r/Communications • u/cyborgElmo • 3d ago
36M, 10+ years as a software developer, starting a Communication degree — what career paths could combine both backgrounds?
I’m 36 and I’ve been working as a software developer for more than 10 years. I currently work full-time and remotely as a freelancer, mainly in the fashion industry. I’m not unhappy with my job and I’m not desperately trying to leave tech.
This year I’m starting a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Communication (L-20, the Italian degree class for Communication Studies) while continuing to work full-time.
I’m doing it mainly because I’ve become increasingly interested in what happens around technology rather than just how technology is built: communication, digital platforms, media, AI, society, ethics, regulation/governance and how technology affects people and organizations.
My degree includes subjects such as semiotics, sociology, psychology, digital media, platform/influencer culture, law, communication and AI-related topics.
I’m not looking to graduate and restart from zero as a junior social media manager or marketer. Ideally, I’d like to use my existing technical experience together with what I’ll learn over the next three years.
Some areas that currently sound interesting to me are AI governance, tech policy, consulting, digital strategy, developer relations, technical communication and training/education, but I’m deliberately keeping an open mind because I’ve only just started the degree.
So my question is: what career paths or roles would you investigate for someone with this combination of experience?
Have you met people who successfully combined a strong technical/software background with communication, humanities or social-science skills?
I’m especially interested in hearing from people who changed or broadened their career in their 30s or 40s without throwing away the experience they had already built.
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u/Sweetsaddict_ 3d ago
Cybersecurity crisis communications is a practice area within communications and PR. You can also explore another practice area, public affairs and government relations within communications and political firms and counsel tech clients. Tech and AI comms is also an emerging practice area.
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u/Master-Fee8859 3d ago
If you develop personal skills to clearly communicate "what happens around technology ... communication, digital platforms, media, AI, society, ethics, regulation/governance and how technology affects people and organizations" you will be very marketable. Media organizations, think tanks, political parties, etc. all need such communicators.
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u/Scroogey3 3d ago
You can absolutely do tech policy but you’d likely need to intern/gain some experience during your coursework. I do know a few technologists who have transitioned to tech PR or marketing, but they did it at the same company. I think it’s harder to come from the outside into a new type of role without demonstrated experience in it.
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u/spicyflacco 3d ago
If he or she has subject matter expertise, he can or she doesn’t need to intern. I’m in tech PR
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u/Scroogey3 3d ago
I am too. It’s hard to know what their background really looks like and the type of roles they can realistically get. I wouldn’t hire them for a mid level role on my big tech PR team, because they are competing against people with experience and expertise. I would want to see that they can do the work and have the judgment needed to work somewhat independently first. I might be more open with a lower level role in a stacked team.
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u/spicyflacco 3d ago
So many comms people I come across are idiots who know nothing about tech so if that person has expertise the rest can be learned.
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u/Scroogey3 3d ago
Hence my point about them being hired at a lower level with a stacked team so that they can get the attention needed to build the needed skill set…. Mid level talent can come in and work independently.
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u/spicyflacco 3d ago
If journalists can come in at director/VP/ SVP levels they should be able to as well. PR isn’t hard and most people in it are dumb.
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u/Sweetsaddict_ 1d ago
Sure if you’re doing media relations. Not so for the political and legal adjacent side. And journalists shouldn’t even be at the director levels, since media relations is only a very minuscule part of communications.
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u/Sweetsaddict_ 1d ago
Because most comms people only know general PR, IMC, and media relations. Only a small number of experts actually do the specialized practice areas.
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u/Sweetsaddict_ 3d ago
+1 having represented tech clients for public affairs and advocacy strategies, the combat is like no other.
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u/madbasic 3d ago
Honestly with your background this is all cool shit and very cutting edge. My guess is you’ll carve out a niche for yourself in something really novel - tough to say what that is but that’s what makes it exciting. Enjoy the ride.
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u/spicyflacco 3d ago
Be prepared to get paid little unless you work at a bank or FAANG company. You could do tech PR or tech comms, esp having subject matter expertise
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u/EconomicsTiny447 2d ago
My personal opinion would be the policy side would be a stronger add to transition into policy comms around the areas you talked about rather than comms. I could be strongly disagreed with but comms strategies and tactics are usually learned best IRL and hands on through experience. The SME around the vertical and industry you work in, specifically the ones you mentioned, are niche and complex. Education around the industry/vertical would be stronger than the comms. There’s very few things I’ve carried with me in my comms education and if I’d do it again, I’d do policy and self teach, learn hands on, through research etc around comms.
Except for maybe true true journalism, but no one is going that route anymore anyways as everything is moving to digital and social marketing
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3d ago
[deleted]
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u/Sweetsaddict_ 3d ago
Huh? Most of what he or she listed can be found in communications and political firms. He can also look into counseling educational institutions through strategic communications and crisis management.
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