Head of internal communications

[typer0612]

I am currently on a graduate scheme but thinking of opting out for various reasons.

One of the jobs that i have seen available particularly attracts me, it is as per the title - my question is,

What would you expect a person to hold in their repertoire generally speaking to be successful upon application of this job?

P.s i meet the job description however i am unsure regarding the amount of experience required.

[Rickeh]

typer0612 said:

I am currently on a graduate scheme but thinking of opting out for various reasons.

One of the jobs that i have seen available particularly attracts me, it is as per the title - my question is,

What would you expect a person to hold in their repertoire generally speaking to be successful upon application of this job?

P.s i meet the job description however i am unsure regarding the amount of experience required.

Depending on the size of the company I would be surprised if a current graduate would be suitable for 'Head of' anything roles. I would expect 5+ years of industry experience.

I am currently on a graduate scheme so i'm not graduate bashing

One thing to also consider is companies are often not keen to take graduates out of graduate schemes for other jobs internally for various reasons (pay, sets a precedent for other graduates etc).

That being said, if it's external and your company don't find out, it might be worth a punt. What is there to lose?

[Sy1441]

Agree with the above, "Head of" roles age generally in the senior end of management sitting just below Director level.

[typer0612]

Rickeh said:

Depending on the size of the company I would be surprised if a current graduate would be suitable for 'Head of' anything roles. I would expect 5+ years of industry experience.

I am currently on a graduate scheme so i'm not graduate bashing

One thing to also consider is companies are often not keen to take graduates out of graduate schemes for other jobs internally for various reasons (pay, sets a precedent for other graduates etc).

That being said, if it's external and your company don't find out, it might be worth a punt. What is there to lose?

The size of the company is not something i'd discuss on a public forum but it has enabled me opportunites to work at a high level for the last one year.

I'd bash graduate schemes in some ways !

The opportunity is external and i shall take a punt as i fit 80% of the description minus the experience (1 year's worth)

[ChasW]

IMO for a company to require a Head of Internal Comms it would need to be quite large, over 1000 people. It's not uncommon for companies to only hire full-time HR at 100+ employees and often the marketing comms people handle much of the internal stuff. It's probable that this is going to a middle to upper management sole contributor role requiring previous experience, particularly if it's a new position. Then there's the second question - why would they need it? Reasons would include a major change program, re-org, merger etc or just a problem to fix. In such a situation I'd imagine they'd be looking for prior experience and someone who can give guidance and leadership. Is that you?

[kinghottinger]

I have 10 years of experience in this field (after a career change). You have absolutely no chance as a recent grad to snap up a Head of IC role. If you're interested in comms and can write, apply for an entry level job, and if I were you, do some evening quals in PR/media too, as IC and EC are increasingly converging.

[Vaud]

7-10 years experience in multiple roles including a marketing, comms, PR or journalistic background.

Possibly with some consulting experience or having worked in multiple organisations.

Less experience if exceptional but would have to have an impressive CV (very high end consultant, for example).

[typer0612]

ChasW said:

IMO for a company to require a Head of Internal Comms it would need to be quite large, over 1000 people. It's not uncommon for companies to only hire full-time HR at 100+ employees and often the marketing comms people handle much of the internal stuff. It's probable that this is going to a middle to upper management sole contributor role requiring previous experience, particularly if it's a new position. Then there's the second question - why would they need it? Reasons would include a major change program, re-org, merger etc or just a problem to fix. In such a situation I'd imagine they'd be looking for prior experience and someone who can give guidance and leadership. Is that you?

Circa 900 staff, the advert has changed also now it's titled as manager.

I have plenty of experience in changing and improving things also at all levels... Just apprehensive regarding coming off the scheme in a way.

Edited by typer0612 on Thursday 21st August 14:31

[Vaud]

typer0612 said:

Circa 900 staff, the advert has changed also now it's titled as manager.

By all means go for it. Ambition is good, but don't be shocked if you don't get to interview.

[typer0612]

Vaud said:

By all means go for it. Ambition is good, but don't be shocked if you don't get to interview.

I shall be going for it

[StevieBee]

typer0612 said:

What would you expect a person to hold in their repertoire generally speaking to be successful upon application of this job?

You should be able to demonstrate the ability to manage communications both up as well as down.

Walk into almost any sizeable company and the biggest gripe amongst staff will be 'lack of communication'. A lot of this stems from management keeping things close to their chests - sometimes for good reasons but sometimes, for no reason.

You need to convey the ability to challenge senior management with reasoned argument to permit the dissemination of of key information that they perhaps might not otherwise consider for wider distribution. Part of this type of role is to work out what information would benefit from wider distribution and you'll need to demonstrate a good degree of understanding on this, backed with evidential successes.

HTH and Good Luck.

[craigjm]

What communications experience do you have?
What communications channels have you used?
How do you decide which communication channels you have available to you to use for a specific message?
Have you ever written blogs / speeches / communications on behalf of the CEO?
How would you improve the customer experience from our lowest rated communications channels?
What would you do to improve upward communications within the company?
How would you ensure a staff survey asks the right questions and how would you construct an action plan from the results?
What copyrighting experience do you have?
How much experience of presenting to large audiences do you have?
How have you managed negative communications messages to minimise their negative impact?

Just some of the questions you would be asked at an interview at that level. If you can't answer them then you don't have enough experience for the role.

[Vaud]

typer0612 said:

I am currently on a graduate scheme but thinking of opting out for various reasons.

I just reread this. You are part way through a grad scheme? How long is it? 2 years? Part way through?

How many actual years experience do you have in your roles?

If you can't provide a robust story and wider experience then I fear that you won't stand up well in an interview for a "Head of xxx" role.

[iphonedyou]

Unlikely... anecdotally - but representatively, imo - my girlfriend has taken up a Comms Exec role with 4 years marketing experience and still has 2 above her in the chain. Similar sized company.

I'm on a grad scheme and after 2 years I'm a Commercial Manager. Wouldn't be head of anything for another 5 plus. (And the rest of my cohort are Assistant CMs!)

[Asterix]

typer0612 said:

I have plenty of experience in changing and improving things also at all levels... Just apprehensive regarding coming off the scheme in a way.

Just a question - how much exactly?

[Rickeh]

iphonedyou said:

Unlikely... anecdotally - but representatively, imo - my girlfriend has taken up a Comms Exec role with 4 years marketing experience and still has 2 above her in the chain. Similar sized company.

I'm on a grad scheme and after 2 years I'm a Commercial Manager. Wouldn't be head of anything for another 5 plus. (And the rest of my cohort are Assistant CMs!)

I guess it depends on the industry and even company. In my past two companies Commercial Manager is at least 10+ years experience and quite a senior position.

[Fotic]

typer0612 said:

The size of the company is not something i'd discuss on a public forum

[iphonedyou]

Rickeh said:

I guess it depends on the industry and even company. In my past two companies Commercial Manager is at least 10+ years experience and quite a senior position.

Yeah role titles will change between industry too, I'm sure. I consider myself quite fortunate but have a long way to go until director level. This is the rail industry, QS.

But yes, I think OP is probably a little optimistic. And should also weigh up any loss in training / chartership opportunities as that's really what a grad scheme is about.