Arts, Communications, & Media Career Community
Arts, Communications, & Media
Careers in arts, communications, and media offer creative and dynamic opportunities to inform, inspire, and engage audiences. Whether producing multimedia content, managing public campaigns, or curating exhibitions, these roles shape public conversations, culture, and community life.
Exploration Tools
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- Advertising and Marketing Communications
- Arts Administration
- Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums
- Graphic Design and Visual Arts
- Journalism and Reporting
- Performing Arts
- Public Relations and Media Relations
- Publishing and Editing
- Social Media Management and Digital Strategy
- Video Production and Filmmaking
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- Marketing Communications Associate
- Graphic Designer
- News Reporter
- Content Strategist
- Public Relations Specialist
- Multimedia Producer
- Social Media Manager
- Editorial Assistant
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Handshake is Macalester’s go-to platform for career and internship opportunities. There’s no need to create an account—just log in with your Macalester ID and password. Use Handshake to search and apply for jobs and internships, explore hiring organizations, schedule appointments with career advisors, and more.
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What Can I Do With This Major? is a website featuring 106 major profiles with information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and strategies to maximize opportunities. Links to professional associations, occupational outlook information, and job search resources are included.
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My Next Move is an interactive career exploration tool that helps you identify careers based on your interests. Use it to browse job profiles in arts and communications fields, or take the quick interest profiler to see which paths might be a good fit for you.
Job & Internship Search Resources
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Career Exploration hosts dozens of exploratory and skill-building events throughout the school year, including events highlighting careers in the arts. All of our events are posted on Handshake Events and on the college events calendar. We also send an email each Monday during the school year to all students as a reminder of the upcoming week’s events.
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Field-Focused Organizations:
Use this list to learn more about arts organizations in the Twin Cities. If you wish to contact an organization that does not have a specific internship listed on their website or in Handshake, focus your inquiry on projects you could do to help them instead of asking about an internship position. This indirect approach helps them envision how you could contribute.
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Employers in the Communications field tend to hire more heavily in spring for full-time roles, and fall through spring for internships. View our Industry Timelines page for more information.
Many creative roles are filled through a less formal hiring process that relies partly on personal connections and word-of-mouth information sharing. We encourage you to incorporate informational interviews and networking into your job and internship search. The following resources can help you get started:
Application & Interview Prep
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- Preparing for an Audition – Level 1 (Educational Theater Association, 2025)
- How to Audition (Backstage, 2022)
- Career Exploration Interviewing Resources
- Schedule a mock interview with Macalester’s Career Exploration team through Handshake
- Do a mock interview with a Career Fellow during drop-in hours (Monday-Thursday 4-6PM in Kagin Commons)
Get Involved
Getting involved in student organizations and college-led initiatives is a great way to build leadership skills, connect with peers, and explore your interests outside the classroom. These experiences can help you grow personally and professionally, strengthen your resume, and open doors to new opportunities on campus and beyond.
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MacExplore is a hands-on program that helps students explore career paths through local and national site visits. Led by faculty and staff, students meet with professionals, connect with alumni, and strengthen their career development skills.
Previous trips have included:
- Twin Cities: Law; Public Health; Arts, Media, & Media/Communications; Urban Planning; Private Sector
- National: Media and Communications: New York City; Social Science Research: Washington, D.C.; Technology (Data Analysis, Software, UX, Design): San Francisco; Banking and Finance: New York City
Through MacExplore, students gain insight into diverse industries, build their professional network, and grow their confidence in real-world settings. Follow Career Exploration on Instagram to stay in-the-know about upcoming trips.
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Professional and industry associations are great ways to build connections, gain career insights, and stay current in your field. They often offer job boards, mentorship, and events that can boost your professional growth.
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Getting involved in any student organization helps you build leadership, teamwork, and communication skills while expanding your network.
Gain knowledge specific to the Arts, Communications, & Media career community through student organizations such as Chanter, SPACES Magazine, Mac Weekly, WMCN 91.7FM, MacSlams, and more.
Check out Macalester’s list of student organizations to learn more.
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Macalester’s Community Engagement Center offers a wide array of opportunities to engage with the Twin Cities community. Visit their Arts Engagement Opportunities page to learn more about involvement related to the Arts, Communications, & Media career community.
Graduate & Professional School Info
For students interested in Arts, Media, & Communications careers, pursuing graduate or professional school can open doors to leadership roles, specialized fields, and fellowship opportunities.
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- QuickStart Guide to Applying to Graduate School (gdoc)
- Personal Statement Guide
- Schedule an appointment with the Writing Center to plan and review your personal statement.
- MFA Graduate Degree Portfolio Prep & Application Advice from Andrew Raftery (Art Prof: Create & Critique, YouTube, 2022)
- An Undergraduate’s Essential Guide to Graduate School (Associated Colleges of the Midwest)
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Some graduate programs may require standardized admissions testing. Requirements vary by type of programs and school, but common exams include:
Alumni Spotlights
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Explore additional alumni stories and videos through MacConnect, Macalester’s alumni networking platform.