's objectives.

Very often communications consultants work for specialist communication strategy companies from which other firms outsource their consulting services.

A communications consultant's functions will cover various communication areas including strategic communication, financial communication, corporate communication, crisis communication, online communication, public affairs, labour relations, etc. They also use different areas of knowledge, such as graphic design, corporate identity, Internet and multimedia, communication 2.0, etc., to carry out their duties.

• Analyse the needs of the customer and their product in terms of the market and its target consumers.
• Conduct thorough analysis of the customer's difficulties and opportunities.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data so as to improve or adapt communication strategies.
• Propose innovative, transferable solutions that are tailored to customers' needs in corporate communication, institutional relations, marketing, reputation, corporate responsibility, crisis communication, corporate identity, media 2.0, online marketing, etc.
• Interpret and analyse documents from various disciplines such as marketing, macroeconomics, cultural anthropology, sociology, psychology, etc., in order to gain a global vision of the market to which the product is addressed.
• Draw up reports and documents that are organised and structured so the customer can understand them and they are appropriate to the customer's language and knowledge.
• Plan communications projects and manage their implementation.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Comunicació cultural
• Grau: Periodisme
• Grau: Comunicació
• Grau: Comunicació audiovisual
• Grau: Comunicació i industries culturals
• Grau: Comunicació i periodisme audiovisuals
• Grau: Publicitat i relacions públiques
• Grau: Publicitat, màrqueting i relacions públiques
• Grau: Màrqueting i comunicació digital
• Grau: Màrqueting i comunicació empresarial
• Grau: Màrqueting i comunitats digitals

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Advanced computer user knowledge, mastery of 2.0 online tools (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.), knowledge of graphic and web design tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver) and fluent English, as this is the language used by the international media with which they will most likely have to interact.

Planning and organisation: Level 2

Analytical thought: Level 2

Strategic orientation: Level 3

Flexibility and change management: Level 3

Communication: Level 2

Customer service

Direct and personal interaction with people and relating to the public are highly-motivating activities for individuals who have an interest in the field of customer service. A focus on people and on satisfying customers' needs is key in the occupations included in this field. These jobs entail the need to know suitable techniques for attending to the public and being able to give appropriate service that is tailored to their needs and expectations. Good examples are activities which offer assistance and guidance during functions, trips or at facilities, and those which provide advice in relation to products and services.

Communication

Those who show a preference for the field of communication are interested in the generation and dissemination of information. This information, however, can have various purposes: provide information on events and occurrences, generate public opinion on a certain topic or promote and publicise a service or product. Carrying out these activities requires knowledge of various techniques aimed at communication, persuasion and marketing.

Public Relations Manager

Copywriter

Director of communication

Web analytics expert

Community manager

• Work hours

  Full working day. It may be extended at times of heavy workload.

• Salary

  Remuneration is calculated based on hours worked, proven experience and professional category. Thus annual salary will range between €26.595 and €38223 gross per annum. Median: 31.884 euros annum gross. Sometimes pay is supplemented by incentives based on objectives achieved (sales, users connected to the company¿s social profile, the impact of the communication campaign, etc.).
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Professional category

  Technician