If you’ve been thinking about stepping into a communications career but feel underqualified because you haven’t worked in the field before, take a breath. You might be more prepared than you think. While technical skills can be taught, soft skills are what set great communicators apart. And chances are, you’ve already been building them in previous jobs, volunteer work, even day-to-day life.
In this post, we’ll break down the soft skills you already have that are incredibly valuable in communications and how to recognize them as assets, not afterthoughts.
- Empathy
At the heart of communication are people. If you can tune into how others feel, anticipate how a message might land, or adapt your approach depending on who you’re speaking to, you’re already practicing emotional intelligence.
Whether you’ve worked in customer service, education, healthcare, HR, or just navigated challenging teams, your ability to listen, interpret, and respond with care is a key comms strength.
In comms, empathy helps you:
- Understand your audience’s needs
- Write with tone sensitivity
- Anticipate reactions to messaging
- Craft inclusive, human-centered content
- Clarity
Have you ever had to break down a complicated idea for a colleague, customer, or team? That’s communication in action. Clarity is a superpower, especially in fast-paced environments. If you know how to get to the point, avoid jargon, and help others understand what matters most, you’ve got a skill that every comms team needs.
In comms, clarity shows up when you:
- Write concise copy for newsletters or social media
- Edit long reports into digestible key messages
- Support leadership in delivering crisp, impactful updates
- Adaptability
Communications often sits at the center of change, whether it’s internal restructuring, external PR crises, or real-time campaign shifts. If you’ve worked in environments where things changed quickly and you learned how to stay calm, problem-solve, and pivot, you already have a head start.
In comms, adaptability helps when:
- Priorities shift mid-project
- You need to tailor messaging for different stakeholders
- You’re supporting fast-moving campaigns or sensitive moments
- Listening
Effective communicators don’t just speak well, they listen deeply. Active listening is one of the most underrated skills in any industry, and it’s essential in communications.
If you’re someone people naturally open up to, if you notice the unsaid, or if you’re good at reading the room, that’s not just intuition. That’s insight.
In comms, strong listening supports:
- Audience research and message alignment
- Internal communications and culture building
- Stakeholder engagement and trust
- Collaboration
Comms doesn’t live in a vacuum. You’ll often work with leadership, HR, product teams, marketers, designers, and sometimes external agencies or partners.
If you’ve ever been the go-between, helped translate needs between departments, or thrived in team environments, that collaborative mindset is gold.
In comms, collaboration helps you:
- Understand cross-functional priorities
- Build bridges between teams
- Deliver integrated messaging that works company-wide
- Resilience
Communications work can come with pressure from tight deadlines, last-minute changes, public-facing content, or internal politics. If you’ve developed the ability to stay steady in tough situations, receive feedback without taking it personally, and keep moving forward, you’re more than ready for the reality of this field.
In comms, resilience matters when:
- You’re writing under time pressure
- Crisis comms come into play
- You’re learning fast in a new role or industry
So often, we think we need a degree or a specific job title to “qualify” for a communications career. But the truth is: comms is about connection, not perfection. It’s about how well you understand people, how clearly you express ideas, and how confidently you help others stay informed and inspired.
These are things you’ve likely been practicing for years, whether or not your job title said “comms.” So the next time you feel unsure, remind yourself: your soft skills are your foundation. And with the right guidance and structure, you can absolutely build the rest.
The Comms Accelerator Course equips you with the tools, mentorship, and practical support you need to build a confident and strategic career in communications.
Whether you’re transitioning into the field or looking to sharpen your edge, this course offers the structure, guidance, and real-world experience to help you thrive from day one. You can register here.
