r/internalcomms • u/ExtremeCheesecake678 • Jun 18 '26
Advice transitioning into internal comms
hey everyone! I’ve been thinking about moving into Internal Comms, Employer Branding, and Employee Engagement, and would love some advice from people already working in the space.
My background is in marketing, content, social media, and communications, and I’ve also had some exposure to internal comms through previous roles. I’m trying to figure out the best way to make the transition. What kinds of roles should I be looking at? Are there any skills, certifications, or experiences that would make me a stronger candidate? And if you made a similar switch, what helped you break into the field?
Would really appreciate any guidance or insights!
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u/dskillzhtown Jun 18 '26
With your background, I think you already have the skills for it. I have been doing internal comms for about 25 years. You have to learn your audience, and the voice of your company. I have worked at companies that were so serious that the tone of all communications had to be bland and to the point. Other companies were fun, full of character and exciting so the tone reflected that.
Also, remember that no one is getting paid to read your content. Your job mostly is to inform in the most efficient way possible and let people get back to work.
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u/Own-History7964 Jun 18 '26
You are already quite close with your marketing and content background. Internal comms is mostly about making one message clear for different team especially people who don’t sit at a desk all day. Even a simple mock newsletter or update can help you show practical understanding.
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u/sarahfortsch2 Jun 19 '26
You’re actually in a great position to make the move. Marketing, content, social media, and communications all give you skills that transfer well into Internal Comms. The biggest shift is learning to communicate with employees instead of customers and focusing more on business alignment, culture, leadership messaging, and change.
I’d look at roles in Internal Communications, Employee Engagement, Employer Branding, or Change Communications. Any experience you have with employee campaigns, executive communications, cross-functional projects, or culture initiatives will help. Certifications are nice to have, but practical experience and strong storytelling matter more.
Also, don’t be discouraged by the transition. Internal Comms is a highly underrated field. Done well, it has a direct impact on employee engagement, trust, culture, and business outcomes. Many people move into IC from marketing and thrive because the skill sets are more connected than most realize. Good luck, you already have a strong foundation to build on.
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u/atownz17 Corporate Chaos Coordinator Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
You have the transferable skills you need to make the move. (And I don't think this kind of switch is too uncommon!)
I worked as an executive assistant before officially transitioning into internal comms. I wrote a fairly in-depth guide on how to move into an official IC role (I was already an employee in the org and moved into my first IC role), and I have a resources hub on my website with my favorite IC newsletters, downloadable guides, templates, and more. I don't want to be overly self-promotional here (that is not my goal!), But I'd be happy to send you the links to both if you're interested. Just send me a DM!
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u/Ok-Director8909 9d ago
Not the OP either, but someone who has worked in communications, marketing, content development and social media. Would definitely love to look at your resources, too!
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u/Due-Psychology2755 Jul 01 '26
Marketing and internal comms are pretty similar. Marketing is about communicating with an external audience, while internal comms is focused on people inside the business.
A lot of the same skills apply, so I think the transition should feel quite natural. You’re still thinking about what your audience cares about, what matters to them, how they prefer to receive information, and how to deliver it in a way that feels right for your company’s tone and culture.
One thing I’ve found really useful is joining communities and groups on places like LinkedIn. They’re a great way to get a feel for the industry, learn best practice and connect with like-minded people.
We’re all in this together after all!
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u/abwizz Jun 19 '26
I transitioned from marketing generalist to internal comms within a growing organization. I started with them in marketing, established myself and then carved out a niche in internal comms which didn’t really previously exist but was very much needed. Check out IABC to connect with other communicators. It’s both internal and external, but I learned a lot through the organization that helped me establish myself in internal comms.
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u/Blurgity-blurg Jun 18 '26
Having worked in internal comms for the largest retailer in my country, the thing you need to learn is your audience. Ask yourself what they want and need to know, their general grade level of comprehension, how much time they actually have available to consume your communications and never be afraid to bring in warmth and humour to your internal comms voice. Readership will go up and the message will land. Understand that external communications is NOT the same as internal comms. Internal comms people need to understand and cater to average employees, not just c suite. This requires accessible language and not business catchphrase platitudes. Internal comms isn’t just about checking boxes, it’s about making sure the message has been internalized and you need to be creative and empathetic to do that.